9/23/19 9/23/19

Join the Sustainable Tourism Movement and learn to be a Mindful Traveler

Travel the world with Mindfulness, Compassion and Connection to a Sense of Place

What does sustainable tourism mean and why is it important? In contrast to Mass Tourism, Sustainable tourism is all about a style of travel that attempts to tread lightly on the places visited, respects the local people and culture and considers environmental and cultural impacts to a place. Unfortunately there are a lot of travelers out there who do NOT keep this in mind and many of the worlds destinations are being flooded with mass tourism, wreaking havoc on natural resources and the local way of life and traditions.

travel-to-yelapa — Be a sustainable Tourist and a Mindful Traveler

What does it mean to be a Mindful Traveler? When we focus our efforts on practicing sustainable tourism, it helps to bring in mindfulness. The practice of mindfulness is all about being present, really living in the moment and tuning in to what is in front of you, what you hear, feel, smell, taste and see. Perhaps listen more deeply to another when you are in a conversation, observe how a place or a life style is both different and/or the same as your own, connect to people and places in a way that fills us with joy and illuminates the realization that we are all in this together. Truly at the core of all things is the pursuit of happiness, right? Let your traveling experiences re-MIND you of this. This all may seem obvious but unfortunately, most people do not travel with these considerations in mind. But you can! When we travel mindfully it fosters a relationship to a place that perhaps will motivate us to care more about how we travel and our impacts.

Mindful Travel Ideas

1.) Be Mindful Ok, so maybe this seems obvious or you are wondering what in the heck I mean, exactly. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present, in the moment, paying close attention to what is happening hear and now. Check out this post I wrote about Daily Mindfulness Practices. What I mean is, simply take plenty of moments to just soak in your surroundings, allowing yourself to be in total awe and wonder of the experience you are having. This is a friendly reminder to take a break from and get off of your cell phone, stop taking pictures and selfies, or checking to see who has looked at your travel posts. Believe me, I am obsessed with taking pictures...it is kind of a problem that I am working on. So, unplug and be present, let the moment really fill your being. I know, so cheesy, but its the stuff of life right there in front of you!!

2.) Study the Language before You Go Take the time to learn the language. Of course I do not expect you to become fluent but go beyond just learning "hello" and "where is the bathroom". I have found that it makes a huge difference to really put some effort into studying the language before you go, to better understand the place you are visiting and the local culture. You will feel more connected to the people you converse with and they will be more likely to help you out. Or perhaps the interaction will just feel warmer if you show them you are really trying to take a stab at their language. I know it is a little scary and uncomfortable. Believe me, I have really butchered a beautiful language and I may have received a chuckle in response but I welcome the moment a local corrects me and it opens up a little window of opportunity to let them know I care to learn more about the people and places I am visiting. Also when you are making an effort to learn the language, tune in to the locals speaking around you. This also helps with mindfulness practice, to really be present and listen. You will surely stumble and it may feel uncomfortable some times, but that is OK.

We had such fun in Portugal, trying desperately to speak Portuguese and the locals we talked with seemed appreciative, particularly because most people do not even try. In fact, we got to talking to many locals just by attempting the language and we received many thanks for our efforts. We learned quickly that although Portuguese has some similarities to Spanish, DO NOT assume you can get away with just speaking Spanish, that's like a stab straight to the heart. The apps Duolingo and Babbel have been very helpful for getting the basics down when learning a new language. Easy and fun for kids to practice too.

hiking-in-switzerland — Pay attention to the details, a mindfulness techniques

3.) Tune in to the Landscape, the Plants and the Trees Notice trees and plants that grow around you when you are at home AND when you travel. Learning about the plants that grow around us can bring in this very fulfilling sense of connection to a place and I carry that with me wherever I travel. When we get the chance to ramble this globe and I recognize plants growing in a foreign land, that sense of belonging sets in. A connection that puts me at ease. Like I am not such a stranger in a strange land. Observe a plant growing in a foreign land that seems similar to one that grows in your home region. Or Perhaps notice how very different the landscape is from what you are used to. This act also fosters a sense of environmental stewardship. Take time to really observe the tiny intricate details of leaves and petals, a mindfulness practice and technique that can reduce stress and ease anxiety. Why not take pause, relax a moment and notice the details?

"Learning about the plants that grow around us can bring in this very fulfilling sense of connection to a place and I carry that with me wherever I travel."

When we pay more attention to what is growing around us, we care more about a place. Did you know that plenty of studies have shown that spending time noticing and being present around plants and nature can calm anxiety and improve our mental health, even help us heal more quickly when we are sick or sad? Quite simply, paying attention to plant life makes us happy!!

4.) Travel with your Kids Many people I talk with feel really overwhelmed with the idea of traveling with their kids, but here is a news flash: the world is full of kids, people in other countries have kids too, and yes kids are generally the same everywhere, full of energy, bringing us joy, reminding us to play and be silly and yes, frustrating the dickens out of us!

travel-with-kids — Travel with Kids to Switzerland and the Jungfrau

In fact, we have found that we connect more with locals when our kids are with us! Our kids can sometimes be a beautiful way to break through that language barrier. Allow your kids to kick a soccer ball around a meadow or a plaza with some local kiddos, or help and encourage your kids to practice the language when they order food or say Good morning! Check out this post about Tips for Making Travel with Kids Fun!

"here is a news flash: the world is full of kids, people in other countries have kids too, and yes kids are generally the same everywhere, full of energy, bringing us joy, reminding us to play and be silly and yes, frustrating the dickens out of us! "

5.) Eat Mindfully I am hoping that you are already willing to try new foods, sample new flavors and experience the joy of eating when you travel outside of your home town. Let us take it a step further and practice the art of Mindful Eating! It is actually a thing!! Check out this book on the topic. So, the deal is, while you are eating try to take pause and give all your attention to the food you are eating. Gaze at it lovingly, all of the colors, textures, smells, then when you take that bite, chew slowly and enjoy it fully. I know this sounds like a bit much but I tell you what, food tastes even better when you practice Mindful Eating....AND, you get full more quickly when you do it this way. Give it a try...

6.) Use Public Transportation I do realize that often times renting a car is necessary, especially if you want to get off the well worn path BUT whenever possible, see if you can get away with NOT renting a car, not only reducing your carbon footprint but getting the chance to be more present in your surroundings. This way you will not have to focus so much energy on navigating your way around in an unfamiliar place and you get to participate a bit more in the everyday life of a place, sitting next to a local on their daily commute.

7.) Get Away from Major Tourist Sites Yes, of course there are gonna be major iconic landmarks that you will want to see, or entire cities you have always dreamed of visiting but you will get so much more out of a travel experience if you get away from the other tourists. Not only does the mass tourism trample all over the land and local traditions of a place, motivated mainly by funding the tourist industry but spending time in ONLY major tourist sites means you are not really getting at the heart of a place. You are doing what other tourists do, not what a local does. Be sure to spend a portion of your trip exploring unknown places, secret off the beaten path villages, cafes, hikes. This will grant you more opportunities to connect with the heart and soul of the country you are visiting AND will lighten some of the load on the overly visited sites.

Travel-to-mexico-with-kids — Hiking in Mexico

8.) Look for Ways to Lend a Hand Whether you hold the door open for someone or volunteer to participate in a beach clean up. Step out of your comfort zone and jump at the chance to help out. You can check in with local schools to see if they welcome school supply donations, you could sign up to do a tree planting or simply pick up trash you see along a trail. I remember my husband and I had such a memorable trip in Belize riding on a public bus when it broke down. We pitched into to help locals carry buckets of produce and we got the chance to chat it up with a few farmers, making there way. It felt good to help out and connect! A simple google search of "volunteer opportunities" in the cities and towns you visit can give you a starting point if you have an extra day to lend a hand in a given community, or structure an entire vacation around volunteering. Doing this with your kids is an excellent way to make the experience more memorable and educational for everyone, both visitors and locals alike. Helping out in ways big and small, connects us all, spreading that very important message of kindness and compassion.

Be a Mindful, Sustainable and Kind Traveler

At My Peaceful Wild we strive to share our adventures in a way that encourages others to go out into the world and participate in a style of travel that is mindful and connects to a place with kindness and compassion. Of course many have a "bucket list" of travel destinations, myself included. It is a big beautiful world after all! Along with going places to see beautiful landscapes, cities, architecture, let's work together to spread a message of hope, kindness, environmental stewardship, supporting and celebrating local communities and cultures. Let's get out there and experience a place as a citizen of the earth on a mission to connect, be present and help out when we can. What does it mean to be an Oregonian, a Hawaiian, an Italian, a Mexican or a Kenyan? The world is so full of beauty, mystery, language, food, traditions, history, joy and sorrow. As you get out there and experience it, do it mindfully and with compassion. Now go!