I'm in that weird and frustrating stage of learning something new
where I know enough to know what I need to do
but am not experienced enough that it comes as second nature
so I miss things and remember that I missed them later on
rather than just being ignorant of my errors
leaving me feeling like I'm doing a poor job

I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. [Benjamin Disraeli]

I should not be surprised to discover that my preferred way of travelling is similar to my preferred way of life.

I took a short vacation to New York City over the long weekend. My travelling companion and I had made a list of all we hoped to see and then tried to fit as much of it into our 3.5 days as possible. We moved quickly from place to place snapping pictures and praying that our aching feet would hold out until we sat down for the next meal or fell exhausted into bed at night. From a tourists perspective, we saw it all! However, looking back on the whirlwind it all goes by in a blink of an eye.

And what do I remember? Enjoying a warm chai latte late at night in the middle of Times Square, listening to live music in Madison Square Park, wandering through a craft fair seeking inspiration for future projects.  The times I sat, breathed, and experienced what was going on around me.

Note to my future self: When I travel, like in my every day life, I need space and rest in order to absorb and understand what I have witnessed.