Rhi Axtell – Writer

(Pictured: me ‘being in the moment’ in Guernsey)

Tomorrow, I set off on another journey. Honestly, it could not come at a better time. The last week has been a bit more emotionally intense than planned (but can we ever really plan for these things?) and the idea of being out of the flat and in another, brand new, place feels just like the kind of reset I need.

I am writing this because it isn’t a feeling I get very often. Usually travel is met by anxiety* and some kind of pre-journey stress about what I am going to take. There was one time, not too long ago, where I found myself frozen and angry because I couldn’t decide what shoes to take (I have recently discovered that the answer to that question is always ‘the more comfortable ones.’)

*Which is how I meet most things, to be fair.

As I am in a better, more travel-focused mindset, I thought this would be a good time to muse on slow travel, something I recently discovered in my recent attempts to try and live a slower life. That idea of travelling with a curious mindset – not about the speed at which you travel or how long you stay somewhere. You move about with intention, really allowing yourself to be part of a place and be open to spontaneity (gulp!).

I can think about multiple holidays I have gone on where I was always thinking about the next thing. For example, in the day we might have a garden visit, a museum visit, and an evening meal planned.

In the morning, I wake up and I am thinking about what time we need to get to and leave the garden.

In the garden, I am thinking about the distance to the museum and how long we should spend inside looking at things (how long can you really examine one painting? My record is about half a second to say ‘that’s nice’ and then move on).

In the museum, I am thinking about the evening meal – can I order something without nuts? I spend time googling the menu to see if I can prepare what I want to eat in advance. What? I just missed a painting by Turner? Doesn’t matter, because I’ve identified a pasta salad which seems to be nut-free if you ask.

THAT is not slow travel. You’re probably smart enough to have picked that up by now.

My plan is to be more in the moment*, more open to the twisty twists and turns of the world. I plan to breathe a bunch. Breathing, I find, is key to a lot of this mindful, stopping-that-bloody-anxiety, practice – at least for me. The headspace ‘quick breathing exercise’ is a must for me on the daily.

*I actually don’t like this phrase – but I can’t think of another way to put it.

Will I be successful, or am I going to find myself all stressed and anxious again? I’m sure you’ll hear more from me soon.

See you next time.