This weekend’s horoscope whispered an intriguing suggestion: “get away” for some fresh air in a place I’ve never been. It sparked a flicker of wanderlust, a yearning for something beyond the familiar. It made me ponder the curious human desire to explore.
We often resist change in our daily routines, clinging to the comfort of the known. Yet, when it comes to location, the opposite seems true. The prospect of a new landscape, a fresh vista, holds an undeniable charm. Perhaps it’s the promise of adventure, the chance to break free from the monotony and see the world through new eyes. As the saying goes, “the grass is always greener” when it comes to unexplored territories.
While a beach paradise or a mountain retreat hold immense appeal – for me, at least – they hold it best as temporary escapes. My affinity for these landscapes, as readers of The Pew know, isn’t reflected in my permanent residence. There’s a comfort, a sense of belonging, that draws us back to the familiar after a taste of the unknown. It’s no surprise that even my retired friends, who now have the freedom to truly “travel,” speak of their joy at returning home after their adventures.
This desire to get away isn’t limited to geography, though. It’s a thread woven throughout the human experience. In my younger years, I found myself drawn to explore different paths in matters of faith, delving into Sufism and Buddhism. Like John Milton, I sought diverse paths on the journey to understand the divine, ultimately returning to a familiar spiritual ground.
The reason for this deep-seated urge to get away remains a mystery, but the comfort of a “home” to return to makes it all the more powerful. It’s a beautiful paradox – the constant push and pull between the familiar and the unknown, the yearning for new experiences balanced by the solace of home.
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