Roots, Fruits and Shoots. The mindful traveler will know that London, Sydney, New York and most major cities have become somewhat homogenous as hubs with airports and duty free zones that offer little when it comes to differentiated cultural experiences. Mark Vanhoecker, a former management consultant now BA pilot and someone who’s knows more than most about traveling and working in every major city in the world, writes so very eloquently about these in his book, Skyfaring.
And then there are the outliers; cities like Salt Lake City, Glasgow, Leeds, Pretoria, Budapest, Porto; cities with uniquely textured cultures and experiences, woven into every stolen moment. Little moments where time stands still and we are blown away by the richness, selflessness, timelessness. STER, the acronym most associated with states of flow. Life becomes effortless and joyful. We spend less time in our heads, system 1, and more time observing, free from the chatter of our own inner critics.
This morning’s breakfast at Stravaigan, in Glasgow, is one such moment. How many ‘full English’ breakfasts are there across the globe. Johannesburg, Sydney, Larnaca, all much the same. This one, however, comes with potato scones, steak lorne and black pudding, along with the usual accoutrements of poached egg, beans and bacon (albeit very good bacon!)
Of course these textures also exist for vegans and people who look at life with a different - shall we say nuanced - often infinitely more colourful lens. As long as the mind adopts a growth vs fixed mentality. Open to new adventures, ideas, approaches, and accepting of diversity in people.
And for those who might find themselves momentarily unable to travel, richness of experience always lies in having an open mind, for ‘’the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes’’
Marcel Proust
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