Happiness Blog August 26, 2019

One of my favorite summer activities is to take a road trip. I feel very lucky to have grown up in California and to now live in Japan. Both places have really beautiful road-trip destinations. I also love that in Japan and California I did not need a car to enjoy the road because both places have great public transportation. Getting out and on the road can remind us how beautiful simple things are. The road trip does not need to be long. It can be a single- or several-day trip. The key is to travel a road that makes you feel happy. It can be about the view or about the journey itself.

One of my favorite roads to drive in California was not tree-lined or deep in nature, but it was fun to drive. In contrast, my second-favorite road to drive was deep in the redwoods and lined with tall trees. In Japan, my favorite “road trip” is to hop on a scenic train. In the fall, my favorite trip is a short drive from my house and has a tree-lined street that allows me to enjoy the turning of the leaves. Finding my favorite road trips’ paths and destinations in Japan took some time, but it was worth the effort and really helped me connect to the beauty of Nagoya, Japan, and beyond.

Seeking out your ideal road trip can help create intimacy between you and the place you live. Enjoying a local road trip connects us to the beauty that is around us. It also brings into focus the beauty and gift that is freedom of movement. There is a beauty in having the time, creativity, and funds to take a road trip, even if it is just for the day and on a bus. Embracing beauty and getting out in the world can be hard. Hopefully, even if you do not take a physical road trip, you will allow yourself to take a mental journey. I hope your journey, whether it be physical or not, is to somewhere beautiful.

Posted on Monday: 26 August, 2019