Caryl exits: Out of Africa (and rediscovers 7 reasons why she travels--and you should too.)

I’m home after 10 days and 11 flights (I feel like Hillary Clinton!) in Africa.  The trip was exhilarating: Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Arusha in Tanzania, and Capetown and Franschhoek in South Africa.  And yes, Maryl, I did do my Christmas shopping!  But even as fast moving as the trip was—it was more like seeing the trailer than the movie—it reminded me why I love to travel and why it's always worth the pre- and post-vacation stresses, even at this time of year.  I’ll tell you more about what I saw and what I learned in a future post (think 2013!) but here are 7 persuasive reasons (from bigger thinkers than myself) to leave your comfort zone:

1.    All journeys  have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. --Martin Buber

2.  Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.   -–Mark Twain

3.   I haven’t been everywhere.

 But it’s on my list.--Susan Sontag

    4.  One of the great things about travel is that you find out how 
         many good people there are.--Edith Wharton

5.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. –Steve Jobs

6.  I shall be telling the truth with a sigh

somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by

And that has made

All the difference  --Robert Frost

7.  It always seems impossible until it’s done.--Nelson Mandela

Even in this current crazy-making season, why not think about where you want to go next year--or some day.  Remember Mr. Mandela’s words.