Reflections on Home and Travel
Although all my travels might suggest I have an insatiable love for exploring the world, the truth is more nuanced. At heart, I am very much a homebody. I delight in creating a warm haven—sewing, gardening, knitting, quilting, and spending precious hours with my grandchildren. I cherished my days as a stay-at-home mom, and I still find deep contentment in being a wife who prepares a comforting meal.
Yet, I’ve come to realize that there are lessons and opportunities beyond the walls of my home—experiences I would never encounter if I chose to stay in my comfortable routines. Through travel, I have helped more people, expanded my perspective, and gathered memories that have profoundly enriched my life.
If I had never left home, I wouldn’t know the intoxicating scent of melissa from a distillery in St. Maries, Idaho—a fragrance so heavenly it felt as though I’d stepped into paradise. I wouldn’t have the indelible memory of standing atop the Great Wall of China, or the poignant experience of serving in Russia, anointing people with oils day after day, hearts full despite three sunless weeks in Moscow. I would have missed the awe of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, and the collective amazement when, after days of gray, the sun finally broke through the clouds, if only for a moment, on our journey home.
I would have missed the privilege of planting pine trees and participating in the winter harvest at Highland Flats, Idaho—connecting with the land and the rhythm of the seasons firsthand. I wouldn’t have toured the Mt. Nebo farm in Utah, walked through the golden helichrysum fields of Croatia, or visited the shell ginger farm in Japan, each experience offering its own unique lessons and quiet beauty.
I’ve watched the Finca Botanica farm grow from a dream—just a vision and a field of ylang ylang trees with nowhere for guests to stay—into a living reality, complete with beautiful bungalows for visitors and a clinic serving the local community. I’ve also found fulfillment in rallying support for YL Foundation projects, witnessing the heart-expanding power of people coming together to make the world a little brighter.
So while my spirit finds rest at home, it is through stepping beyond my front door that I have truly learned, served, and gathered a treasury of memories. Both home and the wider world have shaped the person I am today.
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