Slow Down (and ancient wisdom)

[msamsen]

Virtually every traveler I talk to advises that less is more when it comes to mileage. We see more, we experience more, we take in more by stopping to smell the roses. A few years ago I did a 22,000 mile solo trip of N. America in 50 days. Upon reflection I had "seen" a lot (like a National Geographic movie in fast forward as my wife would say) but I had experienced far less than I might have.

I ran across this quote from the 13th century Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi that I thought provided good counsel for travelers:

“Don't go off sightseeing.
The real journey is right here.
The great excursion starts
from exactly where you are.
You are the world.
You have everything you need.
You are the secret.
You are the wide opened."