The Passion of a Traveler and an Artist

In the past week that I have been actively planning out this blog project, I have felt more alive and inspired than any time in the recent past.  To revel in one of my soul’s passions of travel and to see a way to share that with others has really energized me. This passion is exactly what I intend this place to be about.  Sharing my passions of travel and art with others. I am an artist and a techie, a homebody and a traveler.  This is my space, where those juxtaposed qualities are not a paradox.

The Vision

This however is not to be straightforward travel blog, recording the places I’ve been or discussing how to travel cheaply, although those are certainly within the scope.  Grounded Traveler is about the enduring passion and joy surrounding the journey that is travel. I have been traveling internationally since I was 16, when I was an exchange student for the summer in Germany.  This started me on my road to enjoying moving about on the planet.

In the intervening years, I have found that travel offers much more than just a time off work and a few neat stories to tell friends. To me travel is a microcosm of all life. The qualities of travel that I find fun and enjoyable are the same that make life worth living.  And issues in “normal” life are more evident and thankfully adjustable in travel. To this end, I intend this blog to explore aspects of travel in addition to the physical nature of going other places.

The Passions

These are to be my guidelines to what belongs here. Travel means so much more than just the seeing stuff and going places. It is a vehicle to experience beauty and joy. It is also a great way to meet fellow human beings, make connections both with others and with yourself.

• Travel : The prime passion is travel. This is the main thrust of space and the center around which everything else is based. Although note that my view of travel can be quite broad sometimes. Being at home is as important in traveling as the journey.
• Beauty : The supporting passion will be art and creative expression. I love creativity and artist expression. Being able to appreciate beauty in the world and creativity in the human soul is one of the things I most enjoy about travel.  Not just seeing a famous painting, but also a well written book read on a long train trip, a home cooked meal anywhere in the world or a simple sunset.  Without beauty the world means nothing.
• Personal Growth : I have a great interest in philosophy and sociology. They say that life is a journey.  Many metaphors exist about traveling through life.  Travel is just as much a mental and spiritual journey as a physical one. There is much to learn about the world and about yourself in travel. Not to get too abstract here, but I find the psychology of travel just as relevant and interesting as the physical movement.

These are the things that travel means to me.  A chance to see the world in all its beauty and misery(sometimes) and to experience growth in myself and enjoy the company of others.  The experiences of travel have affected me so much I want to share them. I am a better person due to having the opportunity to travel.

Join the Journey

The following blog contains my ideas and experiences. I invite you to participate and comment.

This first post is a stepping stone.  A declaration of intent. I will start posting regularly when I have enough of my vision planned out that I can reliably post twice a week.