Building IntentIon: Part two - What Is Your Intention?

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    When I was faced with the cancellation of a minimum of three trips this past year, it hit hard. I realized how much I would miss going to Walt Disney World, a planned camping trip with friends to California and also the return to the Craftcation conference. There was a specific ‘why’ for each trip; I was taking my mom on a vacation, the camping trip is an annual thing with close friends, and I had not been to a Craftcation since 2013. I had built so much intention into each trip, and they were all gone (well, postponed anyways). 
    I realized that there wasn’t anything I could do to make these trips happen. I could still plan, and I did. There were amazing online experiences that helped me connect, even if I didn’t see everyone in person. I was still able to muse over the idea of returning to Disney.  But the fact remained that I wasn’t making any journeys that year. Or so I thought. 
    Enter my amazing boyfriend Jake. He knew I was upset and also had a solution. One of my big deals each summer is getting into the woods and going off the grid. This ‘why’ was a challenge the first time in 2016 but now it is necessary. A time to reset, to really get away from it all and the much needed social media and phone break. Jake reminded me that he had an RV. It needed some work, but he was willing to make it happen for a couple family camping trips and he knew a spot that was both in the woods and off the grid. So while the other trips were postponed, I was able to refresh my brain and relax in the great outdoors. 
    So what does this random tale of a boyfriend with an RV have to do with the why’s of travel? It helped me realize that yes, I love the trips I plan. That I’m always planning my next excursion to Disney. Now I realized that the why, the intention, of the trip is also sacred to me. Intention sets the tone of the trip. Like the weekend Jake and I spent in Williams, AZ.  There will be another post with more on that, but Williams was our weekend to re-connect with each other after a particularly crazy year of family events plus COVID. Everything had hit us at once and we needed some intentional time together to just be. And we did just that.
    The intention of any trip can and should be quite magical. It can help you decide where to go and what you want to prioritize. Will it be a big family or friend get-together, a solo trip or a weekend with your beloved? Is there something special you want to see, experience or even a restaurant you have longed to try? Once I made a stop in Worcester, completely out of the way as I headed to visit family in the Boston area, just to try a restaurant I heard about. And yes it was completely worth it. That small intention led me to try out more of the locations in other states that have different menu options. 
    A special mention goes out to the Disney parks - both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. So many people wonder how I can keep going back to the same place with the same excitement each time. Simply put, I find a reason for each trip. Walt Disney World is a special meeting place to spend time with my friend Adriana, who still resides back in New York. There are still experiences and restaurants on my to-do list for all parks. Add on the theming and special events throughout the year, and it’s magical each and every time. Having a reason why has become central to any trips that I plan for myself, family and friends. 
    Until next time, what intentions will you incorporate into your next trip?

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