The Joy of Gratitude: Why Travelers Appreciate Life’s Simple Pleasures
What I’ve realized about why I think travelers are such happy people - yes, the sunshine, the free life, of course, but really I believe it is because of the way we find gratitude in all the little things 😂...
Now that I’m settled in my own longer-term place, I find myself incredibly grateful for the simplest of pleasures - like my coffee machine (and don’t even get me started on my spices!). Having this, instead of an instant coffee made me feel SO FILLED with joy this morning. It reminded of the times on my travels when finding a coffee shop that offered decaf and alternative milk felt like striking gold.
The same goes for discovering other comforts abroad - like finding a gluten-free bakery in a new city or a gym that’s equipped just the way I like. Usually, these familiar comforts are just part of our daily habits, so it’s easy to take them for granted. But for travelers, our constantly changing environments teach us to appreciate these moments over and over again, with each new destination.
It’s this continuous appreciation of life’s simple pleasures, that is actually proven to be the key to elevating your happiness levels permanently. Being grateful raises your hedonic treadmill (that place where your happiness usually lies) and yes, when you go to a party or buy something nice, it will boost this level, but only temporarily, before it comes back down to your usual level. Constant and conscious moments of appreciation raise that level, then it’s in your power to keep it up there, by more moments of gratitude for all the little things in your life, throughout the day. That’s why location independence is the fast track way to raising your happiness, because it forces you into gratitude for what otherwise, would usually be taken for granted.
This way of life doesn’t just change where we work or how we travel - it transforms how we view and interact with the world around us. How cool is that.
This is the dog I’m currently fostering 😍🫠 and the happiness is TOO much 🫶.
