Travel

I have always enjoyed traveling. I like to go places and see things I have not seen before. I like to meet new people. I like to consider life from another point of view. I enjoy anticipating travel and thinking about what all I might experience on an upcoming trip. And I like to ponder a trip I have just returned from thinking about what all I got to do. But these days, every time I travel, I also think about what travel used to be like.

Before I started my fitness journey, I still liked to travel but it was also really difficult. When I got on a plane I was always terrified that the gate agent was going to stop me and force me to buy a second ticket. I always got to the airport really early so that I could look at my seat assignment and try to arrange it as best I could. I wanted an aisle seat in a row of 3 with no one sitting in the middle seat.

There were times when someone would be sitting beside me in the middle seat. I always felt sorry for them and hated myself for the misery I was putting this other person through. I would hope that they would not notice that unless the armrest was raised, I was in complete misery. I would quietly ask the flight attendant for an extension for my seatbelt and hope that no one noticed that I could not get the existing seatbelt around me. I would get out of breath walking up the jetway after a flight. Everything I did was an effort.

These days, if I get to the airport way early, I walk around looking at the shops or getting water or whatever I think I need for my flight. I no longer mind looking people in the eye as they get on the airplane because I'm not worried about how we will all fit in a row of 2 or 3 seats. I am more willing to talk to the people around me because I do not feel like I am imposing on their space.

In short, traveling is even more enjoyable than it ever was, in some respects. What is really funny is that now even though I still like to travel, I don't like to leave my life at home and leave the comfort of my gym behind while I travel. I have learned to look for the fitness center in the hotel as I check in and I realize that even if I am not able to get in a good workout while I am gone, I will always return to my gym at home when I get back. I have become completely addicted to my workouts. I guess this is just one of the side effects of health.

Happy Travels.