The Cure for Wanderlust: Finding Beauty in Your Own Backyard

Many people have told me, “I really CAN’T travel right now.” For whatever reason, due to finances or obligations or something else, there are times in life when we may be stuck in one place, but we still feel the wanderlust deep inside.

Hey, don’t be sad!

FIND THE BEAUTY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

There is beauty everywhere if you open your mind and look around. You can totally wanderlust in your neighborhood.

Grab a camera. I crawl around in my backyard with my macro lens quite often. But even if you don’t have a macro, go outside with your camera or even just your own eyes and look for the little things. Birds, insects, trees, plants, flowers, clouds in the sky, sun shining, snow, leaves, whatever. Instagram it all. I’m sure you do already. I’m guilty. (Follow me on Instagram (capturedbybrooke) and I’ll follow you too!) 😉

Go for a walk. Even if you don’t have a backyard, chances are there are places to explore near you that are amazing and wonderful. Go off the beaten path. Get your clothes and shoes dirty. View the world like you did as a child. I’ve never been anywhere that I didn’t see something I’m in awe of.

The earth changes constantly and you will always see something new.

We travel to see something fresh and new, but really, we can do that everywhere. Get lost. Feel alive in the universe. Let your heart soar with every cloud, every insect, every blade of grass, every interesting person you see.

Find wildlife. Is there anywhere on Earth where there is absolutely no wildlife? Very few. There’s birds nearly everywhere at the very least. There’s no need to go to zoos and see animals in captivity. Just walk in the wilderness and you’ll see the animals, happy and wild and free in nature where they belong. It’s a beautiful thing.

Start a garden. Or many. Gardens are so wonderful. You can get grounded by getting your feet and hands dirty, and grow something beautiful and edible. You feel like you’ve created a new little universe of magical things that you’ve tended from seed.

Go for a drive or bike ride. Just go. See where you end up. Go with your heart. Turn where your heart urges you to. If you find a local park and/or body of water (lake, ocean, pond, rivers) or ANYTHING that calls to your soul, then stop and explore. Have a picnic. Run barefoot. Climb a tree…

Sit on a bench and people watch. People are beautiful everywhere too, even if you’re not seeing a drastically different culture. If you are more of an urban explorer, wander the streets. Talk to strangers. Give a homeless person some food and listen to their life story. Beauty comes from within, do not seek it without. (yeah, same as peace! 😉 )

Play an outdoor sport. Volleyball, rock climbing, hiking, kickball, jump rope, tennis, rollerblading… there are endless ways to feel the joy of being alive and feel it in your bones. If you have kids or companion animals, run around outside with them. Feel the rush.

Act like a tourist. Maybe you’ve lived in your area your whole life or maybe only a few years or less. You could still hire a local tour guide or hop on a local tour and see your area in a totally different way. Or grab some friends or your significant other and explore your city or nature paths or museums like you’ve never seen it before. Maybe you keep telling yourself you’d like to go a particular place in your area- well, now is your chance! Check out the top ‘things to do’ in your area on TripAdvisor and get on it!

Practice gratitude. There’s a lot to be thankful for. Take a deep breath. Look around you and appreciate all you have, and all that life has to offer. The little things matter. You matter. Feel the beauty in your heart and soul.

“The gods envy us. They envy us because we’re mortal, because any moment may be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.” ~Troy

No matter where you are, and whether you can travel near or far or not, you can appreciate life. You can experience something new and exciting. You can love being alive and let it inspire you and others.

You ALL inspire me.

Peace. Love. Travel.

~Brooke

P.S. Then again, if you REALLY want to hop a plane and get the hell outta dodge, check out the post on how to get FREE MILES TO TRAVEL THE WORLD> be excited. 😉

Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” – Alan Keightley