We’re approaching another major holiday in these surreal times, and Thanksgiving will probably look and feel different for many of us. Well, not for my immediate family exactly. Yesterday, we journeyed back up to the Smoky Mountains to our place in Waynesville, NC. Our happy place. Our home away from home. Just our own immediate family bubble. But if you’re not able to celebrate Thanksgiving as you historically have, and are feeling out of sorts because of this latest disruption, I ask you to chew on this.
When life tosses us big challenges, we serve ourselves and others better when we break big things into smaller, bite-sized, more manageable pieces. Chew on this also: GRIT. Not grits -- though I highly recommend grits anytime as one of the best comfort foods. G.R.I.T., instead, is Guts, Resilience, Initiative & Tenacity. Remember these character traits when you summon your courage to chew on porterhouse-sized servings but in small bites, and at least twenty chews before swallowing.
The world continues to offer us steps forward and backward, and in my business as a trusted travel advisor, I face the challenges that the world hands me with the same mindset as I’ve just suggested to you, one small bite at a time. Though we’re not there yet, travel must play a large role in our rebound for two reasons: 1) the sheer size of the travel sector in the global economy (10% of both GDP and number of people employed); and 2) the innate need that humans have to see, explore and connect with others – face to face.
My business isn’t just to book trips as a transactional experience, and I don’t specialize in a specific type of travel or a destination or region. Instead, I specialize in my clients and I orchestrate their travel dreams, so that when the time comes, the experience of consulting, planning, confirming is as enjoyable and stress-free, as the actual travel will be when the wheels are up, one small bit at a time.
More to chew on…
Destination Inspiration: On the rise for 2021 Familiar, and not so familiar places to dream about
Upcoming Webinar: Off the Beaten Path in Peru
When: Wednesday, December 2nd at 5pm CST
Space will be limited, so register today!
Register here
Philip James Travel thanks you once again for opening and reading my newsletter. I'd love to hear from you and know what you're thinking about travel in the near and long terms. Please stay well.
-Philip
“Move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else's shoes or at least eat their food. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move."
Anthony Bourdain, 1956-2018 – American Chef, Author, Travel Journalist
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