Several years ago, while working for Lindblad Expeditions, I had the privilege of meeting many budding travellers. Both Alaska and Baja California are popular family cruise spots, so during the summers and school holidays those weeks were often packed with families. One week, I met a young girl named Sophie. She was traveling with her grandparents. I’ve stayed, slightly, in touch with them, and every so often get updates on Sophie. This is a letter to her, to my friends’ son Thomas, and to all the children who dream of seeing the world.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go
Dear Sophie,
It seems like just the other day I met you, wide eyed and curious, on board the Sea Lion. Your enthusiasm for Alaska was palpable, and your curiosity was infectious. I will never forget the glee and wonder I saw in your eyes when we watched the whales feeding at sunset.
Do you still think of those whales? Of the thrill of seeing them from the dinner table, and rushing outside to stand at the bow and listen to the blow? Or of the stillness of the water and the ripples they made as they dove to great depths? The way the water cascaded off their tails? (I do.)
What are you doing now, Sophie? Are you still dreaming of seeing the world? Still learning about wildlife, geology, and ecology? Is your room lined with maps, do you collect globes? Do you peruse atlases like old friends? (I do.)
I hope so.
The world needs people like you, Sophie. We need smart, passionate, young travellers to remind us about what’s out there, to trail blaze new paths, and to help us push the boundaries of exploration. We need your innocent awe when we see whales breach, and we yearn for the eager energy that comes with a new destination, whether it be Antarctica or Italy.
Embrace it. As Leann Rimes says, I hope you never lose your sense of wonder.
Dear Thomas,
I remember when I met you. You were weeks old, bundled up in a comfy wrap, sleeping away at a graduation party. I drank apple martinis at your first birthday party (you wouldn’t remember that). And I’ve watched you grow into an intelligent and curious boy, one who proudly pulls his atlas out to tell me about all the places he wants to go. A boy who loves to learn about a destination, to see pictures, and to watch videos of wildlife.
When I travelled across Australia, I couldn’t help but know that you and your siblings would love it. The wildlife is incredible and the landscapes are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I hope you go while you’re young… and I hope you go back when you’re older. Places change, and places change us. Our world is so unique, and I hope you realise that.
I feel honoured, Thomas, to be the one planning your next few adventures. You will never be the same, having seen the moon from the other side of the world. Mary Anne Radmacher said that, and I truly believe it.
Sophie, Thomas
This is what I hope for you. I cannot promise it will happen, but I can promise I’ll do everything I can to make the world a better place for you to travel and explore.
I hope you take every advantage of traveling. Embark on journeys far and wide to learn, to cherish, and to revel in the beauty of our planet. Understand other cultures. Know they are just like you and me. They may live somewhere else, they might speak another language, but often they face the same challenges and the same triumphs we do.
“Every single place, every one of a hundred thousand cities, had its own special sunset, and it was worth going there, just once, if only to see the sun go down.” Ryū Murakami said that. Leonardo da Vinci said, “for once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will long to return.” I could go on
Protect our planet. We are losing wildlife species at an unprecedented rate. Generations from now, Sophie, may never get the chance to see a humpback whale breach in Alaska. Polar bears, Thomas, might be extinct. You have the power to change this. I hope you see that.
From one traveller to another, “Life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorise poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone…It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn’t it?” (Donald Miller).
Love, Sarah
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Sarah is a luxury travel advisor and avid traveller. Paper, Ink, & Passports Travel is a full-service travel consulting and design company. We craft custom itineraries for destinations around the world. An Aussie Specialist, New Zealand Gold Specialist, Ireland Specialist, and Scotland Expert. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation for your next adventure!