In today’s world, it is easier to get around than ever. Most destinations, at this point, are one car drive, air flight, or train ride away. This has enabled us to visit places and have experiences that would have otherwise been inaccessible at any other time in human history. But, in constantly traveling from points A to B, we have overlooked what our life experience could be on a more localized level.
To make my stance clear, I totally believe that getting out into the world plays a role in living our best life; many of my greatest memories took place somewhere I needed to travel out to. Something I have also considered for a while, however, is the amount of time specifically lost to sitting in the car.
I used to always find myself out somewhere doing something. As I have come to understand my motivations and values as an adult, though, I have found myself appreciating various aspects of staying home and in surrounding areas more. This isn’t to say that I have ditched driving my car entirely and that’s how it will be from here on out; the way I go about my life is always subject to change. But I think there is something to say about traveling around less. That being said, here are the observations I’ve made over the last year and a half of staying more localized.
It Has Slowed the Pace of My Life
Maybe driving 60 mph just makes time seem like it’s going by fast (since surroundings are passing much quicker than if walking, after all). But, driving only a few days a week (per my hybrid work role) has made a difference in how fast it seems life is passing.
It seems like there are fewer places to rush to. And when it seems like there is less of a rush, the pace of life seems much more moderate and manageable in comparison. Driving around less has really helped me regain the sense of living a life that’s not passing me by.
It Has Given Me Time Back
For all the time I would have spent in the car getting to where I need to go, I have redirected that time into tasks I deem more productive and my hobbies.
Am I losing out on going to that particular place? Yes, but while it’s impossible to meet every single need within your immediate vicinity, there are oftentimes ways to do/recreate that same thing at home (an exception being essential services such as medical appointments). More on this below.
It Has Shown Me What I Can Do at Home
You’d be surprised about what you can recreate at home with the necessary supplies and a little bit of skill-building.
Some fun examples I tried recently were making lavender tea bread and lavender ice cream at home. It’s so great to have supplies on hand instead of needing to run to the store or go out each time to have premium food items, clothes, and/or other products.
It Has Enabled My Creativity to Flourish
As mentioned earlier, the pace of my life seems like it has slowed to a more manageable pace, and there are pockets of time I’ve been able to tap into more. These two factors seem like they have resulted in an increase in my overall creativity.
I really ramped up various creative projects over the last year and a half while staying more localized. This includes knitting sweaters for my winter wardrobe, vocal training, and writing for Altstreamer, to name a few.
It Has Proven that Life Can Be Exciting Anywhere
Repeat this with me: you don’t need to go everywhere to live and enjoy life. As cliché as it may sound, the possibilities of what you can do are endless; the only things limiting you are your imagination, basic supplies, and some basic knowledge.
I challenge you to take up one new activity and/or item you can achieve at home. Not only will you reclaim some time, but you will also have the ability to say, “Wow, I really just did that!”, which is a great reward in and of itself.
Final Thoughts
Those are my perspectives on why I tend to stay more localized. There is so much I have gained while staying around here, and I can say for certain that it was time well directed.
Will I continue taking this approach over the next six months or year? There is a probable chance that I will continue driving less overall, but I also see myself getting back into the world more than I have over the last year and a half. Which, for me, I see as a plus as someone who has more introverted tendencies anyways.
Now I want to open the floor to you. What do you think about staying more localized amid all the places and experiences to try out? What do we have to gain/lose when opting for one choice over the other? Be sure to share what you think; I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this.