Alain de Botton
I have been reading the Art of Travel by M. de Botton and enjoying some chapters immensely; whilst skipping over others in a trice.
I enjoy this notion about how travel can enable some thoughts to be born, that might otherwise not have come to light or life. He was speaking in particular of train travel and how there is something special about the landscape steadily going by; the way in which you can see ahead of you and behind you for longer than if flying high above; or if actually driving yourself. Something about long horizons.
I think not only do new horizons encourage to think differently; I think the process of moving between places and thinking about the here and the there; and the home and all of these ideas, can encourage new ways of thinking or being.
A daily commute offers new thoughts and thinking as well - even if some of them arise from pure frustration. But I definitely think that moving between places - long multi hour or day trips; or short half hour trips all offer a little bit of this possibility of newness and freshness.
Taken from a moving train, between Inverness and Edinburgh...it's been a while.
I went on my own thought journey after reading this ... thinking of several long trips ... recalling the rhythm of the rails ... and then, inevitably, the train songs came to mind, chief among them one by Walt Wilkins:
ReplyDelete"Here's to the things I need bigger than me
And the moments I find myself right where I'm supposed to be ...
Here's to the trains I missed."
P.S. On my recent Girls' Weekend we answered question cards that ranged from "What's your favorite ice cream flavor?" to "Where would you like to go that you haven't already been?" My answer was Australia or Scotland ...
I love those lyrics Liz - so wise and so beautiful. I too love remembering those trips by rail, clickety clack and gazing, gazing. And the PS - if you ever think that either might happen just yell and we'll be there!!!
DeleteHow appropriate your thoughts on travel and its positive, thought-creating effects are in the face of the current situation. In the last twelve months, I have hugely missed the pleasure of it and I've never been so aware of its value for me personally. It enriches my life and stimulates me, and directly feeds my creativity.
ReplyDeleteSince the pandemeic began in the UK, we have been in three full lockdowns - for around 28 weeks in total since last March. With the oders to stay home, our horizons and our expectations of life have narrowed alarmingly. There has been little new to stimulate. Going out has often seemed to be surprisingly stressful. Even the very occasional and much treasured, permitted visits to see our children and their families have been accompanied by some anxiety.
Will we ever be able to enjoy the stimulation and pleasure of longer distance travel with full confidence again? I do hope so!