Inward Bound – Maria Shollenbarger writes beautifully about her INNER CHILD on FT.com

The article on FT.com (https://howtospendit.ft.com/travel/208439-splendid-isolation-the-long-way-home has the title ‘Splendid isolation: the long way home’. As for many of us, the COVID-19 treat has disrupted our lives. Even more so if you are already in a break-up or transitioning to another phase in your life. The quarantine isolation has become an Inward Bound journey. I’m referring to the Outward Bound self-discovery and self-development educational organization. Outward Bound organizes outdoor activities that attempt to install and catalyze change in people’s hearts and minds. Outward Bound helps people of all backgrounds progress on skills and mindsets in a challenging outdoor environment. On these trips, mornings and evenings are moments for introspection and contemplation. The whole COVID-19 lockdown seems to have the same effect but without the outdoor activities. The inward bound journey has rocked most people profoundly around the globe, almost at the same time. Most of the change in the hearts and minds goes unseen and unspoken. And then, there was this article in the ‘How to Spend It’ – edition of FT.com

I must confess that I have a somewhat strange relationship with Maria, as a reader of Maria Shollenbarger’s articles in ‘How to Spend It’ (weekend edition of Ft.com). As Maria comments on these luxurious holiday stays, I sometimes wonder how it must be for her. From my own travels (private and business), I know that nothing is the same as the couch at home. And remarkably, it is often a couch that is the main difference between the luxury hotel room and the hotel room. And even though, we often pay more for the exclusive setting, nice food and perfect service, we all know that the company (persons around you) make the real difference. Behind all the beautiful pictures, professional travelers know the solitude.

So, you can imagine that while sipping my Sunday morning coffee, I dove off into the depths of Maria Shollenbarger’s heart unprepared. Her beautiful broken heart even more so, moving my emotions. And then, I’m in great awe when at the end of the article she writes “When I inhale the Pacific, I touch the wild joy of my five-year-old self; then I hold my mother’s hand, small and dry and fragile as a wren, and know it’s true that time does go much faster when we’re older”

Maria refers to being pulled back to her childhood on her morning runs and might even refer to a small synchronicity when she recalls “Bloom where you’re planted” on a bumper sticker. Her inward bound journey is a jewel in the normally posh and glittery world of How to Spend It. Maybe only the hardcore wanderers of the planet know to nurture the ‘inner child’ with the love of the thousands of beautiful people on these travels.

Your inner child is not only your love but the love for people near you and all these beautiful memories. It is your energy, it is your beauty and you take it anywhere you go.

Thank you, Maria for sharing your love with us. Your most miraculous journey and stay in your broken, but ooh so strong heart. As a professional we expected you to quote for the stay as well. As you always do. Overnight stays @ no cost. Daytrips to your most beautiful inner destinations & site seeing: for free.