by Elizabeth Hines
Grieving for the loss of a loved one, whether a person or a pet or even a relationship itself, can be challenging for the best of us. Grief hits us all differently, and there’s a healing journey everyone has to embark on. Our journeys, in this sense, are ours and will happen in their own ways.
However, while there are plenty of coping mechanisms out there, some better or healthier than others, today I’m going to guide you to a beneficial one. Travel. Otherwise known as a journey in the very literal sense.
During this trying time with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel has become a bit of a complicated subject, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, or should be avoided completely. This, and more, is what we’re going to be talking about today.
The Art of Healing Travel
Traveling to grieve is a very real and practiced thing. If you’ve lost a loved one, the chances are that being around your own space
where that person lived, where you shared a life, and where you had memories with each other can be incredibly trying because you’re constantly reminded of your loss.
I’m not saying you need to move away to start over, to forget about them, and to move on with your life basically. Far from it. The idea of grieving travel is to put yourself out of your comfort zone and into a place with new experiences. This can give your mind a chance to rest and recover, a minute to breathe, so to speak.
“What’s more, traveling allows you to become a kinder, much more accepting person. You learn to become grateful for what you have and the experiences you’ve had, especially with your loved one,” explains Sarah Harper, a lifestyle writer at Dissertation service and Write my essay.
As Dr. Seuss once said, don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.
Plan Your Type of Trip
According to Dr. Karen Wyatt, there are six types of trip you can embark on to process death or loss, and taking a moment to think about your own trip and what kind of journey you want to go on can be extremely beneficial in giving you focus, and helping you heal in a way that’s positive to you.
The six trip types are;
· Contemplative
· Active (physical)
· Informative
· Intuitive
· Restorative
· Commemorative
Sure, you could take a trip that encompasses several of these things in one go but taking some time to think about which one is best for you, maybe you could phase this as a core
idea, can help you decide where to go, what activities you want to do, and what you’re trying to get out of it.
For example, a commemorative trip might involve going to your loved one’s favorite place one more time with friends to remember the
good times and to get closure from the experience surrounded by people who feel the same.
On the other hand, an active trip may be to distract yourself from your feelings, maybe to escape and clear your mind. They say escaping your feelings is a bad thing, but I’m not saying you should push them down and forget that they’re there.
What I am saying is that you’re taking time to breathe, to give yourself something to think about and focus on, and a chance to reset. A friend of mine loved going skiing, and when a friend passed away, he returned to the slopes for a time out from everyday life to help him process what had happened.
Traveling During COVID-19
“Of course, the chances are you’re not going to want to travel during the pandemic, and you probably shouldn’t. That being said, if you want to escape to the Great Outdoors, perhaps renting a cabin somewhere, going for walks in your local area (remaining socially distanced), or even took a day trip somewhere, this is well and good, as long as you’re safe and considerate of others and the rules in your area,” shares Lisa Watts, a psychology blogger at Revieweal and Writing populist.
Sometimes, even just going through the process of planning a trip can be incredibly helpful, especially if you’re planning a big trip after pandemic restrictions are lifted.
Conclusion
Travel is not just a way to escape the mundaneness of everyday life but can be a powerful tool when it comes to healing, self-discovery, and processing life experiences, and if you’ve lost someone close to you, then it’s something well worth looking into.
Elizabeth Hines is a lifestyle and mental health at Study demic and Academized review. In her articles, she writes about helping people come face-to-face with their fears and how to address negative feelings and emotions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also writes for online magazines and blogs, such as Best essay writing services, and others.
