I recently traveled to Scotland to road trip the North Coast 500. In full disclosure, as excited as I am every time I travel, I don't enjoy getting everything sorted before heading out, not to mention managing the air travel, which is only sometimes the most accommodating these days. I enjoy my home and routine, and travel most definitely takes me out of my comfort zone. At the same time, I am aware of the fantastic experience I am about to embark on, so I get it together and shift into anticipation mode. Sure enough, every single time, from beginning to end, the experience refreshes and refills me.
I have visited Scotland several times now. For the past decade, I've made an annual trip with my daughter, who is a world-class traveler. What makes this trip extra special is the scheduled one-on-one time out in our busy lives. It becomes a time to enjoy each other and our many shared interests, which likely would be different in any dynamic, so we've become intentional about honoring this time. Every visit to Scotland speaks to my soul on many levels. The ancient energy held especially in the Scottish Highlands, always feels very kindred to me. So without expectation and daily responsibility, we set off to road trip the NC 500 miles of the Highland coastline, and what an amazing adventure it was.
One of the things I appreciate the most about exploring outside of my comfort zone is the diversity of people we will meet along the way. Although we may prefer different foods, exist in different time zone, speak with varied dialects, or have prominent physical features, our humanness is at the core. Connecting with the human in the many strangers along the way is a validating part of life.
Early on, we met Stephano from Italy, an Inn employee who, in trying his best to rescue us from a drunken neighbor, became one of our new friends for a few days while on the Isle Of Skye. Yep, we learned how he and his partner cultivated an olive farm in Italy and discovered his passion for writing. If you can imagine Mr. Bean in a forty-year-old body, you can experience the joy he emanated. Further along, we stopped for an afternoon "food break" because we like soup, tea, and scone a priority most days while in the UK and found ourselves sharing food with our new German friends also visiting Scotland on Spring break. It turns out they are moving to Philadelphia to our neck of the woods next year. He is an airline pilot and has been on military leave in Germany. Moving along the journey, we shared food again with a generous Highland farming family and their animals at their homestead set in the beautiful landscape. There was also tea to be had (a common theme for sure) with Sue, who taught us how to do felting in the cutest little creative she-shed in the beautiful city of Inverness. One of the many great pleasures of moving about was experiencing the different people from various places while blending in and enjoying the locals.
The landscape in the Highlands is so art worthy and is such an inspiration to the many creators that reside there, and there is such creative energy. Everywhere you turn, there is a tiny art studio where all art mediums, including pottery, watercolors, perfumeries, yummy bakeries, and more, are strewn along the traveled landscape. Needless to say, I needed an extra suitcase to travel home. One day we spent the entire afternoon sitting by the coastline water, coloring and drawing with markers. To say we came home creatively inspired doesn't fully describe the motivation to create. All of this creative energy wasn't generated by just man-made art alone. The nature elements everywhere were another reason for an extra suitcase. The stones, shells, sea glass, feathers, and wood bits inspire me so much. I have always enjoyed creating art from nature's art. From the deep mossy fairy woods to the pristine coastline, nature's art was on beautiful display everywhere we stepped.
Built into the stunning landscape are many ruins, caves, standing stones, cairns, grave sights, and castles that all tell a story of the ancients that lived there before. This girl cracked her head from one such ancient sight; we laughed and said "they" were telling us to move on, but things happen, right? The land's energy and ancient treasure speak to you in ways that open the imagination wide, not to mention the appreciation for exploring a part of our deep history. Whether your ancestry is from Europe or the UK, or not there's an awareness of the lives and the strength, ingenuity, and bravery it took to build some of these structures and survive the land. You cannot help but feel inspired and somehow interconnected to it all.
Among the many photos and shared experiences upon leaving, we left with a renewed perspective. Take the road less traveled, step out, and discover life and its glorious treasures! Coming out of our comfort zone and moving into life and all she shares can be a treasured gift. Spending time together, in shared experience, is elevating. Allowing time away from routine and experiencing diversity can light up the creative imagination and clarify what is truly important in life. I returned home fully aware that I needed to nurture the artistic creator in me. I've always enjoyed art, and stepping out of routine for a bit was the nudge I needed to return fully inspired and ready to lean more heavily into something I know nurtures my soul.
