Email this page
April 29, 2011
Welcoming “all rivers” into our lives
After many years of travel, it still never ceases to amaze me what I remember most from my journeys around the world. Sometimes it’s a person I meet, or a feeling I get when I visit a particular place, but it’s always a moment that stays with me long after I’ve returned home.
Alan and I recently traveled to Mexico and experienced a traditional Mayan cleansing ceremony. I can still recall sitting beside him, surrounded by the rest of our group, as steam emanated from a deep hole in the ground filled with hot rocks. But it wasn’t the power of the ceremony, or the connection with nature and the Mayan ancestral spirits that left a lasting impression on me. It was something the woman leading the prayer said: “The ocean accepts all rivers.”
The more I think about these words, the more I’m convinced of how it speaks so truthfully about the incredible power of travel. As we explore, we come across cultures and religions that differ dramatically from our own. Our challenge is in our acceptance of these differences. After all, the ocean doesn’t care if a river is muddy or clean, brown or blue, calm or raging. It is a body of water into which all of these rivers flow. In the same way, we must embrace diversity every time we travel.
Since my return from Mexico, I’ve been sharing this quote with almost everyone I encounter—my family and friends, OAT associates, and even our travelers. I recently spoke to a group of travelers visiting Boston in March for one of OAT’s Get Together events. I told them about my visit and this powerful message—and I encouraged them to embrace the diversity of the world around them as they travel.
It was so gratifying to hear from our travelers about how their journeys have changed their own lives—like Marilyn Pula, who shared a deeply moving story about how she was not only able to change the life of her Trip Leader in Thailand, but in turn, experienced her own life-changing moment. You can read more about this wonderful connection across cultures in our Traveler Stories.
Listening to—and speaking with—our travelers always reminds me of the powerful effect travel has on our lives. By opening our hearts—and accepting all rivers—we’re not only changing others’ lives … we’re changing our own.
We will spotlight Thailand in upcoming editions of Harriet’s Corner. If you’ve visited this region with OAT, I’d love to hear about your experiences—and see your photos. Share them with me at harriet@oattravel.com.
Harriet Lewis