Travel blues

Good to have you back!

Have you ever suffered from travel blues? I'd love to share with you how I felt after my trip.

Somehow, I needed a moment to get back into writing. I dare say that not traveling was intense! Wow, what a rollercoaster...

After being away for so long, I finally saw my friends and family again. Lots of happy times, familiar faces. But still... I didn't really feel at home. As if my mind was still wandering somewhere else. Even now, I realize I'm still living with the habits I picked up along the way. Perhaps I'm holding on to them because, deep down, I'm not ready to truly be back.

You don't want to let it go so badly.

But it slips away from you, as if everything was a distant memory.

It was hard.

Out of sheer curiosity, I typed into Google: 'What is wrong with me after my trip?'.

And then I came across the term "travel blues ." Ooh my... I didn't even know those words existed! But wow, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

How do you even explain this feeling?! My days on the road were filled with endless "wows"! Every day brought something new: breathtaking places, unexpected encounters, a sense of freedom, adventure… life in its purest form. Not a single day felt boring or obvious.

And then suddenly... you're back home. In your familiar surroundings, your own bed, your street, your supermarket. Of course you want to see everyone again, and honestly? That felt pretty exciting too!

It was truly a warm and cozy reunion! Full of hugs, beautiful stories, and that wonderful feeling of familiarity. And yet... somewhere deep inside, something still bothered me, as if something were missing.

I soon realized that not much had changed around me. The same roads, the same faces… only I had changed. I had to learn to "acclimatize" again, but this time in my own life. A strange feeling, indeed!

The freedom I felt on the way… it was indescribable.

What a loss. The rain in our small country didn't make things any better; everything suddenly felt so gray and cold. I couldn't find my feet (anymore), didn't know what was wrong with me. My emotions felt flattened, I couldn't be happy, and mostly felt like... nothing.

And that is so unlike me.

Luckily, I'd written down my experiences during the trip. Rereading them immediately brought me back to those oh-so-crazy, wonderful moments. For a moment, I felt it again: that freedom, that intensity, that pure happiness. Tears streamed down my cheeks; I only wanted one thing: to be back, to be there.

I clung desperately to the memories, but still, I fell into a black hole. Because yes... I was back home. Everyone had already heard my stories, and after a while, interest faded. Perfectly normal, of course. But for me, it felt like saying goodbye, and that just hurt.

Ooooh my… I just let it all wash over me.

Getting used to things... yes, that was it, mostly. A really hard adjustment. So I went back to work, something with bills that unfortunately don't pay themselves. It helped me clear my head, get back into a rhythm, and gradually settle back into that familiar, Belgian, routine life.

Still, I absolutely didn't want to give up. On the contrary! I feel so grateful for this incredible adventure! My most beautiful whenaflamingofly trip ever!

Simply put: it was FANTASTIC!

Have you also experienced these emotions after your journey?! A journey may end on paper, but it lives on within you. That experience and all the wisdom you gained along the way will stay with you forever.

I or you will never forget this crazy, beautiful, unforgettable adventure.

A memory to cherish deep in your heart.

And anyway... new trips are coming. New dreams. New plans. Who knows what else will come your way, or mine.

This piece simply had to be included; it's part of the travel story, and it feels good to share it with you.

Love & kisses, Helena 💖🦩