Even on vacation, it’s easy to get sucked into the future.
You lie in bed, not even fully awake yet, and your mind is already strategizing. What am I going to eat for lunch? Dinner? Where should I go? What kind of food do I want? How much can I spend?
All these questions flood your brain before your feet even touch the floor—or sometimes, they flood in after a long day of sightseeing, just as you’re trying to fall asleep.
Why?
Because our minds often struggle to sit still in the present. We crave control. We try to plan, predict, and perfect the future—even when we’re supposed to be relaxing.
Maybe you’re like me, wide awake in the early hours while everyone else is sleeping in. You’re sitting on the couch in your hotel room as your friends and family snore away, soaking in that vacation sleep schedule. But instead of joining them, your mind is racing—dreaming up more things to do, see, eat, and experience. After all, you’re in a whole new country, and every second feels precious.
You think: I should walk more, explore more, eat more, feel more.
But in doing so, we often miss what’s happening right in front of us. We’re so focused on what’s next that we forget the joy of what is.
Even sitting in a quiet hotel room waiting for your crew to wake up is part of the experience. That silence? That’s travel too. That’s life. And it’s worth noticing.
If we can’t train our minds to return to the present—if we constantly wander through the what-ifs and to-do lists—we miss the taste of that exciting new dish, the beauty of live street music, or the rich culture pulsing through night markets, temples, and alleyway food stands.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place to plan. I love a solid itinerary as much as anyone. But planning shouldn’t swallow every waking moment.
We need time to live, to feel, and to enjoy.
That’s why I’ve started meditating and praying each morning while the rest of my group sleeps. It’s not just for clarity—it’s to anchor my mind in the now. I want to be ready to actually experience the sights, sounds, smells, and (yes) tastes of Thailand throughout the day.
Speaking of which—can someone pass me a plate of Thai curry (please, a little less spicy)?
Or some pad Thai, pad see ew, tom yum goong, mango sticky rice, or maybe even some durian sticky rice. Or just durian. Or papaya salad. Washed down with a sweet, icy Thai tea.
This list might grow faster than my appetite.
Blind Can You Can 