Why We’re Embarking on a Family Adventure
When we're born, our brains are unfinished. We start life with about 100 billion neurons — roughly the same as the number of stars in the Milky Way. We don't develop additional neurons, but children create synapses at warp speed, allowing them to learn quickly and navigate the world around them.
My daughter will be three years old next year when we make the trip to Florence. Her brain will be near peak neuroplasticity, making her a walking, talking information sponge. I can't think of a better time and place to introduce new sounds, sights, smells, and experiences. Even if she can't recall many of the trip's details, its impact will be profound.
That's the scientific reason — but there are other, arguably more important reasons to pack our bags and alter our lives for a year.
I love probing people about their lives and experiences, and I've found most people love sharing their stories. I enjoy hearing about exciting moments, challenges, hardships, and victories. I don't ask questions purely out of curiosity or to seem interested but to learn from the successes and failures of others.
Occasionally, conversations leave the surface behind and go deep into the crevices of life — the good, the bad, and the ugly. That's where the precious lessons reside.
Sometimes I'm given conflicting advice. One person may warn against an experience while another claims it's the best thing they've ever done — but I've never had anyone warn against traveling, particularly as a family.
Here are a few more reasons we're taking an extended family trip abroad:
Live with less
Recently, I've become interested in psychology and philosophy. Our relationship with material goods has especially piqued my interest (that's the wealth manager in me). I've studied behavioral economics and examined the biases and heuristics that drive our decisions.
As a result, I've been playing around with the idea of the "philosophy of money."
I'm not aiming for minimalism per se, but I'm excited to leave the bulk of my possessions behind and focus more intently on experiences. The opportunity to test the concepts I've studied is compelling, and I'm optimistic the lessons from this trial will extend well beyond our one-year journey.
Think more
Life can become routine. In some ways, it’s advantageous to wake up at the same time, take the same route to work, and hang around the same group of friends and family every day. But too much routine initiates autopilot, and when we're merely going through the motions, we don't think much.
Traveling, on the other hand, is a thinking multiplier. We encounter new languages, foods, cultural norms, historical references, and traditions at every turn. It's almost impossible to coast when you're in an unfamiliar place.
Florence was the heartbeat of the renaissance, a period known for a revival of learning, discovery, and innovation — perhaps I’ll have my own intellectual rebirth.
Enhance creativity
New ideas are the result of cultural and intellectual stimulation. Writer David Perrell said, "I travel with the same intensity I bring to my work."
I once thought I didn't have much to say. In hindsight, that was true, but only because I wasn't consuming curiosity-triggering ideas and intently paying attention to the world around me.
Writing isn't just a matter of sitting down to compose. The work actually begins by creating a stimulating environment.
More spontaneity
Opposites have a special effect. I love working up a sweat on the tennis court and then jumping in a cold shower, or hyper-focusing on work followed by a meditation break.
Discipline and freedom seem at odds with one another since discipline requires restraint against short-term desires. But the two have a relationship more akin to those described above.
After periods of discipline and routine, instituting a period of spontaneity is refreshing, much like that cold shower after a hot workout.
Expand our comfort zones
When I was a teenager, my legs trembled at the prospect of speaking in public. I first confronted this fear in high school when participating in the theatre program. I'd love to say I did it for self-improvement, but that'd be untrue. In actuality, I wanted to spend more time with my girlfriend. It worked. But being scared shitless on stage was the first step in overcoming my fear of public speaking — someone out there has an embarrassing tape of me playing Tumnus the Faun from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Today, I'm hard to shut up in front of a crowd. This transformation didn't happen on its own. It occurred after being in multiple uncomfortable positions — briefing two-star Air Force generals, speaking on podcasts, appearing on the news, etc.
While traveling, we're on high alert and frequently uncomfortable, but discomfort precedes growth—even standard tasks like figuring out how to get where you're going or ordering food present challenges. But we acclimate, and our comfort zones expand, allowing us to relax and enjoy situations that once caused stress.
Strengthen relationships
I saved the best for last. Creating a new level of bond with my wife and daughter is the ultimate aim. We love our life at home, but new surroundings, a stronger reliance on one another, and shared experiences will create memories and a bond with the staying power of the Pagliazza Tower, Florence's oldest building.
Taking a sabbatical not only forges strong bonds with those you're with but also with those you leave behind — absence makes the heart grow fonder. Time away makes it easy to distinguish valuable relationships from superficial ones. Of course, it's even better when special people take some time to visit and create memories with you, hint hint.
I don't want to reflect on my life and regret not reaching my potential or helping my family reach theirs. Even when days feel long, I remind myself that I won't be here for long. I don't want to waste this precious time. Instead, I want to add as much texture to life as possible — and spending time abroad with my family fits the bill. See you soon, Florence.
