Making social connections while traveling is one of my favourite parts of travel. Whether it be re-connecting with old friends or family, making stronger connections with newer friends, or meeting new social connections entirely. As I prepared for my combination work-pleasure trip to our nation’s capital – Ottawa – I was exhausted after a lengthy season of grant-writing and had just received multiple positive announcements of funding we’d been advocating for. My mind was full. A part of me was more than content with the idea of hiding away in my hotel for the weekend and creating a little cocoon until the conference that was the primary purpose of the trip.
Then I reminded myself of the efforts I’d been wanting to make around re-connecting while traveling with those who are important to me. I reached out to some old friends I’d been out of touch with, and family that I hadn’t seen for far too long.
I made a small priority list of places and things I love that I wanted to connect with while in the area too.
Sometimes, with people, places, and things that were once important to us, but we’ve become disconnected from, it can feel like a chore to initiate. But I wanted to make the most of my trip so that I would return home feeling refreshed and reconnected – not just rested.
Then there would be the conference where I wanted to challenge myself to return home with some new connections and ways of working that would energize me.
Reconnecting socially with old friends was one of the highlights of my travels. I’d forgotten how these friends were people I’d felt so comfortable and connected to – and how much I’d missed them. We laughed and caught up on the many changes in each of our lives and I was so happy to have made the effort to reach out.
Ironically one re-connect happened when I did something I rarely do while I’m traveling.
I typically make a point of mostly staying offline during the trip and then possibly sharing a few photos afterward. With the exception of when I have traveled for the express purpose of sharing the experience (i.e. as a social media influencer). I do this for two reasons: 1) safety – I don’t want to advertise that I am away and open up my home, etc. to vulnerability and 2) I try to stay in the moment and just be, rather than feel a need for the Instagram and selfie moments. But one of the activities I chose to do was to visit a couple of independent bookstores. I love all things books and I wanted to make more of a point on my travels of checking out local shops. The recommendation of a friend that brought me to this fantastic woman-owned and operated feminist bookstore was phenomenal.
After leaving with a nice haul of books recommended by the owner I wanted to give her shop a shout out online.
Next thing a friend who I had known to live in a city nearby had reached out asking if I was in Ottawa – and it turned out that she lives in Ottawa now. We got to spend a lovely afternoon shopping for pottery, having lunch and then tea together while we caught up.
Part of my time was spent reconnecting with some of the spots I’ve always loved visiting when in Ottawa in the past – like the Canadian History Museum, and the Parliament buildings. A colleague/friend and I also went to some great local pubs, Question Period, as well as the National Gallery – a place I’d walked by but not previously visited.
My colleague and I had an opportunity to become better friends on our trip, while we also getting re-energized for our work. We returned home after packing a lot of personal and professional activities in. You know I’m reminded that all relationships require intentional effort to be engaged and maintain and grow the connections that we make.
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