Seat wiped down. Laptop bag under the seat. Earbuds in. Ready to go. A quick nap as the plane pushes away from the jetway. For many of us, work travel was more than just meeting a colleague, a presentation to a client or mega-conference in some vast expanse of never-ending breakouts. Travel is a way of connecting with the world – of touching the sky for a few moments. Travel is the rush of landing in a new city, with new rules, new people, new food. No matter how mundane the trip may have been, the journey was still part of the rush.

I have never been a ‘road warrior’ the way many are – I’m not a super-schwank status member on any airline. But I have deeply loved travel for work and pleasure as part of how I stay connected with the world. Growing up in 2 cultures (German and American), the joy of air travel has been baked into my DNA from my first breath. And now being grounded for more than a year feels like being helplessly anchored down. Wonder Woman’s invisible jet sounds like a pretty great purchase right now: fly (mostly) unseen, land anywhere, evade radar and customs….  

Zoom calls, WhatsApp, long-form emails, and texting ridiculous memes with loved ones around the world have helped to blunt the sense of being disconnected. And vacationing close to home in a tent has helped to meet the need to explore. And still – there are things we can be doing to stay connected with the world when it all seems so very far away. I assembled some noteworthy ideas from friends and family to help reconnect with the world:

1. Become a “local citizen” – I grew up in a military family where we moved around a lot. I continued this gypsy lifestyle as an adult, and then took jobs that required a great deal of travel. I considered myself a citizen of the world. As a result, I invested very little of my free time in the local events, volunteer opportunities, arts and culture in my own neighborhood. Digging in to support my hometown during the financial uncertainty of these times, I met folks from all over the world who are creating a global village right here in my backyard.
2. Armchair travel – Research and plan and explore so that as soon as it’s safe again, you are ready to go. An enterprising friend of mine is pulling together a calendar of her bucket list locations and the “perfect” time of year to visit them. I may just throw a dart and start to plan. As soon as the world opens up again, be ready to go with your bags packed and an itinerary already locked in and well-researched.
3. Global news – International news (for me in German) in long-form video or audio helps keep my language skills in good shape, but also plugs me into the news stories of the day from different perspectives. Hearing how others are struggling with lockdown, focused on their children’s mental health and education, finding creative solutions for isolated seniors – it brings home our shared humanity and struggles we are all facing.
4. Music from around the world – Thanks to my inquisitive teenager, we’ve been listening to playlists from different countries each day. Yesterday was Thai Alternative and Indie, today is Japanese anime theme songs. This exploration has shaped new questions and conversations about lyrics, instruments, dance and musical styles. 
5. Get outdoors – Playing outside is still the safest place to be. Even in the cold of winter, a walk outside, snow-shoeing, a bike ride, tent camping are all safe ways to get out of our homes, neighborhoods and meet the need to explore. 2 hours outdoors has proven to do wonders for our mental health. 

Nothing can fully replace the thrill of getting on a plane and traveling somewhere new. And even an invisible jet doesn’t solve for the challenges we are all facing during this global pandemic. I’m hopeful that these recommendations can help the world feel a bit smaller for you – if even for just a few moments.

And now it’s your turn – what are you doing to stay connected with the world?