13 Comments

This is a great reminder. Insha Allah you will take your babies one day and watch their wonder, and it’ll be wondrous 🖤🖤

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💕💕one day, insha Allah!

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Nice piece, Samantha, and thanks for the mention! Growing up in the UK, I didn’t get to visit Disneyland as a child but took my son when he was five, and we all were charmed by the magic. Later I visited Disneyland Paris on an expenses-paid press junket and found the whole enterprise shallow and tacky.

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You're very welcome, Mark--I really enjoyed your post! Disneyland is definitely most enjoyable when you're with someone who can suspend disbelieve and buy into the "magic." I don’t think I want to go back again without kids, as I'm a bit nervous it would ruin it for me entirely!

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Wondrous pictures and insights, Sam! It’s also a timely reminder of the value of travel and the importance of feeling awe at new experiences as we plan an upcoming trip to an as yet undecided destination. The shot of Mirror Lake takes my breath away. For me, the wonders of Yosemite will never cease to amaze.

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Thanks, Ruth! I agree so much about Yosemite...that photo was taken with my plain old iPhone 🤯 it’s such an incredibly photogenic place, and it makes you feel so small.

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One of my favorites for sure, and your picture captured it at its most magnificent. That’s something that you caught it on a “plain old iPhone”! I often seem to land there in late August when the lake may have dwindled to mere puddle stage. Clearly I need to return at another time of year!

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What a lovely essay! You are reminding me of my four years living in Prague. When I would ride into the city on the 20 tram, there is a point where the tram descends a bluff, and you can see the entire old city, with red roofs, the sparkling river, bell towers, arched bridges--the whose glorious spectacle--spread out below you. The first time I saw it, I thought to myself, “I refuse ever to get jaded about this view. Every time I see it, I will feel gratitude and joy!” And it worked!

Now I live in Switzerland, and I have the same attitude to the mountains. Alas, this feeling isn’t universal. When out driving with my kids, they have been known to protest, “Mom! Stop pointing out mountains to us!” 😂

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Thank you so much, Mari! Ah, I love Prague--and love that you made that promise to yourself and were able to keep it. I'm with you on mountains. Each one is unique and stunning in its own interesting way!

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Such glorious photos. I love the pop of pink umbrellas!

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☺️ thanks Vicki! That was truly one of most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

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Awesome article. I think if we go out traveling chasing some sort of high, we get tired and the rose tinted glasses fall off quickly. But when we go out there with an open mind and an open heart, that magic seems to find us again. Thanks for the read.

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Thank you, Brian--glad you enjoyed it! :)

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