I’ve noticed that some of my acquaintances have put off traveling recently. They often cite anxiety about current events and uncertainty about the future as the reasons. It’s only natural, given those emotions, to want to stay home in the safety of the nest. I wonder, though, if nesting can sometimes be counterproductive. My most anxious friends are using that time at home to doom-scroll as much as to relax.

Perhaps it won’t be surprising to learn that I have the opposite impulse. I figure that the future will be the future, whether or not I go to Gstaad. Planning a trip is a fantastic distraction from the news, and when I’m actually traveling, I’m too busy enjoying a destination to get too wrapped up in current events. A coastal sunset, a scenic hike or a glass of rosé in a picturesque old plaza can all instill a sense of deep contentment.

I’m fortunate to live in a beautiful place, but it’s terribly easy to take it for granted and not really see it. However, if I find myself somewhere different that’s gorgeous, it’s immediately arresting and my mind remains squarely in the present moment.