In just under a month, I will be embarking on one of the biggest adventures of my life to date. I will be taking a trip of a lifetime to explore Egypt. The biggest difference with this trip will be that my darling wife, Isabelle, will not be by my side. Instead, I will be doing this journey with my mother.

Since she retired, my mother has been traveling the world regularly. I asked her a year or so ago where the next big trip would be and she said the only place she still hasn’t been that she’s always wanted to go was Egypt. I’ve been fascinated by Ancient Egypt since I was a child, so it did not take long for me to respond with “I’m in!” We found a guided tour being offered that takes us on a 15 day tour of Egypt, including a week-long Nile cruise.

This trip is all the more important (and meaningful) after the unexpected passing of my mother-in-law this past December. Her death helped reinforce the notion that life is incredibly fragile. We never know what is in store for us day to day, so it is vitally important to live life to the fullest. Isabelle and I have been of this mindset for a while, but we now try to fully embody this concept. That is why she not only supported my decision to go, but when I asked if she wanted to come along, she insisted that I take this trip with my mother.

I am certain that it will be a different experience traveling with my mother. I haven’t really traveled with her before, short of our family trips growing up, and a few weekend shopping getaways to the US in adult years. But the idea of getting to visit Egypt with my mother is one that brings great joy to my heart. It’ll be all the more meaningful to get to experience this together. Watching my mother travel all over has planted that wanderlust seed into my very being.

I’d like to say that I’m getting really excited about this trip, but I’m really not feeling excitement at the moment. I think this trip still seems like a fantasy; I’m not sure I believe it’s really happening. It will undoubtedly concretize over the next couple of weeks as I start to get prepared but, for now, it still seems incredulous. I’ve always dreamt of going to Egypt, but I never truly expected to go. I honestly think that, until I land in Cairo, I may not fully believe that it’s happening.

My departure date is rapidly approaching. Before I know it, I will be getting on an airplane and beginning this journey of a lifetime. I intend to be as mindful as possible during the trip, soaking everything in, and fully embracing the experience. I don’t want to have any expectations; I just want to let the trip unfurl as it is intended to play out. I cannot wait to finally see the Giza Plateau with my own eyes. I cannot wait to visit all of these locations from Ancient Egypt that I have read about since I was a child. And above all, I cannot wait to share these experiences with my mother.

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Food for thought:
What is that one big trip that you’ve been dreaming about?
Where have you always wanted to go, but just haven’t taken the steps to make it happen yet?
What’s holding you back from making it real?