If you are a frequent reader of this site, you’ll know that I travel quite a bit, but haven’t been, not since leaving China in May 2020.
I think I have gone to one new place since the pandemic, The Denver Selfie Museum.
I personally have chosen not to travel during the pandemic, mostly because 55 hours on a plane coming home from China wasn’t exactly fun. What it did was give me a bit of anxiety around air travel, at least until this pandemic settles down.
It was my duty to not travel so I could prevent the spread.
I know there are a lot of us out there being not very understanding of those who are choosing to travel. If this is you, you’re not alone. I have been there too. I know people who have still been traveling during the pandemic. But people traveling during the pandemic has brought a rise to a new term.
Travel Shaming.
What is Travel Shaming?
Travel Shaming is when a person purposefully shames a traveler for going on vacations while in the middle of the pandemic. Or something to that effect. I’m sure someone else out there has put the term more eloquently.
I don’t want to travel shame people because some people really do have to travel for work.
Even a ton of travel bloggers were still traveling and still are traveling even though the entire world isn’t in the clear. To an extent, I understood why they were because it was their job. But travel bloggers weren’t the only people whose jobs were affected by covid.
There is no doubt that people are facing major backlash and travel shaming.
To me, it never made sense, people traveling during the pandemic, unless it was absolutely necessary (i.e. work and such). I see people needing to get away from the pandemic and the stress of it all, which I understand.
Always Justifying the Exception to the Rule
I want to travel, and times have been hard, so I deserve it right? If I’m feeling a certain kind of way, I can make an exception for myself or justify a reason to buy that airplane ticket.
Everyone thinking this way has sort of gotten us into a bigger mess.
One person who thinks they can travel whenever just because they need to get away, isn’t any different than the other 2,000 people who have the same thought.
It’ll still be 2,000 people making the exception. And 2,000 opportunities to get sick. 2,000 opportunities to get the people around you sick. To me. It never made sense. And I know people will get mad at me for it. That’s okay.
It has been hard for everyone, and I don’t think anyone is the exception to a break while there are thousands who feel the same and still choose to power through to protect others.
That being said, I also don’t know what anyone is going through, but I know the collective trauma of what we’re facing is unlike anything we have faced before.
But when it comes to travel shaming. I don’t do it, because in some ways, a lot of people are just doing their best and they may be one moment away from losing it.
What is Travel Envy?
With travel shaming comes the rise of something that has been around a lot longer.
Travel envy.
Travel envy is when you observe a person going on a vacation or traveling, and you basically wish you could be doing the same.
You’ve seen it before. You’ve seen people you love, friends and family, traveling somewhere you want to go, possibly without you and you feel angry, upset, jealous, because they’re on vacation and you aren’t. Travel envy is a real thing.
I have definitely had more travel envy going on than I have travel shaming. I mostly miss travel. I miss being able to see new places. I miss spending weekends somewhere other than my own home.
Now I work from home, and it is maddening. I miss travel. So, when I see other people are doing it, I get envious, wishing that were me.
Some might look at that and say, “Well, go travel and quit complaining.”
But I won’t. Not until I am vaccinated, at least. I want others who don’t feel safe in this pandemic to feel safe, and if that means me staying at home, that’s what I plan to do. It’s my choice.
My Choice to Not Travel
My choice to not travel shouldn’t automatically be counted as travel shaming.
Do I agree with people traveling during the pandemic. No. I don’t. I think there is too much risk involved and I have too many people I love that I don’t want to get sick because I am itching to get out of my house.
Am I going to tell people that they should or shouldn’t travel. No. Because it’s none of my business.
5 Ways to Stop Travel Shaming
Maybe you consider this post a sort of travel shaming. The topic has been heavy on my mind. Something I’m trying to process. I’m trying to figure out the right answer to whether or not we should be traveling during a pandemic, and really, I don’t have an answer to that.
So instead, I’ve put together this list of ways to stop travel shaming others during the pandemic.
1. Trying to Be Understanding
When it comes to traveling during the pandemic, I try to consider all reasons people might be traveling in the first place. It might be easier for a person to recognize that you probably don’t really know the circumstances for travel.
We like to pretend we know a person’s situation, but I’ll say with 100% confidence, that we don’t usually know anything about a person’s situation or their reason for travel.
Instead, I’ll try to fathom all the reasons they might be doing it.
2. Recognize Your Envy
More than likely, you’re not actually mad at the person traveling as much as you’re envious of the person’s travel. If you’re like me and feel it’s the right thing to stay at home until you are at least vaccinated, but you still feel hot with rage because someone is going to a cool place and you’re not, then you might be just feeling envy.
Before you snap at someone or get short with them for traveling, try to address your own emotions first. If you are reacting to an article like this, or someone’s beautiful travel posts on Instagram and Facebook, take a deep breath before responding or just keep scrolling. It’s not worth the fight.
3. Remind Yourself This Will Not Be Forever
We already know this has been lasting far longer than we wanted. And on days when I feel like I’m losing my mind, instead of saying f*ck it, I’m just going to travel, I think about all those I want to protect by staying home.
After that, I think of all the travel I will still get to do in the future. Why? Because I know that there will be an end in sight. I just know it won’t be like this forever and I’ll be able to travel again.
The very thought comforts me.
4. Think Of Your Future Travels
Instead of wasting energy travel shaming, start planning your trips. Start saving your money. One of the benefits of being in the pandemic is we could save up for some really beautiful trips in the future. We can splurge on them, if you will.
My friend and I, who travel each year together, are already working our way up to traveling again. We are getting our vaccines and we are preparing for some future journeys. But we are making sure we are taking all precautions first because we feel its the right thing to do.
5. Focus On Other Things That Light You Up
I love to travel, but I also love writing.
And thankfully, writing has become a massive piece to keeping my overall sanity. I was able to channel a lot of my frustrations through my writing. I was able to share it and even make some money off of it. I started writing for Elephant Journal, and have truly enjoyed the time I have spent writing since the pandemic. That doesn’t mean I miss travel though.
I even started writing my first novel, The Lost Pleiad. I had plenty of other passions that I could focus on while my travel was put on hold.
Some of you may not have that, and that’s okay. But it is an option. You may find you’re interested in something you never considered you would be. Keep yourself busy if you can.
My Final Thoughts on Travel Shaming
This is a very tough topic for people to talk about. There are some who, hard stop don’t agree with traveling during the pandemic, some who don’t think it’s a big deal.
You travel you’re irresponsible and lack civility, if you don’t travel you’re a fearful sheep. There is no winning.
I think I summed up how felt about travel shaming. And I’m sorry if I upset anyone with this post. But I also wholeheartedly want to see this all end. I miss living life without worrying about the health and safety of those I care about.
I know many will say it’s not real, it’s a hoax, or you shouldn’t care. But I do. I want people to be well. I want people to feel safe. And I know a lot of people out there don’t. I personally know people had or have COVID, people I hold very dear.
It is not a joke. The reality is, we could’ve probably been passed this had it been handled differently. But ever there I don’t have the answers. I don’t have the answers to travel shaming either.
I don’t have the answers to the pandemic. But what I can do is what I feel is best for me, my friends, my family, and my neighbors. For me, that is not traveling until it is safe to do so.
