It’s become sort of second nature for me to draw connections to fairy tales in my everyday life now. Sometimes, it’s frustrating and distracting, but other times, well, I come up with new topics to write about on my blog.
I just got back from a weeklong vacation. I went out to Seattle to visit my friend and writing buddy Audrey, but rather than fly like I normally would, I decided to slow things down and take a train. The trip was about a day and a half each way (though both trips were delayed, one much more than the other). It was an experience that I can’t recommend enough!
As I was preparing for my trip, and as I was sitting watching the scenery go by, I found myself reflecting on the lessons about travel that can be learned from fairy tales.
1. Pack Appropriately
I’m a chronic over-packer, but I made an effort on this trip to really consolidate down to what I’d need. Part of that was simply down to logistics – I couldn’t have my big suitcase with me in the train. There just wasn’t room. So I had to have a bag of things for the train and my suitcase of other things for my time in Seattle. That helped me really prioritize what I needed to take and what could be left behind. To borrow some fairy tale terms, don’t pack glass slippers when what you’ll really need are seven league boots and vice versa.
2. Know What You Want and How to Get It
People have a lot of criticisms of the Little Mermaid, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that she had a clear goal in mind and the determination to reach it (at least in the Disney version). Trips have a singular goal by definition, but it’s helpful to have a small number of concrete goals for a trip or vacation. “Relax” sounds nice in theory, but it’s rather hard to measure. Instead, make a list of places you want to visit, books you want to read, or friends you want to spend time with. Don’t overwhelm yourself with them, but give yourself a framework to follow so you don’t have to make every decision in the moment.
Once you have your goal in mind, take some inspiration from Gerda’s journey in The Snow Queen: ask for directions and advice. Make your own plans, certainly, but don’t be shy about reaching out to people who live in or have traveled to your destination. They’ll have the best recommendations, and they’re often less crowded than the tourist traps.
3. Travel Is Better With Other People
Alternatively: The Real Magic Is The Friends You Make Along the Way. It sounds cheesy, I know, but even for an introvert like me, but travel and trips are better with other people. Hansel and Gretel may have gotten lost, but they got lost together, which made all the difference in thinking their way out of the woods and the witch’s clutches. Trips with family or friends strengthen your bonds, and I fully believe that whatever fun you might have on a vacation is only multiplied by the presence of people you love.
Something that came up specifically on this train trip was meeting new people. When you eat in the dining car, you’re seated with strangers. For the next hour or so, they’re the only company you’ve got. I had some quiet and somewhat awkward meals, sure, but I also met some incredibly friendly and fascinating people! If Snow White taught me anything, it’s that food can bring people together and win over a group of strangers (well, food and cleaning their home, but that’s not an option on a train).
4. Don’t Cling Too Tightly to Plans and Expectations
I know, I know. I had a whole point earlier about making plans and having goals. But here’s the thing: Nothing ever goes according to plan. Trains get delayed (my first train out to Seattle ended up getting in 8 hours behind schedule!). Restaurants are closed. Peas somehow get lodged under the mattress. Being able to adapt to changes, to allow your plans to be flexible, is key. After all, a bad night’s sleep from a pea-sized lump led to a royal wedding in the end.
Goldilocks spends a lot of her story trying to find things that are “just right.” But in the process, she makes a mess of the three bears’ home. More than that, she exhausts herself in her search and doesn’t really seem to enjoy any of what she finds. So pause, take a deep breath, and enjoy the ups and downs.
5. Don’t Ignore the Path for the Goal
Two of my favorite fairy tales are Beauty and the Beast and the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and there’s a lesson they both have in common. Characters in both stories get so fixated on another place that they lose appreciation for the place they’re in. (Granted, in Belle’s case she wants to go home after being held prisoner, so there’s a little more nuance, but for the sake of this argument, we’ll ignore that.) Don’t get so fixated on the end goal that you ignore the beauty of the journey. Seattle was fantastic, as was spending time with my friend Audrey, but the train trip was its own kind of special. Slow down and enjoy the process, not just the end goal.
6. Rest When You Need To
Is it taking the easy way out to use Sleeping Beauty when I’m talking about rest? Probably, especially since she didn’t exactly choose to rest. So let’s look at some other fairy tale heroes who can better teach us about rest and recovery.
In the Goose Girl, the princess comes to the end of a long journey only to be betrayed by her maid, who steals her identity and kills her beloved horse. The princess then spends time herding geese before ultimately prevailing over her enemy and regaining the life she was meant to have. So take a breather after big moments to regain your equilibrium and take stock of things. Like the princess-turned-goose-herder, Vasilisa (of the tale Vasilisa the Beautiful) takes frequent breaks on her own journey, both to rest and to consult the magical doll that’s serving as her guide and companion. Not to mention, the doll only comes to life to aid her after being fed, which is a great reminder to take breaks to eat.
7. Try Something New
Fairy tales are all about trying something new, to varying results. So don’t stay locked up in the tower of your comfort zone on your vacation. Try some local cuisine, challenge yourself with a new activity, or explore a new area. Though I caution you against kissing frogs or stealing from giants.
What travel tips have you found in stories?
Until next time, word nerds!
Kate G. Jameson 