When her marriage ended, writer Laura Fraser went to Italy and met an older Frenchman, whom she writes about in her memoir, "An Italian Affair."  He is married, she is seeking. They make love, dine sumptuously, and explore new places as well as each other. Ultimately, the affair reignites passion she thought was forfeited through her divorce.

 Twenty-five years ago this weekend, my good friend said, "I do." When the marriage ended, she, too, traveled into wonderful new adventures (minus the Frenchman). Seven years later, she has managed to trek the mountains of Bhutan (twice), explore Bangkok, Belize, Brazil and reflect on it all in a nice condo in Tucson. I won't dish about the man.

When endings occur, perhaps the best way to find ourselves is to leave the familiar and explore. As T.S. Eliot wrote: 

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

 How have your travel adventures brought healing to difficult endings in your life?  

---

---