The Santillo Family Travel Credo – Mapping Values to Keep on Track

Maybe you, too, have a Travel Credo. Or, perhaps you don’t need one because you have a better memory than I do. That is to say, perhaps you are able—day in and day out, country to country—to always keep in mind your travel-related goals and aspirations.

Or, if you’re more like me than you want to admit, perhaps you should have a travel credo. A credo, in general, is like an inspirational poster on your office wall, where you display your most important ideas for constant overt reminding. It is particularly useful for declaring values, goals, hopes, and in some cases, dreams.

For years, our family has spoken aloud a credo before mealtimes—it’s our way of knitting ourselves together with shared understanding. It keeps us on track. When we decided to make a dramatic shift in our life structure—living nomadically—it seemed we should create a new credo that speaks specifically to this chapter of our lives. We still have our old credo, which centers around gratitude; we recite it daily. But more and more often we quote—and attempt to live—our travel credo.

We are on a quest to explore the world inside and outside ourselves to learn to live more thoughtfully.

With us and in us, we have all that we need: Curiosity and Humility so that we may learn. Generosity, Patience, and Kindness so that we may serve. Integrity as our compass.

Comfort is not the goal. Resilient, Present Focused, and filled with Gratitude, we will persevere despite our fears.

No matter how far we roam, we are never lost; this family is our Home.

2019 Santillo Family Travel Credo

Some days we do better than others. Some days we fall back on habits, forgetting to explore ourselves or the world. Some days we panic, forgetting that we have all we need. At times, we obstinately fail to be curious, though I would like to boldly state that we never lack for humility. Generosity, patience, and kindness can quickly wear thin during a long travel day. And I believe that maintaining perfect integrity amidst real-life challenges is perhaps the central struggle of all humankind.

Of all the parts of the credo that I find myself murmuring like a mantra in times of crisis, the themes of discomfort and perseverance are the most powerful. This lifestyle is not meant to be a long walk on the beach (though, ironically, we did that yesterday). We press on rather than settle into a comfortable place; we challenge ourselves with grueling hikes and border crossings. We live with a good deal of uncertainty. And when considering another day of reading and relaxing versus the next long travel day and exploration, or deciding whether or not to introduce ourselves to another stranger, try something new, the credo gives us a nudge in the right direction.

And home? Home is an elusive concept when you live out of a backpack. I feel like I’m at home now—a farm in rural Australia surrounded by life-long friends we only met a couple of weeks ago. But home is also Alexandria, Virginia, where many (but not all) of our friends and family live. And, in a pinch, home can also be an airport lounge with the five of us and video chat with grandma.

I guess we don’t need a travel credo, but I guess we also don’t technically need food and shelter every day. It’s just a better way to live. Our travel credo helps to keep us no track, which some days is no small task.

Will you share with us how you stay focused on what is most important to you?