Stop Waiting for Your Next Vacation: Your Life Is Already Exotic

You Don’t Need to Travel the World to Find Beauty—Just Change How You Look at It

Oct 21, 2024

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” — Marcel Proust

When was the last time you were amazed by something simple—like the way sunlight reflects off a building or the scent of fresh food from a street vendor?

Chances are, it happened while you were traveling. As tourists, we tend to marvel at everything—our curiosity is heightened, and the mundane becomes fascinating. But back home, that sense of wonder fades. Why is that?

I remember a moment that perfectly captures this. As a teenager, my family cruised Northern Europe on a luxurious ship, The Seabourn Pride. One day, my sister and I were enchanted by a tiny palm tree decorating the small pool area. We couldn't stop talking about how exotic this "Palmera enana" was, even snapping pictures. We were in awe.

Fast forward to our next visit to our family's weekend home in Acapulco. Walking in, I couldn't believe it—right in our pool were the same tiny palm trees that had been there for years. We'd passed by them countless times without ever noticing. How did we miss what was right in front of us?

The difference was mindset. As tourists, we're tuned in to appreciate everything as if it's new, but familiarity dulls our senses at home.

What if we could bring that sense of wonder into our daily lives? By combining the tourist mindset with the concept of aesthetic distance—stepping back and seeing things from a fresh, detached perspective—we can rediscover beauty in the everyday.

The Tourist Mindset

So what exactly is the "tourist mindset," and why does everything seem more interesting when we're away from home?

When we travel, we're more alert. Everything around us feels new—sights, sounds, smells, and experiences. Whether it's an ancient ruin, a quaint café, or even something as ordinary as a local convenience store, we approach it curious because we're in unfamiliar territory.

Our brains are wired to absorb as much information as possible in a new environment. That constant novelty keeps us engaged and open to new experiences.

But here's the thing: what's new to us as tourists is often everyday life for the locals. A perfect example is how we might gawk at street performers in a city square or snap endless photos of old buildings. At the same time, people who live there walk by without a second glance. They're so used to these things that they barely notice them.

This is the essence of the tourist mindset: we're seeing everything with fresh eyes, which allows us to find wonder in the ordinary. We're more patient, observant, and willing to explore the world around us, even in places or situations that might seem mundane if we were locals.

Why can't we apply that same mindset to our everyday lives? Just because something is familiar doesn't mean it has to be boring. The key is learning how to shift our perspective, and that's where the idea of aesthetic distance comes in.

“A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What Aesthetic Distance Means and Why It Matters

At its core, aesthetic distance means stepping back and viewing something with emotional detachment—like an artist who steps away from their canvas to get a clearer perspective on the whole picture. Doing this lets us appreciate the details and beauty of what we might otherwise overlook.

In life, we often get too close to physical and emotional things. We're so caught up in our routines, responsibilities, and familiar surroundings that we stop noticing what's right in front of us. We walk by the same buildings every day, sit in the same cafés, and interact with the same people, and eventually, all of it blends into the background. The magic disappears.

Aesthetic distance allows us to break that pattern. By stepping back—mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically—we can view our surroundings with the fresh perspective of a tourist. It's about creating just enough separation to see things objectively, almost as if you're observing them for the first time.

Think about it this way: it's hard to see when you're too emotionally invested in something. This happens in art, relationships, and, yes, even in how we experience our environments. The more personal or familiar something is, the more we stop paying attention to its details. Aesthetic distance helps us push pause and gain a new appreciation for the everyday.

Take my story of the "palmera enana" from the cruise. My sister and I were able to notice that little palm tree because it was part of a new and exciting experience. In this unfamiliar setting, everything felt special. We had an aesthetic distance from that environment. But back home in Acapulco, those same palm trees had blended into the background because we were so used to seeing them.

When we practice aesthetic distance in our everyday lives, we can rediscover that sense of wonder and appreciation. It's about becoming more mindful, stepping back from the things we take for granted, and seeing them with fresh eyes.

Applying These Concepts

So, how do we apply the tourist mindset and the idea of aesthetic distance to our lives? It's simpler than you might think—it's about making small shifts in how we perceive our surroundings.

First, let's talk about how to adopt the tourist mindset at home. Imagine waking up in your neighborhood and treating it like you're visiting for the first time. Slow down and pay attention to the details instead of rushing through your day on autopilot. Notice the texture of the buildings, the colors of the trees, or the way sunlight filters through your kitchen window. If you were halfway across the world in a foreign city, you'd marvel at these things, so why not here?

One practical way to do this is to set aside time for a "staycation walk." Stroll around your neighborhood, visit a local café or park, and try to see it like a tourist would. Look for things you've never noticed before—maybe it's the unique architecture of a building, a street performer you've ignored, or even just the way people move through the space. Suddenly, the familiar starts to feel new again.

Now, combine this with aesthetic distance. It becomes invisible when you're emotionally or mentally too close to something—like your daily commute, office, or even your own home—it becomes invisible. By stepping back and observing without emotional attachment, you can regain your appreciation for what's around you. It's almost like zooming out to see the bigger picture.

Try this the next time you're home: imagine you're a visitor seeing it for the first time. Walk into your living room as if you've never been there before. Notice the layout, the decorations, and even the light fixtures. What stands out? What have you been overlooking? The goal isn't to critique but to notice. By doing this, you might realize there's beauty or interest in the things you've lived with for years.

Applying these concepts will not only change how you see the world but can also reduce stress and create more moments of mindfulness in your life. When you start viewing your daily routine with a bit of distance and curiosity, even something as simple as grabbing coffee on the way to work becomes an opportunity to reconnect with the present moment. Your everyday life might not be exotic, but it can still be wonderful.

Benefits of Cultivating This Mindset

Embracing the tourist mindset and practicing aesthetic distance can transform the way you experience everyday life—and the benefits go far beyond just seeing things differently. By learning to approach the familiar with fresh eyes and a bit of detachment, you'll find life more prosperous, mindful, and exciting.

One benefit is that it helps you break out of the monotony of routine. Life can start to feel stagnant when we go through the same motions daily. But by approaching your surroundings like a tourist, you reignite your curiosity. A slight mental shift can make even the most mundane activities—like your daily commute or dog walking— more engaging. You start noticing the details, the textures, the sounds, and the small moments of beauty you might have missed before.

Another key benefit is that it reduces stress. Often, stress comes from feeling trapped in our circumstances—like life is on autopilot and we're just going through the motions. But by practicing aesthetic distance, you give yourself some mental space. You step back from your emotional involvement in daily annoyances and start seeing things with more objectivity. This can help you avoid getting overwhelmed by little frustrations, giving you a sense of calm and perspective.

This mindset also fosters mindfulness. We always hear about mindfulness, but what does it mean? At its core, mindfulness is about being present in the moment and noticing what's around you without judgment. The tourist mindset lends itself to mindfulness because it encourages slowing down and paying attention. Instead of rushing through your day, you become more intentional about experiencing it.

For example, tune into the details next time you grab a coffee or walk through your neighborhood. Smell the coffee brewing, notice the small cracks in the sidewalk, and listen to the hum of conversation around you. It's a way of reconnecting with the present moment, and noticing can bring a sense of calm and fulfillment.

And here's the unexpected benefit: it makes life feel new again. The truth is that most of us crave novelty. Still, we can only find it in significant, dramatic changes—like traveling or trying something completely new. But novelty doesn't always have to come from faraway places or important events. Sometimes, it's just about seeing the same things differently. By cultivating this mindset, you can inject a sense of discovery into your everyday life.

“People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.”
— St. Augustine

The world around us is never as ordinary as it seems—our perception grows dull. Sometimes, all it takes to reignite that sense of wonder is a shift in perspective. The familiar becomes extraordinary when we step back and look at our lives with fresh eyes. The beauty and richness we search for elsewhere have often been before us all along.

The challenge isn't to find more beauty—it's to notice what's already there. So, the next time you step out your front door, ask yourself: what have I been missing?

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