Why Do You Love Where You Live?
'True wonder comes from seeing the awesome in the mundane'
- how to transition into your everyday life after travelling.
Coming home from an overseas adventure can be bittersweet. You’ve wandered through foreign streets, tasted new cuisines, and soaked up experiences that made the world feel bigger, brighter, and more alive. Then you land back in your hometown, and suddenly, everything feels… small. Familiar. Confined.
The post-travel blues—it’s a feeling many travellers know well. The challenge of reintegrating into “normal” life.
For years, I struggled with this too. I’d come back from incredible adventures feeling restless, like I was trying to squeeze myself into a box I had outgrown.
But one simple question helped me shift my perspective and feel more content at home than ever before:
“Why do I love where I live?”
I recently read Ash Bhardwaj’s book, Why We Travel, and in his chapter on wonder, Ash explores the feeling of awe we experience as travellers—the moments when we’re struck by how vast the world is, how tiny and temporary our existence feels, and yet how connected we are to everything around us. As he puts it, awe allows us “to go beyond our individual selves, to become a valuable part of the collective community.”
Similarly, a man who has been studying the concept of awe for decades, Professor Dacher Keltner, believes that “true wonder comes from seeing the awesome in the mundane.”
Light bulb moment.
Awe can exist in everyday life. This new travel mindset and outlook on life has given me the opportunity to notice the beauty and potential of my own surroundings.
So, how can we apply this mindset to loving where we live? Here’s what worked for me:
1. Find “my moment” each day
I started intentionally noticing one thing each day that made me think, “Wow, that’s pretty cool.”
A golden sunrise on the way to work. An old man feeding birds in the park. Children laughing until they cried. A hug from a loved one.
These small, awe-filled moments became my anchor, my daily reminder that wonder isn’t reserved for faraway islands.
2. Seek new experiences locally
Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you can’t explore.
Try new restaurants, check out local “what’s on this weekend” guides, or simply turn off your phone and take a drive to the coast.
Rediscovering your city—or town—through a traveller’s lens is an act of self-kindness and curiosity.
3. Connect with people
When was the last time you spoke to a neighbour? Or struck up a conversation with someone new at a café?
Small interactions build community and spark joy. The people around you are part of what makes your home special.
4. Design your days intentionally
Routine doesn’t have to be dull.
Fit in the “must-do” tasks of everyday life, but also carve out space for what makes you feel alive.
Morning Pilates, afternoon walks, coffee with friends, reading in the sunshine—whatever nourishes you.
The truth is, awe and wonder aren’t exclusive to travel. They can live in your hometown, your flat, your favourite walking path, and in the small, extraordinary moments of daily life.
Asking yourself, “Why do I love where I live?” is a gentle practice that empowers the way you see your life.
So next time we find ourselves scrolling through our camera rolls or checking Skyscanner daily, let’s pause and see what’s around us first 😊
For a deeper dive into the psychology of travel, listen to the Lifestyleleven podcast.
A reflective Sunday walk along the Point Addis to Bells Beach coastal trail on the Great Ocean Road. A warm autumn morning, golden light, surfers, and special moments shared on Wadawurrung Country.