Grief as a Barrier to Travel: When Life Gets in the Way of Our Adventures

How Life’s Ups and Downs Can Change Our Plans — And Why That’s Okay

Ever dreamed of boarding a plane to somewhere new, only to have life throw you a curveball? You’re not alone. Travel is exciting — it’s about discovering new places, meeting people, and maybe even finding a new side of yourself. But sometimes, things happen that stop us in our tracks. And that can leave us feeling, well, a little heartbroken.

NY Botanical Garden

If you read my blog post “Alaska, Anxiety and Quiet in Between” you already know that due to family circumstances that required my attention, I had to postpone my plans. Unfortunately, those circumstances have continued to impact my ability, and desire, to travel. My daughter and I were supposed to spend 2 weeks traveling around the UK and Amsterdam, but that trip has also been postponed.

It's fascinating, and even a bit surprising, to realize how deeply I'm grieving the trips I had to let go of. Until now, it hadn’t fully dawned on me that losing planned adventures could hurt just as much as any other kind of loss. Sure, they will happen someday when life allows it, but for now, I grieve the loss. Sounds silly to some, I’m sure, but it’s real nonetheless.

It’s easy to brush off that sadness (“It’s just a trip!”), but those lost experiences matter. They represent hope, excitement, and sometimes even a part of ourselves we were looking forward to meeting.

Life’s challenges don’t always show up with sirens blaring. Sometimes, it’s slow: financial stress, health troubles, or caring for loved ones. Sometimes, it’s a sudden loss that makes the world feel smaller. In these moments, the idea of traveling, which once felt like freedom, can turn into something painful, or even impossible.

I know it’s normal to feel guilty about mourning a missed trip, but I also know my feelings are real, and they deserve space. We all need things to look forward to, and when those things vanish, I think it’s okay to feel sad.

Gumdrops & Lollipops Sweet Shoppe, Niantic, CT

Needing to cancel these trips has taught me something too. Recognizing grief as a barrier to travel has taught me that adventures don’t always require distant destinations. I’m fortunate enough to live near several beaches and state parks and New York and Boston are only a couple hours away. Adventure is a mindset we can cultivate, even in small, everyday experiences close to home. To help soothe my travel itch, I’ve taken day trips to New York City to wander through art museums and botanical gardens. Closer to home, I’ve found joy in photographing scenes from my daily walks.

Even though I can’t go on grand adventures at the moment, I can still make my own adventures close to home. And when the time is right, I can once again plan future adventures. Even just dreaming about them brings me hope and something to look forward to.

If you’re feeling stuck, know you’re not alone. Life interrupts, but it also surprises. The

journeys we don’t take shape us, just as much as the ones we do. Honor your feelings and keep an eye out for new paths — they might show up where you least expect them.

So here’s to every trip, planned or missed, and to the new adventures waiting for us down the road.

Have you ever felt grief over canceled plans or missed adventures? I'd love to hear how you coped or what local adventures helped you through.