Wise World

if there’s anything I want to gain from this world, it’s wisdom

A few weeks ago, I wrote that “I was going out into the world to be restored” (to quote my dear friend Amy), and that I had no expectations of grand adventure or divine encounters. If anything, I was seeking respite in the form of wandering. And that’s exactly what happened. It was simple and restful, awestriking and serene. The biggest disappointment was the discovery of mold in my hotel room which led to a sniffly nose, obnoxious cough, and deep exhaustion. 

On my last morning in Seville, I checked out of my basic but perfect hotel room (a standalone cabin-like rooftop accomodation with a stunning view of the La Giralda bell tower) and walked a mile to a quiet little neighborhood for one last Spanish desayuno. I met up with fellow travelers Amy and Alex for cappuccinos and pan con tomate (lightly toasted bread smeared with crushed tomatoes, ibérico ham, a drizzle of olive oil). 

We were all traveling somewhat solo, but for a few days in Seville we had the added comfort of known friends within a small radius. I even bumped into Alex on her first full day in the city while walking around the Catedral. It was so close to my hotel that I returned to the stunning space multiple times a day and had just popped out for an afternoon walk, rounded a few corners, ducked under several orange trees, and spotted a recognizable face gazing up at the Catedral’s ancient spires. In a city of thousands of tourists, it was comforting to stumble upon one I knew. 

Porto’s layers and blue tiles captivated me. Seville’s small town feel and fragrant streets welcomed me. I loved both cities for different reasons, blended into their backgrounds, walked countless miles, turned corners, ascended hills, crossed bridges, climbed towers, drank sangria and port and cappuccino, ate pastries and potatoes, observed, journaled, wrote, meditated, smiled, and cried.

If there’s anything I want to gain from this world, it’s wisdom. I want to soak in it from my core to my skin. I want to sit at the feet of sages and absorb their grace, compassion, and insight, practice the art of solitude and silence over loud rebuttals and constant chatter. Often, I am faced with my own immaturity, my human proneness towards anger, irritability, and impatience. I encounter the worst pieces of myself and loathe her, condemn her. Part of restoration is refinement. And god, I want to be refined. Not from a disordered sense of self, but from expanding love and emerging wisdom, wisdom gained from more time wandering through this wide, wonderful world.