Anna Eleanor Roosevelt needs no introduction. She was an American diplomat and activist who served as the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, from 1933 to 1945, during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms as president. The woman lives through her words of wisdom. And few words capture the spirit of travel as beautifully as this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, when she said,“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience it to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”These words are taken from the foreword of her 1960 book You Learn by Living, the quote reflects her belief that life should not simply be observed from a distance but experienced with curiosity, courage and openness.What it means for travellersA journey is not just about ticking destinations off a bucket list. It is about getting out of familiar situations, places and surroundings and meeting people who see the world differently. It’s also about tasting new food and walking through unknown streets and allowing a new place to change the way we look at life.
Roosevelt in an aircraft, 1952 (Wiki)
Travel begins where familiarity endsRoosevelt’s words tell travellers to move beyond the comfort of the familiar and explore the unknown. Travel naturally creates that opportunity.Boarding a train to a town you have never visited, being lost in the lanes of Varanasi, or just taking a road through the mountains. Wandering through an old neighbourhood or arriving at a remote village can bring a sense of newness and new experiences.Let’s just agree that most rewarding travel plans are impromptu and are not always carefully planned. Sometimes they are conversations with locals, a roadside chai with villagers or just getting lost in an unfamiliar market or watching a sunset from a place that was never part of the original itinerary.This is what Roosevelt meant by reaching out “eagerly and without fear” for newer experiences. Travel encourages exactly that mindset.Just don’t see the place, experience itThe word “taste” in the quote has a particularly interesting connection with travel.
Eleanor Roosevelt was an American political figure who served as the longest-serving First Lady of the United States.
A destination cannot truly be understood through photographs alone. Its character is found in its food, traditions, sounds, landscapes and everyday telife.Eating a steaming plate of momos in Himachal Pradesh, trying local seafood along Goa’s beaches, tasting street food in Bangkok or sharing a traditional meal with a family in a village in Bhutan can become as memorable as visiting a famous monument.Food allows travellers to experience a place through another sense. It carries stories of geography, history, migration and culture, often revealing things that guidebooks cannot.The journey means more than reaching a destinationRoosevelt’s philosophy also challenges the idea that travel is simply about reaching somewhere. Sometimes the journey itself becomes the story.A long train ride across the U.S, a road trip through Rajasthan or a winding mountain drive can offer countless small experiences along the way. Landscapes change outside the window, conversations begin with strangers and unexpected stops become lasting memories.Travel, a powerful teacherTravel requires courage. Courage to explore new places and try new things and sometimes, new dishes, too. For some people, it may mean travelling solo for the first time. For others, it could be hiking into unfamiliar terrain, navigating a foreign country without knowing the language or simply saying yes to an experience outside their usual routine.
Roosevelt with her dog Fala in 1951 (Wiki)
Every journey that pushes us slightly beyond our comfort zone can leave us more confident for the next one. As Roosevelt reminds us, the purpose is not merely to reach the next destination. It is to live the journey fully.
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