How to bring the joy of travel to everyday life | Don Lamp | TEDxTAMU
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Don discusses his travels through all seven continents and the displacement he felt after his travels were concluded. He shares how he found fulfillment by embracing the idea of treating every day like an adventure.
Born into a medical missionary family, Don Lamp has been a lifelong traveler. By the age of ten, he had already visited 33 countries and is now a member of the Traveler’s Century Club, an elite group of travelers whose members have visited over 100 countries.
With five children and 15 grandchildren, his life is full of fun, faith, and family. A registered nurse by profession, with a master’s degree in leadership, he finds creative and meaningful ways to enjoy retirement, after 38 years of service.
His passion for travel led him most recently to voyage to Antarctica, and in the process to discover a deeper meaning within the idea of travel, where the spirit of exploration, curiosity and enjoyment take center stage.
His interests range widely from poetry to art and music, to psychology and economics, and yet what he loves most is bringing a fresh perspective to others by offering imaginative ways to incorporate the novelty and excitement of travel into everyday life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
his message really hits home. I think so many people are obsessed with the idea of traveling for the ‘gram,’ but ‘tourist eyes’ reminds us that life’s most valuable experiences don’t need to be shared with a filter
Thank you marierosko!
I love how he turned a potentially depressing situation (coming back from an epic trip) into a whole new way of approaching life. that's some real emotional intelligence right there.
Thank you so much, Joan.
I found the closing thought powerful - "It's not where you go that makes you a tourist, it's what you see." It's a great reminder that wonder and discovery are more about attitude than location
Yes! Thank you woodychuck!!
The idea of waking up each morning with expectancy, like packing for a trip to visit a best friend, is beautiful. Imagine if we all approached our days with that kind of enthusiasm!
Thank you Gemma! Each day always holds a surprise.
As an artist, I always try to look at things from different perspectives. ‘Tourist eyes’ is almost like a creative challenge to find more beauty and inspiration in my daily life!
So true! As an artist I'm sure you understand the idea tourist eyes more than most. Thank you.
His suggestion to surprise people with "an inreal life story" about your day is intriguing. It's a cool way to break out of the "same old, same old" mentality and really engage with your experiences.
Thank you LadyMuffin! How was your day today? Tell me about your day. I'd love to hear it.
The story about his Aunt Joy was touching. It's amazing how one person's generosity can lead to such life-changing experiences and makes me think about the impact we can have on others' lives.
Yes, me too, all the time. Our impact on others is greater than we think. Thank you DCA!!
@@DEdgarVideo More than we can know
I liked what he said about "leaping through the portal of your best vision of today" It's like choosing to see the potential in each day rather than just going through the motions. Definitely something I want to do more of
Yes! There are so many portals to exciting places in every day that we choose to ignore, or just glance at and walk on past.
I think it's really easy to get caught up in how quickly everything moves and how tired we always are... it can make it really difficult to actually experience life as we're living it
Yes! Rather than looking inward, better to look out and around. Thanks!
I get where he's coming from, spending a whole year having all these amazing experiences and then coming home to a life where nothing has changed would feel so frustrating and certainly hard to readjust to.
Yes! Growth and Experience change your perspective, which can diminish your old comfortable status quo.
I gotta say, I'm a bit envious of this guy's opportunity to travel the world for a year. but it's cool how he turned that experience into a philosophy for everyday life... maybe I can't globe-trot, but I can definitely try the tourist eyes thing!
Thank you Corey! Maybe travel creates a sort of experiential fingerprint that gives us each our one-of-a-kind perspective. You have covered completely different on the planet than I have. Oh, if only I could see what you've seen, my fellow traveler!
***you have covered completely different ground
Your message about 'tourist eyes' is such an important reminder to find beauty in the mundane, thank you
Thank you!
"Tourist Eyes" is great way of describing how we need to slow down and really see what's in front of our eyes. I whole heartedly with you, Don. Very well done.
Thank you very much!
I totally get what he's saying. I've lived in the same city my whole life and it wasn't until my mid 20's when I met a guy from overseas and took him to all the "tourist spots" that I was like, damn this is actually such a beautiful place lol
The idea of Tourist eyes is a lovely way of appreciating where you are and everything your blessed with!
Yes, well said!
I appreciate how he shared his struggles after returning home. It's not often we hear about the downsides of achieving our dreams.
Thank you!
"A false future propelled by the applause of an imaginary audience" is such a reality check and I know exactly what he means... sometimes when I'm doing something even though I'm enjoying the thing in itself I do think about the reactions of my friends and family and look forward to telling them, maybe sometimes in a way that's looking to fuel my ego more than actually sharing it with them
So true. Thanks Jonah!
Love the idea of "tourist eyes" sort of reminds me of going into the city with my folks when I was young and everything felt so big and impressive
Yes...through a child's eyes!
"I'm certainly not going to sit here and read your postcards." is SUCH a good response lol love it
Wow, what an inspiring journey! I love how you turned a tragic event into an opportunity to explore the world. Your message about living every day with 'tourist eyes' is truly motivating.
Aspen, I never thought of it that way. But you're right, thanks for pointing that out. I'll remember this for future challenges.
Love this so much! It's refreshing to hear someone advocate for curiosity and openness in daily life.
Thank you Chelsea!
I like the idea of challenging yourself to see things differently, and not just for the purpose of being more joyful but also to challenge our biases! I think it's so easy to get caught up in our own perspectives to the point where our perceptions are just feeding our confirmation bias. This seems like a great way to combat all of that
You are so right, Ida. Travel challenges our biases, and forces us to adjust to other cultures and norms as we move through their countries. So it is as we widen our peripheral vision locally and meet new people. A handful of core values is all we really need. There are many debates that just aren't that important in the grand scheme of things. Thanks for sharining your thoughts!!
Great talk! Especially love the part that you describe the traveler’s blue upon returning home, the burning desire to talk about the trip to everyone I know and don’t know 😊
Thank you Didi..!
His idea of using "tourist eyes" in everyday situations is brilliant. I'm gonna try looking at my neighborhood with fresh curiosity tomorrow!
I'm so glad you see this too, Kayden. This simple realization that I am actually traveling every day, moving around through the rich landscape of our planet, whether close to home or far away has made my life so much richer and more joyful! May it be the same for you.
Such a beautiful decision to honor the legacy of your aunt through travelling. I imagine it would have made your adventures that much more meaningful!
Yes! I keep saying, "Thank you Aunt Joy."
I love that his aunts name was Joy and the talk is the JOY of travelling 😭😭
I didn't even put that together!!! SO CUTE
She was definitely "The Joy of my Travels."
Such wonderful lessons on curiosity and openness, even if you're not a world traveler. Thank you.
"Even if you're not a world traveler" - but you are! All of us are moving around on the surface of the planet. Traveling to other countries opens your eyes to different cultures, different people, different architecture, different landscapes. But you know what, there are so many different kinds of culture, people, architecture, and landscapes within the United States. We have a huge diverse country with no borders between states, and the government does not limit our movement around the country. This is an awesome freedom! Tell me, Fran, where have you traveled? I'd really like to hear about it. Have a wonderful day of exploration and joy!
@@DEdgarVideo what a lovely reply, thank you! You're absolutely right we are lucky to have so much culture and diversity right here and this makes me a little embarrassed to say I haven't really been much outside the upper mid west! I've been to Canada a couple times to see family and a few trips to New York and Washington but that's really it!
What a wonderful message. We shouldn’t take any day for granted and learn to live each one as if we are on vacation and take it all in. I really appreciate you sharing your insight with the world Don. Can’t wait to see you at the next second Friday of the month!
Thank you Bill. This little insight is making such a big difference in my life. See you soon.
Children are the key to this. They see the world with such a sense of wonder.
Yes, children are delightfully present in their lives!
@@DEdgarVideo as we should be also
Don's ideas to bring the joy of travel to everyday life have helped me so much especially when I start to get the urge to travel and can't afford it. That same excitement that those of us who have the travel bug get, I have had it just going to the farmer's market! And I love his honesty about his dreams. Don is the road warrior wether at home or in Morocco!
Thank you Ximena! As we get older our ability (and desire) for exploring the wide reaches of the world diminishes, but our eyes for the beauty around us and the people in our lives can grow exponentially.
I can't wait to go to work tomorrow and look through my tourist eyes. Good job Don!!!!
Thank you, Jeff. Enjoy the view.
I am watching this from Krakow, Poland and I just realized that there would be no ticker parade when I get home. 😂 Good job. Love the concept. It strikes me as a variation on the theme of never losing your curiosity. Sometimes I learn new things about my neighborhood, like what it was like in the 1860s or where all the oldest buildings are and why they survived, and it really perks me up and makes my home so much more a part of the march of human history. Little things like that make daily life so much more stimulating.
You did such a great job papa! I am so proud of you for your big accomplishments Tex x is a very special thing to be able to do, A once and a life time opportunity and they picked you to do it you are a very special person I love you papa congratulations ❤️
I love this! Tourist eyes, love the term. Very encouraging talk. I’m planning my next drive to somewhere new!
Wow, 73 countries in one year? That's intense! I wonder if he really got to experience each place fully though.
You are so right to ask this question, Sandra. And the answer is definitely, "No, I didn't." It's actually *not* a small world after all. I only got the once-around broad sweep of it.
There's something so amazing about being in a new part of the world though! Like the air itself smells different... you can't replicate that feeling in a place that's routine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow Don that was phenomenally well done! Captivating stories and the way it unfolded and peaked around keeping “your tourist eyes”. Love it 💯 💯 💯 You are going to start a movement… Can’t wait to hear more! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great reminder of how we should all be living our lives!
All we have to do is open our eyes and walk around; it's such a beautiful world!
After I retired, I struggled to find a new sense of adventure. The idea of embracing ‘tourist eyes’ makes me realize I can still have an exciting life without jetting off to faraway places
This idea of seeing the world through fresh eyes is the essence of travel so I love the thought of approaching each day with that same sense of wonder and curiosity!
Way to go, Don! I'll be trying out the tourist eyes. "It's not where you go but what you see!"
Thank you! Yes, new sight!
Love it Don! Life should be approached with wonder and curiosity!
Thank you mangocantu!!
Needed this today, thanks Don!
Chance, I'm so happy to know my talk made a positive difference in your day.
This talk really opened my eyes to how I've been sleepwalking through life lately. Keen to take some of this advice, hopefully it'll help shake things up a bit.
I so happy to hear this! May your tourist eyes give you a wider view of the possibilities.
What a powerful message! We don’t need to travel far to experience the wonders of the world if we have general wonder towards the world!
Thank you Don for sharing your insight. As I watched and listened to your talk, I saw your resemblance in many ways to your mother Trudie Lamp. She would have greatly enjoyed your talk and have agreed with your suggestions for how to live a happier life.
I know exactly what he means by this like even just visiting other states I'm like "WOW EVERYTHING HERE IS SO GREAT" so to find something that talks about transferring that attitude to the everyday is actually so helpful
Thank you! I'm glad you're seeing "the everything" around you with new sight.
Oh my fond friend "so oddly lost, so newly found", this was brilliant! I look forward to meeting in a cafe or something, where so many journeys we took in poetry were born
We might be confined by our circumstances, but our brain is never confined in the same way. As Don points out, we are not limited to global travel to enjoy seeing and learning.
Yes! Thanks Don.
You have a beautiful way with words. Perfectly expressed the “travel bug” and provided a salve for those times when it cannot be satiated😄
Great job Don! I will certainly look at my surroundings with a different perspective.
Well done Don!
Thank you Mike! Means a lot!
Wow Don! Amazing talk! And to think that you memorized all of that!!! The whole topic is fascinating and healthy. I love how honest you were about being "an angry, pouting toddler" when people were oblivious to the fabulous travels you had taken.. I'm remembering "Reverse Cultureshock" as a child returning to the U.S. The shock was similar. I also love how your story reveals how great my sister is for you😂...we were just talking about that!! You are good at writing your story and speaking it too. What makes this really fun is, this is who you are in a nutshell :) Keep telling your stories and i hope you write a book some day. With Mimi's memory to help you, you can do it!!
What a great story, Don! We can't all travel the world, but we can find all the same kind of soul satisfying connections right where we are! Wherever we are! I too am accepting the challange... My DIY operation is complete!
Don provides us with an insightful attitude adjustment strategy. Approaching everyday life with "tourist eyes" reinforces the value of optimism. I look forward to his next Tedx Talk!
Tapping into the spiritual element of travel can allow you to feel the memories of what happened in places.
Don is my papa !! ❤I would love to open my eyes to travel !
Thank you, Gabby! Tourist Eyes!
Excellent perspectives on travel. We have experienced 50 states, 7 provinces and Mexico in our travels, employing many of Don's concepts. Among the many values we have gained are the hundreds of stories we tell anyone who will listen gained from memories, photos and relics collected from practically every stop along the road. I will now call them testaments to the "peripheral vision" which Don explains so well. Your term "Tourist eyes" well defines the key to keeping each of the many stops fresh and exciting. Also, your delivery and active presence are added incentives to stay immersed in the TED Talk. We can't wait to get on the road again.
Thank you! Enjoy!
I think this really speaks to how personal growth doesn't always come from some huge event but just shifting our mindset and how we're thinking about everything
What a vision for transforming the everyday litany of catastrophe, scandal and childish rhetoric. Joining a brave band of curious and enthusiastic adventurers traversing the journey of the predictable to see the novel, the personable and the unique. Inspiring, seductive and convincing-I’m in!
Thank you! "Transforming the everyday..." Yes!
Interesting talk! While I can’t relate to the extensive travel, the idea of seeing the everyday with fresh eyes is appealing. Maybe I’ll start with small local adventures.
Yes! Fresh eyes! Thank you.
Thank you for sharing! I grew up in a military family and lived in Japan and Germany as a kid. I understand the travel bug, but unfortunately I haven't been able to travel internationally in years! One day I will fulfill my daughter and my own dream to go back to France!
Excellent talk! I think I’ll plan a few more daily discoveries into my schedule & our schedule with family & friends. Thank you!
I feel like this kind of practice would also open you up to being more present and grateful, which are two things we should be practicing daily anyway!
What a fantastic message! Travel is such an amazing way to build both empathy and wonder. Thank you so much for this inspiring talk!
Flawless!
This was a wonderful TED talk Don, love the idea of looking through tourist eyes very inspirational.
Thank you Rhonda! Have you done any traveling lately--near or far? Tell about one trip you've taken. I'd like to hear about it. Have a great "trip" today, whatever you're doing, wherever you're going. (Fond memories of Idyllwild Arts Academy!)
Oh I loved this story and your journey/lessons learned really resonate with me! Especially the part about the invisible audience and not realizing how much you were doing it for them
❤I am inspired! My husband and I have traveled extensively and always seek to embrace the cultures of our destinations. Now, we will experience the joy of travel in a new light. This colorful talk is not just about international travel, it’s about the joy and vision of everyday life! Thanks for opening our hours to new sights!
Thank you Liz! You inspired me as a young healthcare leader back in the day. For my words to have inpired *you* is the best compliment, a such an honor.
Travel is not just about the destination, it's how we perceive our experiences... if we can bring that excitement and feelings of newness to our everyday I can see how that would really benefit our mental health as well as our perspectives!
Have so enjoyed developing our tourist eyes while traveling with you and Mimi, Don! Great talk!
Such a simple and actionable perspective change, but so very profound!
Wow Don! This is incredible. I very much enjoyed the overall message and your storytelling.
You have such a gift of painting pictures with your words. I have accepted your challenge. My eyes are open Don! Dante Poole
❤Fabulous job Don!! Opening my eyes to new adventures & experiences always.
Love this concept. It's a great way to scratch the itch to travel and appreciate what locations, moments, and people are before us!
Fabulous talk!! I absolutely love this idea. Simple and so actionable. Tourist eyes all the time!!
Yes. This is the kind of attitude we should take with us wherever we go
Awesome, Don! What a great talk! I'm so proud of you! I remember back in high school how you'd talk about traveling the world and maybe even sail around the world! I'm so happy you got to experience this dream and love all the lessons you've learned since then! The idea of "tourist eyes" is so simple, but we Americans are usually too busy to stop and really "see" things around us that bring joy! Thanks for sharing your ideas! It was inspiring!
Fond memories! Thank you.
The idea of treating each day like a mini-adventure is quite appealing... I've been feeling stuck in a rut lately, and this approach could be just what I need. Thank you.
This was such an incredible story! The way you described your travels made me feel like I was right there with you. Thanks for reminding us to see the extraordinary in our everyday lives 🥳🥳
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
The way you dealt with your restlessness and turned it into a whole philosophy is pretty incredible. Also a reminder that often our biggest changes come from within, not some external adventure
Thank you Mike!
Loved the concept of "tourist eyes" will definitely try to incorporate it into my daily routine
Excellent! Thank you.
This feels closely aligned with mindfulness. There's always something to discover about life and myself, even in familiar places.
This is such a powerful philosophy to discover ourselves, each other, and the world. A timely message for all.
What struck me most was your transition from a grand adventure to finding joy in the everyday. I think that really speaks to the idea that fulfillment comes from perspective, not circumstance
Thank you Bulldogggg!
@@DEdgarVideo 🙌🙌
I like your perspective, Don. Very true there is so much around us in our daily lives that we may ignore just waiting for our next big adventure abroad. I will recommend this vid to others.
Thank you so much for passing this on to others!
This really resonates with me. I always feel like I'm stuck in a routine. Being intentional about finding new perspectives could create excitement right at home.
It's about being present and appreciating the little things.
I'll try to focus on looking at life through those tourist eyes you espouse. There's a lot to wonder about all around.
Yes! Thank you George.
his point about peripheral vision in football as a metaphor for seeing alternative paths in life was clever. It reminds me to not get too fixated on one way of doing things.
GREAT JOB!!
I live in a rural area and it always feels like there's not much to explore but hearing some of your points makes me realize there's a lot of beauty in the nature around me so maybe it's all about perspective
I live in a city, so there’s always something happening around me. Looking forward to experiencing it with tourist eyes!
The four themes he outlined seem like a solid framework for personal growth. Keen to see how I can apply them in my life
Great Talk! Very inspirational!
When I learned you were the CEO of LLUMC-Murrieta, I went there and applied for work. Your lifelong high-principled leadership has made a huge impact in healthcare in California...and in my life personally. Thank you Rick!
Easy to get caught up in the day to day. With a little mental effort this concept could make wherever you are exciting.
Such a fantastic perspective Don, thanks for this!
Love this, great talk, thanks Don!
The talk has made me rethink how I use my phone... like maybe I need to spend less time scrolling and more time really looking at the world around me. I'm going to try leaving my phone in my pocket more often.
This brought back memories of my own travels and how it shaped my view of the world. It's a nice time to think about, thank you.