Finding Meaning in the Experience of Getting Away

As I sit here in peacefully in the mountains of Colorado finishing up my daily meditation, but anxiously waiting to drive to the airport to begin the less-than-peaceful process of returning home; my thoughts fell upon what Dr. Frankl might say about this experience – about the past few days of family, friends, food, music, and “adventure”.

I had to add this bit after writing the original piece that follows. As I sit here in Denver International Airport, knowing that I won’t get home tonight, and wondering if I will get home tomorrow, and not quite sure where I might sleep tonight, I am reminded of the meaning in true adventure – and in being kind along the way. It seems a lot of people had travel plans interrupted today. A lot of grumpy, sweaty people standning around at DIA wondering the same things I was. And that’s when my daughter said, “Awesome, ANOTHER adventure…” So we were extra kind to “Tarvis”, the nice young lady trying to rebook us at the counter, hoping she could work some magic to get us home before 1am Wednesday… and maybe she did. But in the end, I get a few extra hours with my daughter, probably a really expensive airport beer or two, and an opportunity to live what I teach and preach. What a beautiful opportunity to discover meaning!

Although Viktor Frankl did not write extensively or directly about travel as a distinct theme, but his ideas about finding meaning in life can be thoughtfully applied to the experience of travel. Frankl, best known for his book Man’s Search for Meaning and the psychological approach he developed called logotherapy, believed that meaning could be found in any situation—including suffering, work, love, and even seemingly mundane or pleasurable experiences.

Here’s how Frankl’s philosophy might relate to travel:

1. Meaning through Experience

Frankl described one of the three primary ways to find meaning as “experiencing something or encountering someone”. This includes:

Encountering beauty (e.g., nature, art, or culture),
Meeting new people, and
Opening oneself to the world.

➡️ Travel offers rich opportunities for this: walking through an unfamiliar city, seeing a mountain range for the first time, or connecting across cultures all provide a sense of awe, humility, and presence—experiences Frankl viewed as meaningful.

2. Attitudinal Meaning: How You Face the Experience

Even when a trip doesn’t go as planned—delays, discomfort, loneliness—Frankl would emphasize the freedom to choose one’s attitude. He famously said:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances…”

➡️ In travel, this means that how you engage with a challenging or disorienting experience may itself be meaningful. Adapting, reflecting, or growing through these moments adds depth to the journey.

3. Purpose and Intention

Frankl emphasized that meaning is often found when one is oriented toward a purpose beyond oneself.

➡️ If travel is approached not just as escapism or consumption, but as a search for insight, growth, or service, it becomes fertile ground for meaning. Pilgrimages, volunteer travel, or even personal retreats are examples.

4. Transitoriness and the Uniqueness of Moments

Frankl often reminded us that moments are fleeting, and because of that, they are precious.

“What you have experienced, no power on earth can take from you.”

➡️ In travel, the awareness of transience—of fleeting sunsets, brief encounters, once-in-a-lifetime views—can deepen appreciation and presence. This aligns closely with Frankl’s existential reverence for time-bound meaning.

While Viktor Frankl didn’t write about travel in a literal sense, his entire framework for meaning-making supports a deep and reflective approach to it. If you travel with: