Don't let more time pass you by. Make your plans to travel now

I really hate scrolling through all those years surfing for 1948 whenever a computer site asks for my date of birth. It's such a visual reminder of how much shorter my length-of-life measuring stick has become and how my sense of history is growing ever longer.

Let me explain. Recently, I ran across an interview clip of the TODAY Show's 25th anniversary celebration. The befuddled hosts, Bryant Gumble and Katie Couric, were asking each other, "What is this thing called the internet?" and, then, Gumble drew the @ symbol in the air, and further questioned, "So, what is the deal, the meaning of the 'A' in a circle?" When Katie asked for an explanation, an all-knowing off-screen voice very kindly explained it is a new way of communication, much like writing letters.

That interview was in 1994, and, to be honest, even in this age of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, it does not seem all that long ago to me. Yet, seeing is believing. To realize some of my "nearest" history stretches back almost 30 years certainly makes me realize how my own life is going by faster every year. I have become that "back in my day" old person for sure. How ever did all those years fly by so quickly?

Experts say time seems to go faster as we age mainly because we remember it in chunks, not in separate vivid memory units. A kid walking home from school might go into great detail about seeing a squirrel, throwing a rock further than his friend, swinging on the monkey bars, or getting his favorite ice cream. Instead of making an event out of the journey, an older person would simply say, "I just walked home."

According to psychologists, time slows down in the big moments, usually because they are relished and enjoyed to the maximum. The first day of kindergarten, a new driver's license, the excitement of a big dance, graduation day, moving off to college, the first job, your wedding day, buying a house, the birth of a grandchild, etc. are all examples. Being intensely involved in such moments is what makes them seem to last longer. If it is a personal crisis, a loss, or a health issue, we know all too well how time seems to stand still.

Heading into the "back 9," the winter of our lives, or whatever the preferred euphemism, things can easily change. Most of us do not have the unique ability of a Burrow, a Mahomes, or a Brady to stay "in the zone" -- that place where time slows down to such an extraordinary degree that they can see the entire playing field and excel -- but, according to author Steven Taylor, we can get there! In his book Making Time, the psychologist suggests we can all learn to make more time, but we must be willing to expose our minds to new environments and new experiences.

Basically, Taylor suggests time passes slower when we force our minds to process more information. Because we have fewer new experiences and the world around us becomes more and more familiar, aging "desensitizes" us. This familiarity with circumstances and situations makes time seem to fly, so, since I am a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service, I bet you are "woke" enough to see where this is headed: I am thinking the best way to "make" time is by calling Monroe Travel Service and letting us help you expand your mind -- and, of course, the gift of maximizing time -- by going away!

It does not have to be to a foreign country, just some place new and different. New challenges, new routines, new people, new hobbies, and new information will stretch the mind. In the unfamiliar, we pay more attention. This is why a vacation is so nice. We become more "mindful," concentrating and appreciating every new experience. When we give our whole attention to what we are seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling or hearing, we are living in the moment and, in Mr. Taylor's opinion, that is how we expand the experience and "make more time."

The month of January has already slipped off the calendar. This means we need to stop time from circling the drain and take inventory. I do realize there is never going to be enough time, but why should we not be making more time? Clearly, the travel industry has been limping along for the past couple of years waiting for time to pass, but now the world is ready for you again. Every aspect of our industry is hoping they can expand your experiences in 2022:

*Airlines are adding more Trans-Atlantic flights in expectation of a big U.S.-Europe summer season. United Airlines, which, by the way, did pull out of Monroe, has added 10% more flights to their international capacity than they had in 2019! All of the airlines have high hopes for a really busy year.

*Let me be more specific: in December, Southwest Airlines announced it expects to generate "solid profits" in 2022. Most U.S. airlines followed their boast by predicting profitability in the 2nd and 3rd quarter based on demand already on the books. This should be your wake-up call. You need to plan that vacation now!

*Marriott International, one of the largest hotel groups in the world, says it is the leisure traveler who is leading the boom they are seeing in travel today. The company's 3rd quarter average daily rate was only 4% below the year 2019, and, when you consider this was a company whose business was down 90%, had 25% of their hotels closed, and 80% of their entire staff furloughed, on reduced work weeks or laid off during the pandemic, this is amazing. Their numbers indicate travelers are ready to play again, so you should not wait too long to get back in the game.

*A year ago, cruise lines just wanted to get back in the water and have passengers on board. Even with the Omicron surge, the three largest cruise companies--Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruises --expect their entire fleets to be back in the water by this spring and, get this, at higher prices than in 2019! Royal Caribbean says it will be cash flow positive by spring and profitable by the end of 2022. How encouraging is that news?

*While Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Magaritaville at Sea will finally get to debut their new ships this May, I just want to point out that American Cruises has just ordered 12 new boats for cruising around the U.S. waters. Seems the cruising world is very optimistic about growth in 2022!

*River cruise fans are going to have a host of new ships and experiences this year to expand their minds. The U.S. will have the all new 386 passenger Viking Mississippi plying its waters in July, while Europe gets 4 more new Viking Longships. In the fall, Viking adds Nile and Mekong to its list. Call soon to reserve your cabin because space on all river cruises is limited due to 2020 and 2021 cancellations.

*The Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany has been rescheduled for 2022. Staged every 10 years, this event was delayed in 2020 due to covid, but at Monroe Travel Service, we have several river cruise companies offering this amazing experience on their itineraries.

*2022 is also promising to be an extraordinary year for escorted tours. Less hassle and added layers of protection with smaller group numbers and private itineraries seems to be the new norm. Collette Tours says demand for spring travel is already "very strong," particularly in guided National Park Tours. A&K Tours said only a few seats remain on the four dates of their 25-day private jet international programs, so, folks, don't wait.

The demand for travel is real and I don't want you to miss out. I am old enough to remember the tagline from the 1971 L'Oreal commercial where consumers were encouraged to spend more on their product by suggesting, "Because I'm Worth It." Well, maybe 2022 is the year to decide to just do you, because you are worth it. Find your zone, slow down time, and expand your mind with new experiences and places. Discover all that is so wonderfully right about our world. See more, learn more, and "make more time."

The time has finally arrived when we can say, " Watch out, world. Here we come again!"

Dianne Newcomer is a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service. For your next vacation, please contact the professionals at 318 323 3465 or email INFO@MONROETRAVEL.com. Their service is free, but the advice could be invaluable.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Don't let more time pass you by. Make your plans to travel now