Lessons San Diego Taught Me About Slowing Down

If you’re living and traveling with chronic illness, you learn fast that slowing down isn’t optional — it’s survival. But in San Diego, I learned it can also be beautiful.

Last month, I visited this coastal city for the third time — known for its perfect weather, scenic beaches, and laid-back energy. And if you know me, you know it’s my favorite U.S. city. Because having a night out downtown followed by a morning hike overlooking the ocean is exactly the kind of balance I’m always chasing.

This time, though, was different. It was my first time experiencing San Diego solo for a few days — and let me just say, traveling with people versus traveling alone are two completely different experiences. When I travel with others, I leave with memories. When I travel alone, I leave with lessons.

So, here are four lessons San Diego taught me about slowing down:

1. Lesson 1: My trips are more meaningful when I move slowly
   When I stopped chasing a full itinerary and started following my energy instead, I noticed something shift. The slower I moved, the more present I became. When I’m present, I take in my memories differently than when I’m rushing. 

2. Lesson 2: When I pace myself, I come home healthier
   In the past, I’d return from trips completely wiped out — body aching, immune system run down and nervous system fried. This time, I prioritized rest, hydration, and gentle movement, and came home without any flare-ups. That was proof that rest is productive when traveling. 

3. Lesson 3: Less plans = more peace
   There’s a certain freedom that comes with doing less. My days weren’t jam-packed, and yet I experienced more — deeper conversations, spontaneous adventures, sunsets I actually stayed to watch until it got dark. Traveling slower made everything richer. Something I never did up until recently, and let me tell you, it makes a huge difference. 

4. Lesson 4: Slowing down helped me connect with locals more

   When I stopped rushing from place to place, I found myself talking more — to café baristas, Uber drivers, the hostel workers. Those little conversations became the heart of my trip. Slowness made space for connection I’d never find in a packed itinerary.