Seeking Intentionality in Actions and Reflections

For starters, don't look up the word intentionality. It's not a word, but "intentional" is, and we were being "intentional" in our choice to use intentionality because intentional-ness didn't sound as great. Jokes aside, intentionality is about consistently working on being purposeful and meaningful in all that we do. Intention means to have a "purpose or objective" and at SaND Travel, we want our actions and our reflection to have purpose. That is something we will seek in each trip whether it be focused on Ecology, Team-Building, or Cultural History, and always, building strong relationships.

To better explain, let's consider these two scenarios. Scenario 1, SaND Travel takes you to a market and you are told to go pick out a delicious meal. Afterwards we go on to the next activity and on the bus ride, we talk about how great the food was. Now, imagine scenario 2 with the same story except instead of a random market, SaND Travel took you to a particular producer that serves you a delicious meal and as you eat, they tell you about where your food came from, how it was produced, and how it made it to your plate. As you eat, you think about the freshness of each bite and the amount of work that went into it. In a month when you make it home, which scenario will impact you more?

Notice, the impact came from the harmony of both the action and the reflection. The action was intentional in that it was not a random meal, the reflection was in the storytelling that allowed you to appreciate each and every bite which made the meal more memorable.

Of course SaND does not expect that all action must seek intention or be reflected on however, we recognize that seeking intention in actions and taking time to reflect has enormous power to impact each of us more profoundly and in a lasting way.

Throughout our preparation, travels and follow ups together, we will be making choices between various actions, just as we do within our lives.  We will focus together on making those choices, the actions we take in life, have more impact - leading to fuller lives for ourselves and those with whom we interact. 

Being intentional in our choices is powerful.  Let’s look at why by examining life as many of us know it, for at least a great part of our experience.  Think of one aspect of your life that may be fairly large, and is important to you - like your religion, your career, one of your favorite hobbies or the language you speak.  Pick one.   How did you choose to make that aspect of your life yours?  Were you intentional?   Or did it happen because of circumstances?  Because of family, school values, friendships.  There is no judgement on the result, only on the process here.

Being intentional means examining the reasons for choices.  Maybe even examining the options.  Being reflective gives us the ability to look back with a series of questions and an open mind to see the consequences of our choice.   Did we even see other choices could be made?  What are the effects of taking a different route in religion, career, hobby or language?  Being intentional may or may not change anything about our choices.  However, it WILL change our sense of value and our ability to explain options and our ‘why’ to ourselves and others.  And it MAY open us up to deeper meaning and wider options in life!