I have been saving this post for a “rainy” (busy) day, and thought it went hand in hand with my last post about children, beauty, skin tone, etc.

This artilce is titled “A Reason To Travel: Children” and it is written by Joel Carillet.

Both the words and the photos by Carillet are wonderful… he is a photographer that has traveled the world, and in this article, he talks about the beauty and preciousness of the world’s children he has met (and those he hasn't).

Carillet writes,

“On the road, it is often a loving stranger who illustrates that, at our best, we are all brothers and sisters and friends, even if we have never met before. This is one reason I have offered the following plea to many of my fellow Americans: if your health and financial means allow, travel abroad at least once in your life. Then, once you are away from your familiar surroundings, look thoughtfully into the eyes of a stranger -- even perhaps into the eyes of your enemy, if you happen to be in such a place -- and then listen attentatively to the words he or she may speak.

There are many good reasons to travel, and I wish I had the time to list them all now. But this post is dedicated to only one: meeting the world's children.

Through Carillet’s eyes, children are resilient, loving, brave, selfless, fun, universal, beautiful and much more.

I have written quite a bit about how the children of Ethiopia have changed my thoughts and views and attitudes on a lot of things, and how they are forever in my heart. It is easy for me to spread those thoughts and feelings to the children of China, Haiti, India, Colombia and every other country.

I love the message Carillet sends and the way the he views the world and the world’s children. I wish more people treasured children and realized them to be the precious and priceless resource that they are.

I will leave you with one more quote (and then go read the whole thing!) :)

I could write more, but I'll close with my plea: if you are able, at some point in your life (the earlier the better), travel. And if you do indeed decide to travel, don't just see the monuments and don't just do what is comfortable. Go deeper than that. Be a pilgrim perhaps, a seeker, and let your journey take you to one of our world's most important sights: the children.

*Photo by Joel Carillet