Changing our view of life doesn’t always require a major transformation. Sometimes, it begins with stepping away from our routines, experiencing something new, and seeing the world through a different lens. We can step beyond to appreciate what has been there all along.
My husband, Andy, and I recently decided to explore Pittsburgh, PA for a weekend. As we drove through Ohio, rolling hills appeared, dressed in brilliant shades of green, gold, orange and red. Upon arriving, and after checking in to the hotel, we set out on foot, eager to discover the city.
Walking across Pittsburgh’s bridges gave us wonderful views of a city built around three rivers. We admired the architecture and walked over the bridges and back, deciding to return the next day to visit the outstanding Andy Warhol Museum, and look for the imaginative installations of The Mattress Factory, including Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Dots Mirrored Room, an early example of her famous creative art. The surrounding neighborhoods charmed us with old brownstones, colorful coleus plants on front stoops, painted gates, and decorative window boxes filled with pumpkins beneath brilliant blue skies.
One of our adventures took us up Mount Washington aboard the historic Duquesne Incline, which has carried passengers up the steep hillside since 1877. As we climbed, the city opened beneath us, revealing bridges, rivers, buildings, and surrounding hills dressed in their autumnal coats of many colors. The red cars carried us to the top, where we explored a history exhibit and enjoyed the spectacular views.
Mount Washington is more than a scenic overlook. It’s a neighborhood where people live, work, shop, and gather with friends. Along Grandview Avenue, residents walk their dogs, buy groceries, and meet for coffee while the Pittsburgh skyline stretches out below them. What feels extraordinary to visitors is simply part of everyday life for those who call this place home. It reminded me that familiar things can look different when we change our point of view. After walking along the hilltop, we rode the yellow Monongahela incline back down.
One of the most memorable moments of our trip had little to do with the scenery. While waiting to board the incline, we struck up a conversation with a charming Mennonite family of six. The mother reminded us of our beautiful friend, Shayna Loss Levine, and we also spoke with her husband, a Mennonite minister. Their way of life differed from ours, yet the family was warm and playful, and the children were interested in learning how the incline worked.
As we got to know them, we discovered more in common than we might have expected. Despite our different traditions and experiences, we shared familiar hopes, values, and concerns. That brief encounter reminded me that meaningful connections can arise when we take the time to look beyond our differences.
That brief encounter has stayed with me. We had set out to explore a city, but we were also given an opportunity to explore a little more of the human experience. This is one of travel’s greatest gifts. We leave home expecting to discover new places, but we may return with a new perspective on people, relationships, and our own lives. A breathtaking view from a mountaintop can inspire us, but a moment of genuine connection with another person can be just as meaningful.
During one of our first walks from the hotel, we encountered a tired grandmother wearing a sweatshirt embroidered with the names of her 15 grandchildren. I told her I loved her shirt and she told us she was hungry, and I asked whether we could bring her something to eat. After considering the offer, she declined, explaining that she would be leaving soon. We continued walking, noticing others experiencing homelessness, as we have in so many American cities. The encounter reminded me that travel reveals not only beautiful places but also the struggles of people whose lives intersect with ours. Travel invites us to notice both the beauty around us and the people we might otherwise overlook. I remember fondly the brilliant idea Rabbi Lane Steinger once shared with me… that he carries gift certificates to fast food restaurants to give out to people on the streets.
As Andy and I returned home, I realized that the greatest souvenir from our journey was a renewed appreciation for the people we love, the blessings we sometimes take for granted, and the unexpected connections that make life richer.
When was the last time you stepped away from your usual routine and allowed yourself to see life a little differently? Sometimes a new adventure or a simple conversation is all it takes to remind us how much we share with others.
May our journeys fill our hearts with gratitude and remind us that blessings often appear in unexpected places and through unexpected people. May we return from each new experience with fresh eyes, renewed spirits, and a deeper appreciation for the beautiful, interconnected world in which we live.
SHABBAT SHALOM
