As you all know, I write from moments I’m in the thick of thoughts that bubble up from long-ago memories that choose to resurface at just the right — or wrong — time. This week’s piece? It comes to you from the comfort of my home, after what felt like a never-ending journey back from Poland. And not just any journey — a travel experience so chaotic, so layered in delays and detours, it begged the question: Is traveling still worth it?

Let’s start at the beginning. My trip to Poland was daunting but meaningful. Leading and learning, pushing myself in ways I hadn’t before. But let’s be real — traveling abroad is no easy feat. From the get-go, it was customs after customs after — you guessed it — more customs. Add in people trying to shove clearly-too-large carry-ons into overhead bins, gate agents arguing with passengers about checking their bags, families blocking the aisles trying to organize their row…it’s a full-contact sport just getting to your seat.

And that’s before we even take off.

Then comes the weather. Oh, the weather. What should have been an eight-hour flight quickly turned into a ten-hour saga, thanks to storms rerouting our path. And just when I thought the worst was behind me, I landed at Washington D.C.’s Dulles Airport… only to go nowhere.

Flights were delayed. Then canceled. And once that happened, the responsibility magically evaporated for the airlines — no rebooking assistance, no hotel voucher, not even a “good luck.” Weather, after all, means they owe you nothing.

At this point, I was closing in on 23 hours of travel, functioning on caffeine and willpower alone. But I was bound and determined to get home. So I did what any delirious, determined woman would do: I got a rental car.

After navigating endless customs lines, locating my luggage (which took longer than it should have), then hunting down a car in a sea of frustrated travelers, I finally hit the road. Yes, I paused for a nap at a dear friend’s house — but then I was back behind the wheel, heading home. Because while D.C. might feel like a second home, I needed my first.

And it made me wonder — when horror stories from travel seem to have become the rule rather than the exception, is it still worth it?

The question came not just from my own exhaustion, but from the stories shared by fellow travelers all around me. In the customs line. At the gate. In the rental car lobby. Everyone had a story. Everyone had dealt with missed connections, lost luggage, hours of delays and the increasing unpredictability of flying. No airline or airport seems unscathed. It’s in the news. It’s in our conversations. And it’s now a part of nearly every itinerary.

So…is it worth it?

Here’s my truth: yes.

Even through the exhaustion, the frustration and the sheer ridiculousness of airline fine print and weather disclaimers, I still say yes. Because for me, travel is more than a destination. It’s connection. It’s growth. It’s culture. It’s challenge. It’s messy and hard and sometimes uncomfortable. But it’s also inspiring and unforgettable.

And I made it home. A little more tired, yes. But also a little more resilient.

So now I turn the question to you: When the journey gets harder, when the systems feel broken and the stress threatens to outweigh the joy — do you still say yes to traveling?

Because I do. Every time.

Mother, author, entrepreneur and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.