Saturday · July 11, 2026 · Paris, France 🗼
What Traveling Taught Me About My Nervous System
A Paris reflection on the healing that started long before the airplane.
Hey you, it's me.
After my last postcard, many of you asked if visiting the Holy Stairs and the Christian sites in Rome changed me.
I've been thinking about that question as I sit here looking out at the Eiffel Tower.
The answer is yes. Go grab your coffee and sit with me a moment. But not in the way I expected. What I noticed was a slow shift in my nervous system.
Looking back, I don't think this journey changed my nervous system overnight. I think it revealed the places that still needed healing.
Athens introduced me to the version of myself that still scanned every room before she could relax.
I grew up believing the world wasn't always safe. Somewhere along the way, my nervous system learned to stay ready for what might happen next.
Every time I travel after being home for a while, I notice it almost immediately: the overthinking, the "what ifs," and the need to prepare for every possible outcome.
Milos didn't change me overnight. It simply gave my body permission to exhale. The salt water, island living, riding four-wheelers, and spending most of the day outside slowly quieted my mind. I settled into a rhythm: wake, worship, stretch, coffee, walk, repeat.
People think regulation comes from one huge breakthrough. Often it comes from repeating tiny, safe routines.
By the time I reached Rome, I felt lighter. Then came the Holy Stairs.
As I crawled those steps, a deep assurance settled over me. The message that kept returning was:
You are my daughter. You are loved. You don't have to carry this alone.
Healing didn't happen because I got on an airplane. Healing didn't happen because I swam in the Mediterranean. Healing didn't happen because I stood inside beautiful churches. Healing began the moment I stopped trying to carry everything by myself.
Surrender wasn't a one-time decision on the Holy Stairs. It's becoming a daily one. Every morning. Every hour. Every time fear tries to convince me I'm on my own.
That's what traveling taught me about my nervous system.
Peace isn't found in a place. Peace is found in the One who walks with me wherever I go.
One more thing. Let me leave you with one question.
When was the last time you slowed down long enough to notice where God was meeting you?
Maybe today is your invitation to pause.
P.A.U.S.E.
- Pause Physically — physiological safety first
- Acknowledge the Feeling — name the emotion
- Understand the Story — narratives and belief patterns
- Surrender — release control
- Emerge — clarity
I'm waiting on your note~
When was the last time you slowed down long enough to notice where God was meeting you? Come sit closer and tell me.
Write Jenn a Note ↓I love you.
Just stay sweet out there, until my next postcard.
Sharing love from Paris,
~ Jenn
P.S. If you're enjoying these postcards, come join me on Instagram, @justjennboard. I'm sharing the journey one day, one city, and one postcard at a time.
More Postcards from Paris
→ What 20,000 Steps a Day Taught Me About Aging Gracefully
→ What Bastille Day Reminded Me About Loving People Well
Before you go…
I've been getting a lot of questions since sharing my time in Rome, so let me answer a few.
You:
How did you find the Christian sites to visit in Rome?
Me:
Before we left, I spent months researching. I read travel blogs, watched YouTube videos, asked for recommendations, and used ChatGPT to help me build an itinerary. I mapped out travel time between each location so we wouldn't feel rushed and could leave room to pause, pray, and reflect. This trip wasn't just about sightseeing — I intentionally planned it as the beginning of my Camino journey across Spain.
You:
What Christian sites in Rome moved you the most?
Me:
Three places left a lasting mark on my heart. The Holy Stairs, where I surrendered things I'd been carrying for years. The cross inside the Colosseum at sunset, where I was reminded of the courage of the early Christians. And Michelangelo's Pietà inside St. Peter's Basilica. Standing before Mary holding Jesus brought me to tears. I'll never forget that moment.
You:
Were the Christian sites easy to get to?
Me:
Yes. We chose to Uber between most of the sites, and for us it was worth every euro. Could we have walked? Absolutely. But taking an Uber gave us time to rest, cool off in the air conditioning, drink some water, and reflect on what we'd just experienced before moving on. Plan. Prepare. Pace yourself. Rome isn't a race.
You:
Do I have to be Catholic to appreciate these places?
Me:
Not at all. I'm Baptist, and this trip deepened my faith in ways I didn't expect. I wasn't visiting because of a denomination. I was there because I wanted to better understand the history of Christianity and spend time with God.
You:
Did traveling heal your nervous system?
Me:
Travel didn't magically heal my nervous system. It revealed it. Athens showed me how often I still scanned for danger. Milos reminded me how healing routine can be. Rome taught me the power of surrender. Peace didn't come because I boarded an airplane. It came because I finally slowed down long enough to notice that God had been walking with me all along.
Write Jenn a Note Back
She reads every one.