When I travel, I love speaking to women around the world about

Hear the thoughtful words of Maria Sharapova, who proclaimed: “When I travel, I love speaking to women around the world about the things that inspire them, the fashions they like, what makes something good and what would make it even better.” These words, born from her journeys beyond the courts of sport, speak not only of fashion or conversation but of a deeper truth: the sacred act of listening, of learning from the voices of women, of weaving together the diverse threads of humanity into one tapestry of understanding.

Mark this wisdom, O listener: to travel is not merely to see new lands with the eyes, but to encounter new souls with the heart. Sharapova, known for her strength and triumph in tennis, confesses here that her richest moments come not from victories in stadiums but from dialogues with women across the earth. She listens to their inspirations, their fashions, their visions of what is good, and their dreams of what could be better. In this, she shows us that true greatness lies not only in speaking, but in listening, and not only in personal success, but in shared wisdom.

Consider the example of Eleanor Roosevelt, who traveled the globe in the mid-20th century. She sat with women in villages, in factories, in schools, asking them about their lives and their struggles. From their voices, she drew strength to shape the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, giving words to the silent hopes of millions. Like Sharapova, she understood that to ask what inspires others and what they desire for improvement is to honor their dignity and to build a more just world.

Think also of the ancient tradition of women’s circles, in which mothers, daughters, and sisters gathered to share stories, skills, and wisdom. From these circles emerged knowledge that sustained communities—what herbs healed, what garments endured, what practices brought harmony. By listening to women’s voices across cultures, Sharapova steps into this ancient stream, carrying forward the truth that women are not only keepers of beauty and fashion but of resilience, creativity, and vision.

Sharapova also speaks of fashion, but let us not mistake her meaning as shallow. Clothing, across history, has been more than fabric—it has been identity, power, and expression. The sari of India, the kimono of Japan, the embroidery of Eastern Europe, the beadwork of Africa—each tells the story of a people, their values, their art, their resilience. When Sharapova listens to women speak of fashion, she listens to their cultural memory and their longing for beauty in a world often marked by struggle. She listens not to surfaces, but to symbols.

Yet the heart of her words lies in the question: “what makes something good and what would make it even better?” This is the spirit of growth, the refusal to settle for mediocrity, the eternal drive of humanity toward excellence. To ask this question of women around the world is to recognize their power as creators and innovators. It is to say: your voices matter, your visions matter, your sense of betterment matters. In a world that too often silences women, Sharapova reveals that wisdom lies in drawing upon their insights for the enrichment of all.

The lesson for us, O seekers, is clear: when you travel, do not remain silent or closed. Do not treat the people you meet as scenery in your journey. Ask them what inspires them. Ask them what they love, what they dream, what they wish to improve. Listen with humility, for in their answers you will discover not only their truth, but your own. Through such encounters, the world ceases to be divided into strangers and becomes instead a chorus of shared humanity.

Therefore, let Sharapova’s words be a guide: travel with open ears, open eyes, and an open heart. Seek out the voices of women, of men, of elders and children alike, and honor their stories. For inspiration is multiplied when shared, beauty is deepened when understood, and goodness is perfected when we strive together to make it better. And in this way, your travels will become not only a journey of the body but a pilgrimage of the spirit.