I’m sitting here in BCN waiting for my flight to Casablanca. Made it through security with all the film without much of a hassle other than the security guy laughing at my notebook w the Spanish translation begging them to not x-ray my film. Its alright. I will endure mockery if it meant my film is un-x-rayed. I sit by the gate and I think about what it is about traveling that I love so much. What is it about it that feeds my soul and makes me come alive.
The constant challenge of the new, different, exotic is certainly one element. I like new things. I like learning new things, trying new experiences and have my limits pushed whenever possible. It clears my head and gives me time to think. The road itself forces you to reflect on where you’ve been, where you are and where would you like to go next. I get to do my favorite thing everyday, shoot. But the main principals why traveling feeds the soul because when you travel as we do, on a budget, down and dirty, you force yourself to obey two basic principals of life that we often resist.
1) Surrender and be open. You give in at a certain point. Your surrender to the bus schedule, train schedule, the living and awaking hours of the place you are at. It may not be to your liking but you would have a terribly miserable time if you spend it being mad that X,Y and Z is not the way you think it SHOULD be. You give in, trust and before you know it you are having a great time on a broken down bus.
2) Execution or Plan and Do. When we are at home, in our normal environment, there are a million and one reasons why we can’t do X, Y and Z. We get caught up in routines and the day to day of everything that needs our attention. When you are on the road, you are constantly making decisions and carrying them out. I am gonna go to the museum today. I am gonna go on that trek through the high altas. There is nothing to get caught up in. Traveling is a series of decisions you make and execute.
Isn’t that what life really is?! To live and not to just exist!? Surrender to grace and be open to the magic that is around you. Make decisions about what you want and actually carry them out.
Traveling feeds the soul and makes me alive because it is LIVING.
Subscribe to SpyTravelogue and do some LIVING with me!
Love your post it totally reminded me of what I love about travelling.. thank you!
Traveling is truely good for the soul. I can’t wait to leave again. Where does your heart want to go next?