Tomorrow I begin my winter traveling. I'll be in Nicaragua for five weeks, come home for the holidays, and then leave for Thailand. While this may sound like a great way to get out of the cold New England winter, if you know me, this isn't as much fun as it sounds.
I have spent the better part of the last three winters traveling. Each time I go somewhere I struggle with being away from home. I miss my family and friends, my routine, my house, my food, my bed. I complain about everything. So why do I go? I don't have a choice.
I have to leave home and put myself somewhere where I do not know what will happen. Maybe I just like surprises. I stay in hostels or cheap hotels, I usually go to third world countries because I like the people there. I go to places that are warm and not far from the ocean. And I promise you, the next blog you get from me I will probably be complaining that I am terribly lonely and want to come home.
If I am lucky I'll last the five weeks and not come home early. Whatever happens I will receive a few good life lessons and my life will be richer as a result of leaving the comfort zone of my home.
If all goes well I'll spend the next five weeks studying Spanish, learning how to salsa dance, writing, reading, and discovering new things about myself. I guess I better start packing my bags.
Morning meditation: "Transformation is through the body, not away from it." Eckhart Tolle
This reminds me that if I can focus on my breath, be in the moment, I will continue to grow. You would think that growth would come from abandoning the body, but that is just not the case.
I have spent the better part of the last three winters traveling. Each time I go somewhere I struggle with being away from home. I miss my family and friends, my routine, my house, my food, my bed. I complain about everything. So why do I go? I don't have a choice.
I have to leave home and put myself somewhere where I do not know what will happen. Maybe I just like surprises. I stay in hostels or cheap hotels, I usually go to third world countries because I like the people there. I go to places that are warm and not far from the ocean. And I promise you, the next blog you get from me I will probably be complaining that I am terribly lonely and want to come home.
If I am lucky I'll last the five weeks and not come home early. Whatever happens I will receive a few good life lessons and my life will be richer as a result of leaving the comfort zone of my home.
If all goes well I'll spend the next five weeks studying Spanish, learning how to salsa dance, writing, reading, and discovering new things about myself. I guess I better start packing my bags.
Morning meditation: "Transformation is through the body, not away from it." Eckhart Tolle
This reminds me that if I can focus on my breath, be in the moment, I will continue to grow. You would think that growth would come from abandoning the body, but that is just not the case.
1 comment:
It is my experience that travel induces lots of fear in me. I fear looking stupid, making mistakes, not knowing the language or the customs; looking like a tourist.
When I can release my fear is when I really grow through travel. Then I can be here now and experience the beauty and rich diversity that travel offers.
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