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What Traveling Taught Me: To Love Myself & Look at Life Differently
BY Abdul Aziz MondalJun 1, 2021
So, this is about what traveling taught me! When I initially started traveling, it was merely to explore new places. Stagnation could never provide what my soul was seeking. With travel experiences, I had a chance to explore an intimate relationship with myself. Even before I realized what effect traveling has on my life, I knew that traveling was helping me be a better person. This Is What Traveling Taught Me! Getting back to where I began. My journeys over the years have helped me to look at myself a tad bit differently. I realized that when we fall in love with ourselves, we tend to accept ourselves unconditionally. Here’s how I developed self-love and inclusivity out of my comfort zone. I am penning here the most personal experiences, and it’s okay if you see things in a different light. Traveling helped me realize that my ‘weaknesses’ were only a part of my imagination We all have certain assumptions about ourselves. We tend to think that we are ‘bad’ at certain things without even putting much effort into trying/doing/improving. It was the same for me as well. I often thought that I had acute OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). I also thought that I couldn’t share my stuff with strangers or live in a messy environment! Gladly, it all turned out to be a myth. At times, I didn’t have to think twice before lending my bottle of water to a fellow trekker during a high-altitude Himalayan Trek. Or when I spent nights at an underprivileged Children’s Home on the outskirts of Nairobi, I felt the most comfortable. I realized that the constraints were all in my mind. I didn’t need a second to break free from them when the situation arose. Everything instilled more confidence in me. I knew I could adjust with anyone! Traveling helped me to realize that I can be my best company We are obsessed with the internet and love to connect with others in the virtual world. This is something that takes up a considerable amount of your time. Have you ever thought how beautiful it would be to take a break and connect to yourself? We often seek love and appreciation from others. Appreciation seems like a source of happiness. But do we appreciate ourselves for trying something new or something we thought we never could? I’ve been no different. I also gave a lot of importance to what others would say about my deeds. Then I realized that it doesn’t really matter if I’m happy with myself. As I started to explore the world by myself, there were often times when I would find myself away from the network amidst solitude – and that’s when I realized that I love being by myself! This is what traveling taught me! I could read for hours, listen to music, or just sit by the window watching the clouds float. What Traveling taught me: To declutter my mind and trust others While growing up, we are often taught not to trust strangers. Such things often clutter our minds with suspicion, and we would look at anyone with a tinge of mistrust, thinking that the person might harm us in some way or the other. It was only when I started traveling that I came to realize how stupid these things were! During most of my journeys, I’ve blindly trusted the local transport drivers to take me to places and suggest areas worth exploring. While I was in Bhutan for a month, where I was mostly hitchhiking, I got into random people’s cars, who, at times, took a detour to drop me off! There were times when I would be hungry, and a fellow traveler on a bus or a train would offer me something that I would gladly eat. It helped me to learn that the world isn’t as bad as we think it to be while sitting at home! Eventually, it was the kindness I received on the roads that decluttered my mind and taught me to trust strangers. Minimalist living, compassion, and gratitude are what traveling taught me In our otherwise regular life, we tend to think that we need a lot of things (which we term ‘necessities’). Thus, we often end up buying stuff that we probably would never use! Our love for material possessions takes control over the mind. So, we keep spending to accumulate things. Even I used to be a shopaholic at some point in time and would pick up anything that caught my attention. But when I started to travel, I realized that my rucksack could accommodate only a limited amount. Further, when I was on the roads, I barely needed those things that I’d shopped for! The endless journeys taught me the charm of minimalistic living, and now, I pack as little as I think I would need. Also, we often forget to be grateful for all that we have and take things for granted. I traveled to different places, met several people, and got to know about their lives. Then, I figured out that not all are lucky by birth, and I was in a much better place than many out there. This realization was humbling, and I learned to value things. Summing Up: I realized That I Feel Alive When I Wander I realized that I felt most alive when I was traveling. It is hard to enlist everything if you ask me what traveling taught me. Along with the changes that I could understand, there have been many subtle yet significant changes. I now don’t react to things easily, and my aim is always to understand the other person’s perspective. Moreover, I have started believing in the words of Erwin Schrodinger. He said that the universe is a singular reality. I feel more conscious, creative, and positive when I travel. What has traveling taught you? How has it created a positive impact on your life? Don’t forget to share your ideas with us! 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