When It's Time to Turn Around
Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?
― Stephanie Perkins
For long-term solo travelers, it is going to be a lonely world out there. The time will come when you feel like you have already outlasted the journey. For you can only travel so much, unless you are still searching for that something, whether love, passion or purpose in life. When you don't belong to any place or to anyone for a long time or when nobody asks you to stay anymore, it makes you think if you should still continue your journey. The loneliness of detachment. The price of freedom. Perhaps, this is now the perfect time for self-reflection.
Most of these so-called long-term travelers are used to their individualistic idea where one is taught - "If you try you can make it on your own". Where people are conditioned to take care of themselves or live in isolation, one of the reasons there are high depression and suicide cases in these societies. While those people in societies who are accustomed to community and sharing are happier even if they are not traveling. They don't have this first-world concept of traveling, see the world, find the meaning in your life, blah...For travelers, leaving never gets easier. Saying goodbye never gets easier. You might be meeting new people again but deep down, you are only isolating yourself even more. People around you will only be afraid to get attached to you for the knowledge that you will only leave, but isn't that sad for you too? That perhaps, nobody cares about you or your freedom anymore, and that it is only you and you alone in this world. The time will come when you'll realize that paradise does not make any sense without someone to share it with, however beautiful that place is, for it is human nature to belong. Perhaps, it would be better to be with other prisoners in prison instead.
At the beginning of my travels, I was quite excited to meet new people. Even though long-term travel is a life-changing experience that could give you a fresh perspective of the world, it also has its side effects. After a while, I began asking myself these questions. Am I meeting new people again? Are they my 24h friends again? Am I visiting another museum? Is this relationship not going to last again? Am I going to another waterfall? Am I going to introduce myself all over again? Why is it that someone is not interested in making me stay anymore? Why can't I stay? Although I cannot really blame people for recognizing that I have to move on, it is just the sad reality of this new found freedom I have to face - I don't belong.
I see some men who are traveling for a long time, partying to their hearts' content in every country. Leaving a place and moving on to the next, meeting new girls again. Behind their great denial, I only see emptiness. They could surely travel and party until 60 or until they could not find women in their own societies to like them anymore. But of course, there's always the young girls in Thailand who are more than willing to accept them. I am not generalizing but I've seen this reality during my travels. Then there are those women traveling and pretending to be strong and independent, sleeping around to their hearts' content. But I see another great denial, behind the fun, drugs and loud music yet in another city, after-parties could only leave them feeling empty.
The time would come that long-term traveling would also lose its charm. When the existential satisfaction of nothingness and open time give way to distant thoughts. A yearning for routine and a sense of belonging to a place. A yearning for stable friendships and relationships. Perhaps at this point, it is time to find a place called home. In the end, the point is to share. That is the only thing that makes a person truly happy, to share all those good moments in your life.
After my marriage broke up I drove around Australia. I was in objectively stunning landscapes, but everything was grey. It was the first time I'd ever experienced anything like it.
Hmmm...
I always dream of scuba diving in the great barrier reef before it gets totally bleached.
Yeah, it looks like that's something future generations won't get to do. The coral up there is spectacular. So sad that it will probably be all gone in a couple of decades.
There is peace in the anonymity of travel as well. I probably hitch-hiked 10000 miles before I was 25. I loved meeting people and spending a few minutes to a few days with them knowing I would never see them again. You could be anybody with them because the encounter was in the moment and there would be no social repercussions down the road.
I think it's important for young people to get out of the house as soon as they can and then hit the road. Youth is the time to explore. Diving right into school to get an education to get a job to make money so you can then explore is a huge trap and truly a waste of your youth. People end up old and worn out and that zest for life, while still present in a few, is much attenuated and completely gone in some.
I used to see mountains and wonder what was up there and so I'd climb to the top and enjoy the view. I see mountains now and I know what's up there. I have no desire to climb them any longer.
Most of my travels were in the early 70s. The world was a much different place then. I slept on beaches that are now buried under grotesque development. One is now alongside an international airport. Another, a sleepy fishing village is now overrun with yuppie scum and Eurotrash and timeshares for walking dead retirees.
The world is degenerating at an ever-increasing rate. It's important to go and explore now while you have the energy and the curiosity and the beauty still exists. The reality of those places that hold dear memories for me is such that I will never revisit them. Their beauty is forever lost to me except for what lives in my memory. Everywhere I've ever been isn't as nice as it was when I first visited.
Exploration inevitably leads to discovery. Eventually the need to explore is quenched. There is always time to settle down. Kids happen. But what beauty is out there to be discovered today will most likely be lost tomorrow.
True and one of the reasons I have traveled. I've never thought I would amass knowledge along the way, and now I attribute my new perspective of this world to my experiences on the road. There is a reason why the world is big.
We are not alone, its just that the rarities we seek are few and far between.
When our vibration matches the required frequency receiving our dreams is unavoidable. Albert Einstein, purportedly.
As with anything else, it will arrive when the time is right.
True. Thanks for sharing.
Very thought provoking! If you are drawn to travel follow your instinct because that will make you happy. But I guess all good things come to and end but a least we get to start something new and exciting after that!
Having moved recently and leaving my whole life behind it is almost like that time when you leave whilst traveling leaving a life behind. I feel lost but am embracing the new adventure; but sometime wish I had gone further a field. Losing the sense of belonging, I know exactly how you feel currently. Hopefully I will meet people, well I will! But will I then be moving? I can't get rid of the urge to travel. I can't find the perfect place or person so maybe travelling will bring to to the next soul mate. Sorry just ranting now, sparked all sorts of thought lines in my mind :)
That is true, think of all the possibilities on the road. This is what I like about my travels. It taught me a lot of things in life. But surely, know when to proceed to the new chapter. 😊
Yes i am planning my next trip have been since my return five/six years ago :)
Good luck!
Here's something for you: A place is not a home without you. :-)
Awwww sweet. 😊
Nice to be your friend here at Steemit.I already followed you to see all of your future blogs!The community needs cool people like you :-)
I wish you more followers and friends!Don't forget to follow, resteem and upvote me too @laique so that we can be friend forever :D
#life
Robert Frost:In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.That sun is something peaking beyond the mountain really something!
yea. it good to settle down. balance is everything. Good read.
Thank you!
It's a good thing that you're on Steemit. We are all sharing these good moments together! :)
Not all moments need to be shared physically with another. Some can be shared virtually. And some over the phone. And others through video chats. We have so many ways to interact these days.
But in the end, the world is our playground. We do need to get up and explore every so often, and it's usually more enjoyable when we explore together :)