I’ve been trying to think of something poignant to write to mark two years of setting off on my round-the-world trip. Truth is, I don’t know what to say or how to say it without sounding like a pompous fool.
Friday marked the two year anniversary of me getting on a plane with a one-way ticket and I guess I should have some advice for all those people who are about to do the same, or even those who are just contemplating it. But I don’t.
I’m still as confused about life as I was two years ago, but my life has changed subtly and slowly ever since then, so that now when I look back to who I was two years ago, I can’t even relate to my old life anymore, let alone the lives of those people on my Facebook feed.
Travel has definitely changed me, but not in the ways I assumed it would. I thought it would make me more confident, carefree and more patient and accepting of everything life could every throw at me. That is both truth and untrue at the same time.
I have never been a patient person and I still don’t think that I am. When I have an idea or want to go somewhere, I want it to happen as soon as possible – not even waiting for trains and buses in developing countries has seemed to change that for me.
I’m still as scared about every new experience as I once was, the only difference now being that I know what great things can come out of doing something scary. These days I try and encourage myself to do them, no matter how wary I may be.
One thing I have definitely learned over the last two years is that nothing is ever as bad as you imagine it to be. Travelling alone, sleeping in terrible beds, long and tiring travel days, periods where you have little money. I have learned that as people, we have an amazing ability to adapt and accept our fate and that our imaginations can be a little too over-active when it comes to worse-case scenarios.
Most importantly, I have realised that I can live with little and not care. I have realised that although I can no longer relate to many people back at home, who are living totally different lives to me, that it doesn’t mean I don’t still love them or want to be their friend or read their updates on social media every day. I used to worry that there was something bad in having a different lifestyle, but now I realise that people choose their own paths and you really can’t compare your life with anyone else’s.
Nobody is perfect, and two years of travel definitely isn’t for everyone. Heck, after two years, I still don’t even know if it’s for me. But I do know that I’m a lot more comfortable in my own skin than I was two years ago and that I know more clearly what does and doesn’t make me happy.
If that’s all I’ve learned in this last two years then in my eyes the journey has been worth it.
Awesome that you’ve been away for two years! I expected to be some enlightened crazy man after traveling but it turns out I’m just the same guy who likes enjoying himself.
I find it hard relating to what people want back at home but at the same time I’m the first to tell them that each persons dream life is different and for all I know they could have it right and I’m completely wrong. If you can find the place where people go to ‘find themselves’ then let me know, I might go check that out…
Haha! Yeah, I’m still looking for that place. I’ll keep you updated 😉
Congrats on reaching 2 years! I haven’t been gone quite so long, but I’ve found a lot of what you’ve learned to be true as well. I’m still horribly impatient, and I still don’t really seek out huge changes to the status quo — for me, that means that traveling and moving from place to place feels comfortable and normal, the thought of stopping terrifies me! But I do try to remind myself that it’s not a weakness or failure to feel fear, it’s only if we let that fear guide our choices or stop us from doing the things we really want that it has won!
I don’t think anybody really understands life, and if they say they do they’re probably lying, so I wouldn’t worry about being just as confused as you were two years ago! Great to hear that you’ve learnt some things on your travels though 🙂
Congrats! I feel like travel also changed me in some big ways and some subtle ways – the bigs ones are to do with my palate and the small things like my environmental streak.
OH my god, two years? Time flies! Congratulations! xx
Love the post and I am so glad to read how travelling has changed you in so many ways. Without a doubt, it was a life lesson you would never experience if you stayed at home. Good luck on the road and keep being awesome! Where are you heading next?