How Do You Travel?

Feb 16

As I’ve traveled more, I notice in my conversations the same questions asked over and over.

The most frequent one is: How?

How did you plan this trip?

How did you afford it?

How much money did you spend?

How could you take that much time off work?

The simple and short answer, for me, is: If you want something bad enough, you’ll work for it. You’ll save up the time to take off. You’ll plan a budget. You’ll map out the route. You’ll research the safest place to stay. You’ll prioritize. You’ll make it happen.

I’ve stayed in luxurious resorts with full amenities and I’ve stayed in hostels where all I had was what was in my backpack. I’ve learned a lot along the way and a part of that is making mistakes. Doing things last minute, not researching enough, unexpected charges along the way. Oh yes… there are almost always unexpected changes. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from that alone is threefold:

1- You probably will not wear as much as you pack.

2- You will need more money than you think you will.

3- Go with the flow. Don’t hang those expectations up from where social media places them. Be willing to follow the changes and have an open mind to where that could lead.

In these conversations I’ve had, we also talk a lot about being afraid.

I have a deathly fear of snakes (that vivid memory I have isn’t always fun, especially with childhood experiences). That cuts out opportunities of adventure and reduces some of the places for me to go because of where they inhabit. I’m not sure if I’ll get over that, but it causes me to look at what I’m losing because of it. Where I visit in South America & Australia will be verrrrry limited. I get it, fear is hard.

Will Smith made a motivational speech once about the other side of fear. He speaks of his fear of skydiving. He goes on to do it in Dubai and his whole perspective changes. In short, he explains that what’s in store for you carries more weight than your fear. There’s so much on the other side of it. Not just freedom, but change. Experience. Enlightenment. Joy. Understanding. You might miss your flight (you will make it home). You might lose your luggage (it’s just things— you can buy more clothes). And more than likely, you will not be taken.

And then there’s just plain fear in missing out. I was once asked “Aren’t you going to miss out on what’s going on here while you’re gone?”. That question has stuck with me over time. Who would miss the mundane day-to-day? The short answer is and almost always will be no.

Change doesn’t happen in your comfort zone, homies.