Learning from half a year on the road around the world.
I write to you today from the island of Penang, Malaysia. Far from your typical Southeast Asian island filled with beaches, Penang is instead teeming with culture, from beautiful street art depicting local life in the olden days to street food vendors serving recipes passed down through generations. The city is bustling with life, full of tourists and locals going about their daily business. There’s an old world charm to George Town, the main city on the island, and much of it is designated a UNESCO heritage site.
I sit in my hostel, relaxed with sounds of busy cafes and rumbling motorbikes wafting in through the 100+ year-old building. If the walls could talk, they would tell tales of strangers becoming friends, of lazy mornings after a night out, and so much more. Thinking of these stories reminds me of all those that I have to tell over the last 6 months.
These travels have been filled with plenty of highs and lows. From skydiving in New Zealand and diving on the Great Barrier Reef, to intense emotions of sadness, homesickness and heartache – I’ve felt it all. I’ve found resolution to deep wounds from long ago, hope in what the future may bring, and discovered profound self-awareness. Traveling has given me the time and the scenery to help me sort through my life and help give a better understanding of who I am. I’ve learned a few lessons that I think everyone could use, whether you’re at home or abroad.
1. Karma is Real
I’m a firm believer in the idea that the energy you give to the world will come back to you. If you treat others with kindness and respect, you will find the same treatment in return. I also think that simply being a good person will lead good things to happen to you. There have been countless times where everything should have gone wrong in my travels, yet somehow pulled through. It’s hard to believe that some sort of travel karma isn’t playing a part.
2. Time is What You Make of it
When on the road, I have nothing but time. There’s rarely a deadline that I need to hit or a schedule I need to adhere to. As surprising as it may be, there are moments where this freedom is intimidating. Going from a corporate job with limited time to myself to having complete freedom was a whirlwind at first. I felt pressured to fill every moment of my trip with something exciting and new. But I quickly realized that the time we have to ourselves is just that – our own. We can choose to fill our free time with activities, busy schedules and sightseeing. Or we can spend it simply relaxing with a good book or Netlflix show. The key is to finding what you need in that moment – and doing it.
3. Find Your Tribe
Though I’m on this trip alone, my travels have often been with others I’ve met along the way. I’ve seen such an interesting cast of characters playing a part in my story. I’ve met some who inspire me and connect with me in so many ways. And on the other end of the spectrum, I’ve met people who have been unfriendly and quite frankly those that I wouldn’t want to meet again. We often find ourselves in situations surrounded by both types of people. But I’ve realized there are ways we can attract those that will build us up rather than break us down.
For me, avoiding situations like party hostels and finding alternative forms of accommodations has made a big difference. I’ve made deeper connections with people through things like WorkAway and Couchsurfing. And when I’ve surrounded by people who bring me down, I’ve simply removed myself from the situation. My life has been so much happier because of it, and I couldn’t emphasize this lesson enough.
4. Sharing Truly is Caring
Through my travels, I’ve never felt better than when I receive generosity from strangers. From a stranger at a hostel offering up a beer to a kind Malaysian family offering a ride to a group of backpackers hitchhiking, I’ve experienced such random acts of kindness and sharing to fill a novel. And surely I’ve tried to give back as much as I can in return. Giving back and sharing what’s yours is the simplest act of kindness of which the impact is truly immeasurable.
5. Go With the Flow, Man
You’re probably rolling your eyes at me here. But the truth is, flexibility and an open mind can make all the difference. I often don’t make too many plans far in advance while traveling because I never know what opportunity might strike. I often make friends in a hostel dorm or kitchen and find myself joining up with them on future travels. Some of my best friends have been made because of these random trips I’ve taken along the way.
There have also been times where I had a preconceived notion that I might not enjoy something, yet ended up absolutely loving it. I honestly did not think I would enjoy diving as I haven’t ever been too keen on snorkeling or being in open water. But from the very moment that I slipped underwater with my gear on, I found a new love. Keeping an open mind has helped me experience life fully and has kept the door open to all sorts of things. Had I given in to my inhibitions, I wouldn’t have tried diving and would be missing out on a whole world that is the ocean.
6. HAVE FUN
Sometimes I take myself way too seriously. And I do the same for these travels. I put pressure on how “deep” the trip should be and what I’m learning from it. Yet there’s something to be said about just letting go and living it up. Life is too short for every moment to be profound, and sometimes we learn the most from when we’re laughing and smiling the hardest.
The Lessons Continue…
I’d be crazy to think that the past six months have taught me everything I need to know about life and travel. The truth is that every day has a new lesson to learn – you just have to be open to learning from it. As I continue on the road I’m so excited to learn more about myself and the world. I’m so grateful for you all following along. It means a lot to me as I navigate this foreign territory. Much love!
