I hear a lot of stories about how hard it is with their family and friends on the subject: Travel. The desire to seeing the world, learning more and wanting more are the extremely hard thing to understand for some or many people. And as travelers, we are accused of a lot of different statements. It happened and is happening to me constantly. Usually including the word ‘selfish’. All the problems are starting because the universal belief, different is wrong.
Here are seven statements that we often face. If you are still questioning, I will answer it for you; you are Not.
Looking down on people who are living a conventional life
People often take everything very personally. ‘This office job is not for me’ is translated to ‘I think this is a petty job’. And ‘I want to travel the world’ somehow ‘I feel sorry for you to stuck here forever’. Maybe it’s my attitude? Maybe. But I truly believe the misinterpretation came from the inferiority complex. The regret to not live the perfect life, jealousy, and the lack of courage to make some changes. I never said the conventional life style is wrong. And you know what? I want to do all the things what everybody does, but just not right at this second. I never judged, and never made any assumption. I only speak for my own experiences, and my well being. Don’t let people project their own problem to you.
Making an excuse to not live a life
There’s no right way to live a life. There could be common decency and common sense, but still, there’s no correct answer. Because, as we all know so very well, all the individuals are different. Whatever you do, if you have a purpose and a reason, you are living a life. As my friend Katie described it, we have this response from people because they misunderstand travel as a holiday. Of course, we travel because we like, and it’s way more interesting than working in the cubicle. But also, the life of a traveler is not easy, just like the cubicle life is not easy. Royal to things that make us happy, is not an excuse. It can be, but at least it’s not a lame one.
Being selfish
Everybody on this planet is selfish. It’s universal. Individual’s comfort is in higher priority than anybody else’s. Unless you are a monk or a father or any other religious or philosophical person, I bet you are selfish. But, I realized it from inflight video, that we have to put our own oxygen mask first. If I have my oxygen mask on and just watch the passenger next to me suffering, that would be wrong. Then you can accuse me of being selfish. In order to live a happy life, the individual has to be happy on his or her own. Interaction with people is a key to happier life, not the absolute governing factor. Making yourself happy is not selfish.
Wasting money
Your $200 rubber boots allow me to live 10 days in Southeast Asia.
Your $40,000 car can make my two years of RTW trip come true.
Your $5 coffee is a night in a dorm room.
I can rent a bike for $2, and enjoy the perfect scenery for free.
While you are eating $30 dinner, I’m having $.50 beer and $2 king size meal.
Your one crazy night with $100 bill can support my two week’s supply of groceries.
While you are having a party with your coworkers, spending God knows how much money, I’m watching the most beautiful sunset at the beach for free.
I honestly don’t know who’s wasting money.
It’s a matter of priority.
Losing your moment
Everything has the right timing, and I agree with that. That is why I travel. ‘Everything’ can be different. But yes, everything has their own timing and I believe this is the right time to go out there and see more of the world. Before it’s too late. Isn’t that enough reason? We don’t have to agree on what is ‘everything’, do we? I’m asking you, my readers and my friends, do you think you are, I am losing your time to be a better, happier person? Or, are you fulfilling your every day with passion and love? I can proudly say I am having my time of life. This is my moment.
Proving yourself to others
Who do you live life for? When you are surrounded by people who don’t support or agree with you, it’s easy to think ‘I’m going to prove how great I am.’ Because everyone needs approval. That’s not shameful. Everyone needs support, a comfort place, and needs to hear ‘you are doing great. Everything will be okay’ time to time. But be careful, sometimes we need to shake head and look back, who is it for? Are you making other people happy because you want the approval? If the answer is yes than you have to rearrange your decisions. Life shouldn’t be a boxing ring; everyone is watching you holding money and you are fighting for them. You don’t need to prove them, whoever they are, that you are happy and healthy. No matter how you are trying, if they don’t see it, there’s nothing you can do. Put your energy on yourself, not on what other people’s thinking about you.
Deliberately hurting people who care about you
When I was accused by that, I wanted to ask the same question. Isn’t this the same thing, hurting me, by saying these stuff? Once I said on my other post, ‘It doesn’t mean that I don’t love you anymore’, other people are nothing to do with my plan. If I want to hurt anybody, I would’ve done long time ago with more hurtful way. How can the fact that I’m traveling be a knife? And how can people make a life long plan to only hurt other people?
Have you ever thought about these? Do you agree?
