The Emotional Cure All
December 6, 2008 by admin
Filed under Independent Travel
How I love that giddy anticipation prior to a big trip!
I love the heightened awareness– the realization that I’ll soon be leaving my current place and my current routine. I find that this awareness of coming change produces a deep appreciation for all I now have. I become more aware of how wonderful my friends are, how much I love this city, and how much I love my life here.
At the same time, there is a building excitement as I dream of the heat, the spices, the smells, the food, the people, and the energy of SE Asia. And I’m excited by the knowledge that all my routines and patterns will soon be shattered. It’s the thrill of the unknown… for even though I have lived in Thailand before– I find that my life is far more unpredictable and spontaneous there.
There is also the excitement of new life experiments. There’s the Portable Empire experiment– the attempt to run my company successfully using Tim Ferriss’ “4-Hour Workweek” nomadic approach. There’s the experiment of learning Thai. There’s the excitement of training for a 50 mile race.
And finally, there’s the giddy anticipation of hedonism: chilled out nights at the South Star bar on Koh Payam island with the Hobopoet tribe… a live-aboard dive trip to the Similan & Surin Islands…. spicy Som-Tam (papaya salad) at Lumpini Park in Bangkok…. a culinary tour of Kuala Lumpur with my friends Kenny & Geetha.
I absolutely love San Francisco and I love my life here. But travel, for me, is an absolute necessity. It awakens and inspires me. It feeds my soul. It fires my creativity and imagination.
Travel is the cure-all for whatever ails your spirit. If you’re down. If you’re scared. If you’re lonely and miserable– buy a ticket to a far off land. I promise you’ll immediately start to feel better!
I was blessed to have travelled and done quite a few things that made a growingly dismal, meaningless existence a little more tolerable. It helped me grow, discover new things, not just experiences but life in the wild (and musicians but that’s anotehr story.)
And ever since I was left to “drone out” in a desk job… all I could do was wish I could leave. And finally continue on these adventures and more importantly, sharing it with people to bring out the love for this awesome planet we live on.
And this piece brought tears to my eyes because it reminded me of the love for discovery and adventure that now can be possible – and the light fresh feeling of release from the burden and unnecessary crap of rat-race-land is why the indegenous folks I’ve hung out with… are happy. Simple existance. Basics of human values and living. Realising that life is not worth dying in regret.
I left my job (great timing, NOT!) because I want to spend the rest of my life living as I should, and now… as I COULD. Your courage is inspiring.
And it’s all thanks to our mutual rockin’ buddy Kenny Peavy. Who is not just one of the coolest people I’m priviledged to befriend, but who is also an inspiration to a fellow wildlife conservationist.
p/s you’re way cooler than these boring motivational stuff you get on the net sometimes. you know, like those “inspirational quotes” signs and mugs you get last minute at CVS or Walgreen’s for that cousin you don’t quite know or like….