by Bree Mason
Cornwall, England
“So many places to be, people to meet.” – Sticky Fingers
Over the past year, many people have always mentioned in passing that it must be so freeing and amazing to travel without any real limitations. I always seemed to shrug it off, as it can actually be quite stressful. Don’t get me wrong, I know how incredibly blessed that I am but, when you have no specific place that you need to be, or no plan as to when or where you will go, it can become a bit daunting. Having too much choice can be overwhelming at times. However, as I sat on a plane yesterday leaving a dear friend, m perspective completely changed. I was heading back to a city that I’ve been to countless times, and at first, I was anything but excited. The thought of spending time there again seemed mundane and boring. But as I sat on the plane, I found my excitement and anticipation mounting. Because no two days are exactly alike. There’s always amazing new people to meet wherever you do go. So having to return to this city for a few days – a direct result of my lack of planning – I began to appreciate my lifestyle much more.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of the earth and all of the people in it, it’s easy to feel insignificant. When you’re watching life on the ground from up in the clouds, everything looks so small and inconsequential. When you’re walking through a city, everything seems louder, brighter, and larger than life. So you’re constantly floating between these two perspectives. This often leads me to question my own significance and importance. How do you deal with this?
Well, the way I see it, there are two approaches. We can either be discouraged by the magnitude of life on this earth. We can let the existential negativity envelop us, almost paralyzing us with fear. Or, we can embrace it all and recognize the special part that we play. We can seek out all of the magnificent things waiting for us. Experience as much as we can of what the world has to offer. It doesn’t matter if you’re at home, in a remote village, or in a city for your first of twentieth time. There’s always something to surprise and excite you.
I choose the latter.
I want to spend the rest of my life traveling. Exploring every nook and cranny. Meeting as many people as possible every day. Because you never know what effect we will have on one another, big or small. Pass on live, happiness, excitement, and gratefulness. Even a smile for a stranger can go a long way. We may be small, one of billions, but we’re all unique and radiant in our own ways. We’re all a part of a larger, working organism. Our contributions are just as important as the next person. Who says we can’t make a difference? I believe that leaving happiness behind, everywhere we go, is strong. It’s large. It’s significant.
Let’s get to know strangers, appreciate one another, and support everyone in our lives. Because we’re all here for a reason, and we’re all of equal importance and potential. Let’s radiate together.
Photo of the Week
Bali, Indonesia