Traveler: Finding Happiness in Miles Away from Home

Within this year I have traveled more in Sri Lanka than I have ever before and I cannot express that I am grateful for every moment that I have gotten to experience. There is something interesting that I have learned from my friend the Traveler. I wanted to share some of his lessons and what I have learned from him.

Be Unbound from Expectations

Often societal pressures make it hard to enjoy life and just be yourself. What the travels he has brought me and so many others on is that the expectation we have on others, places, and experiences are so different to reality. Reality is the place we should seek out rather than our own expectations. Being humbled from the simple things on these trips such singing around a campfire and enjoying the whistling winds anywhere has taken myself and others to new destinations. This lesson is by far the one that has given me the most peace.

Living in the Present Moment

Every single site that he has taken the group on has been nothing short of breathtaking. I close my eyes and I can vividly remember those times and when I swamped in my work, I remember the very reason why these trips have been so essential and a crucial part of me growing up this year. I am always thinking of the future and traveling has taught to live more presently to share laughs, food, drinks and memories with people in the moment it actually happens. Worrying of the future has killed my happiness and the journeys and the miles walked with many others lead by him has shown me that life is more than what we are planning it to be.

Places Take You, Not Them

Just as a person starts a dance, walks in a parade, or the first beat of a song you love; there is an overwhelming sensation that takes over you. Every place he has taken all of our friends to has been the teacher we all needed. Every trip was a different lecture on how to enjoy, experience, and just be a human being. Every sweaty moment walking under a hot sun or simply slipping away into waters unknown all were teachers in disguise. When you are little, you feel carefree and there is a sense of freedom that we feel less and less as we get older. Traveling has made me realize we always have access to this feeling. I am in every word in debt to him for helping me realize that life and the places we visit take us to parts of ourselves we did not know existed.

Traveling Is Something Sacred

Traveling is like a religion now for me and I thank him for teaching me that. Going to new places brings me as much peace as would going to a temple or sitting for mass in a church. He often teaches the people around him a gospel and that it is a sacred belief to know that life is too short to not experience all of the beauty and wonder in this world. So to you the Traveler, cheers to more adventures and for being the person who has helped me to regain peace and happiness in an otherwise hectic and busy life.