The typical cliché used to describe people like me who go traveling for extended periods of time is to say that, “He is finding himself.” Setting aside the belittling way that expression is generally used – as if the instinct for self-discovery is to be mocked rather than celebrated – after almost 17 months on the road I’ve found the common idea of “finding oneself” to be totally inaccurate.
They say we never forget our first time, and in my experience that maxim applies to more than just its colloquial uses for drugs and sex. For me at least, it applies to travel, as well.
Travel offers an opportunity to read material that everyday life can render too challenging. The first few books I read on the road reflect the theme of “men and women on a journey.”
My time in Peru was so heart-opening, mind-expanding, consciousness-transforming, body-healing, spirit-challenging, soul-nourishing, cried-every-last-tear-taking-it-all-in-and-yet-there’s-more??? life-changing that I had to go to Colombia just to chill out.
I have discovered there is another side to solo long-term traveling that many blogs don’t cover. I call these issues “The Dark Side of Long Term Travel.”
This facial hair thing is apparently no joke. The stuff just grows, I guess. Who knew?