Why We Travel- The Search for Moments
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 2:15AM “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber
Photo Credit- Wili_Hybrid
April 9th, 2010
Somewhere in Northern Chile
I had to do it, I had no choice. Over fifty sets of eyes locked directly on my next move as my heart attempted to actually explode inside my chest. But I wouldn't get off that easy, death would be too ironic, too simple. Instead I would be forced to do the unthinkable. I would be forced to actually begin living.
Rising to the occasion, I stood confidently and grabbed the 60 year old Peruvian woman's hand. I noticed the gleam in her eyes, the excitement permeating emotions from her younger years that still existed, but lied dormant all too often I assumed. As the salsa music blared through the speakers, the passengers looked on intently with smiles stretched ear to ear. The huge Gringo and the diminutive Peruvian woman began dancing in the aisles of the tour bus, as the crowd around us cheered and yelled wildly. In that time, in that specific place on a mountain road in northern Chile, I was free, I was alive.
Photo Credit- Technowannabe
Why We Travel
By- Rick A. Griffith
I get it, you have responsibilities. You can't just up and leave, and besides, you don't have a thing for old ladies like me. Or perhaps your a bit squeamish to cut a rug while winding around narrow mountain passes on a double decker tour bus. Or maybe you just have not yet felt the itch.
The feeling you get when the moment that you have come half way around the world for happens, in the last place, with the last person you had ever expected it to. I never left for South America in search of this moment. Dancing in front of others with an old lady is a brand of torture I thought would be reserved solely for my wedding day. Yet when I look back, I still hear the thumping beat and the brass percussionists laying it down with Latin flair and the sound of salsa music is in the air, my dimples are exposed, unable to keep back the hilarity of that one moment, that I can never possibly forget.
Where are your moments hiding?
To stuff away your treasured possessions, flip your boss the bird, and hit the road, is something we have all dreamed of. Whether we actually decide to use a bit more tact in our approach, or employ this blunt, yet wildly effective method is really up to the individual in question. The moments you seek are waiting for you in places you have never seen, in tongues you have never heard.
What we fail to understand too often, is that these moments are fleeting. With each passing day, the likelihood of ever finding those feelings, feeling those indescribable emotions, fades away. Without being present, without an open mind and instead laden with the troubles of everyday existence, we miss these moments as they pass beneath our noses.
While we sit and wait for the right time, making the responsible choices instead of venturing into the unknown, we slowly fade from who we are, and from the things we had wished for. The young boy who once asked why to his father, wondering about all things, needing deeper reasoning, now loses his sense of wonder, content instead with what is told to him.
Stop Waiting to Die
"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."- Steve Jobs
What are you waiting for?
If you have found this blog, it is somewhat likely that you have the urge to hit the road. My advice to you is to analyze just what it is that you are waiting for. Sure, maybe you can not simply pack it all in and leave today, these sort of things take time. However you must look at your life honestly, and make the distinction of what it is you really want to do.
If you have not left yet, are the wheels even in motion? Are you planning your journey?
One of the things that has brought me the most happiness in the past two years, is receiving comments and e-mails from readers who have said that my writing has inspired them in taking the leap. There is no greater gift in the world that I can think to give, than the gift of inspiring one to take this leap into the unknown. Knowing what this process has done in my own life in helping me grow, learn, laugh and love, these experiences have been unmatched by anything else I have experienced.
Committing to Happiness
Are you seeking that feeling?
If you are in search of that rush of emotions, the adrenaline pulsating through your system, the pounding heartbeat that comes with being outside your comfort zone, then I ask you right now to join me. I want to make this site more than a log of my life and adventures. I want to start a movement of people like you who reject the status quo, who rise above reason and shun normalcy.
Change The Game
I want you to be a Game Changer. In joining the ranks of the other Game Changers, many of whom's story's I have documented here, you will join an elite group of like minded people. An online network of people helping eachother toward the common goal of happiness.
This is not church or a cult. No hand raising or punch drinking is nessesary. However if you believe in this cause and you are moved to join the ranks of the Game Changers, I implore you to comment below and introduce yourself. If you have a blog or a twitter account we can follow and connect at, please leave the link.
I will be creating a list to help promote your blogs and accounts mentioned to help others to follow these like minded souls, giving us all added inspiration. After all, there are enough people urging us all to accept a normal lifestyle. What we need are the Game Changers, the dreamers and the doers, who reject boredom and search for life changing moments. Who chose to learn, grow and explore, hellbent on finding something more, something that seems to elude so many others.
I know why I travel.
I travel to find the moments, to meet people who don't look or talk the way I do. To explore the places that captivate the imagination and drive the spirit forward. Realizing that this reaching outward with openess of the mind, results in us seeing who we truly are on the inside. Living life as it was meant to be lived, instead of waiting for these moments we live for, to pass by without us.
Will you join us? If so please introduce yourself below...
Reader Comments (7)
I've been looking at travel ideas for some time now. It started off with the Apple Vacation's all-inclusive packages to Mexico; I was THRILLED when I discovered those, and thought I'd hit a gold mine. That was about two years ago now. Ever since then, I've been exploring cheaper and more adventurous methods of travel, because I thought, "What's the point in traveling outside of your home country if you're going to be fenced in on a resort? Why would I pay hundreds of dollars to be a prisoner?"
In those sorts of environments, I would gain nothing but maybe a few cool photos on the beach. Yay.
I moved on from there and looked at road trips and camping (which I am still all-for). I went on a couple no-destination road trips, with no objective other than having bro-time. I have so many memories from those trips--it's really ridiculous.
Then, within the last couple months, I've really been exploring into the realm of international travel. I was convinced that someone out there had to have a blog relating to this. I was right. Your blog isn't the first I cam across, but I would say it's been the most fueling of my desire. Maybe tied with AlmostFearless (I hope you don't mind me namedropping another blog. . .).
So let me introduce myself.
My name is Joel Shaffer. I'm 21 residing in a very ghetto city in northeast Ohio, and for the past 4-5 years I've known that the typical American life is not for me. I have an extreme love for people, and an extreme hatred of the status quo. I'm adventurous, but afraid of letting those down who care about me, like parents, close friends, etc etc. I've decided within the past 2 weeks that I really don't care what they think of my endeavors.
I'm still not totally sure how I'm gonna go about it, but I WILL do it. I've been talking with my friend, and he has the same passion I have.
Rick, your travels and stories are captivating. I realize that it's not going to be amazing-vacation mode 24/7, but I know this is the life for me.
I read your post which mentioned WorkAway and HelpExchange, and have signed up for both (minus the subscription fees).
I would love to be able to contact you occasionally with questions/concerns if that is at all possible. I think I'm going to make the move within the next year.
Keep up the good work. You're a true inspiration.
-Joel S
Let me introduce your newest Game Changer. My name is Liz and I hail from New York City. Im a traveller at heart and have lived in 4 different countries (Samoa-9 yrs, India-4 yrs, Philippines-3 yrs, NYC- going n 21 years) before the age of 15. You can see that globetrotting is in my bones, the innercore of my soul. Then the inevitable happened, I settled into life, got lost in the corporate world and became the status quo. Throughout my life I knew I was selling myself out for what was simple and easy, trapping myself into the notion of stability and contentment. I've worked at the same company for almost 15 years but am sadly unfulfilled. Then about 5 years ago I started thinking about taking a much needed sabatical and firstly visit my home country that I havent seen in 18 years, and visit friends and famiy all over the world which killed 2 birds at once: I get to visit people I know in a new place and get room and board for free! Easy, right?! Well, 5 years later Im still at the same spot dreaming the same dream. Well, recent events got my juices flowing again and this time Im taking the plunge of leaving my 9 to 5 once and for all. Enter your blog! My best friend came across your blog and forwarded it to me as she knew I would love it and I've reading it for the past few days now, obsorbing every information and detail. I've been reading books and have found some great sites which I will share soon on your traveling for free blog for your followers. Anyway, I still havent left yet but Im trying to be strategic about it and cover all bases...I know, more excuses right? But its more complicated than I thought, arranging to leave my job and apartment without steady income is frightening to me but I,d rather have my sanity and be happy. So as Joel before me said, dont mind if I come here to seek advise or just ask your opinion from time to time. You've also inspired me toblog about my experience and what a rollercoaster this is: life and the emotions you go through when you become a Game Changer. I thank you and will keep you posted on my journey. You're doing a great job and hopefully somewhere in the world we can catch up and toast to life. Cheers!
Wow great comments and stories! Feel free to stop by whenever and stay in touch. Also be sure to send links to your blogs so readers can follow your own journeys!
I will be leaving for Europe in just 17 days, so stay tuned as I plan on providing some great travel information and stories form the road :)
My name is Amy. Right now I am eighteen years old and instead of going to college next year I am taking a gap year to do community service around the world! I am part of a new program at UNC Chapel Hill called the Gap Year Fellowship. They gave me a scholarship to go on my gap year. I am about to venture into the unknown...I can go anywhere I want as long as I am helping others.
In September I am leaving everything behind and jumping on a plane to India. Who knows where my travels take me after that!
Eh like the previous poster, I've also decided (kind of last second) that I will take a gap year and go travel. I've been to a few countries in south east asia and a few countries in central america but I've got the bug now, and now's the time to do it.
I only have one real issue. The more I plan and look at where I want to go, the more places pop up that I want to go to. I'm afraid that all this will leave me having never gone to university, and without a degree or anything saved up in life. Maybe this is something I will get over when I get on the road, maybe it's just the seed my mother has planted in my head "you either work or go to school" but I know how completely awesome it all seems.
You seem knowledgable, if you have a moment hit me up mitch.w.rice@hotmail.com, I could use your input
A very inspiring blog post. I travel because I want to experience other places on which life is too short to spend on just one place. Thanks for the read as I will be booking several flights to manila for the winter.
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