Monday 30 April 2007

Escapee Type 2 - Finding Yourself



Typically people that fall into this group will be at a transitional stage in their lives.

It could be that having striven for a career for many years you’ve realised that it doesn’t fulfil you in the way that you thought it would.

Or maybe you are experiencing a relationship break up and now you are viewing life completely differently, unsure what to do with your life, or what you want out of life.

It could be that you have suffered a loss of someone close to you, and you have gained a new perspective on life, or maybe you are reaching middle age, and want to go out and see what else the world has to offer before it’s too late…

There are many situations that could potentially lead to someone feeling the desire to just hit the road, and see the world.

As with the nomad or the explorer, simply looking to relocate to another country may not satisfy this desire. Nor will a concise and detailed travel itinerary which takes you around the world on a schedule of activities and tourist sightings deliver the insights you may be looking for.

Consider the possibility, that to “find yourself” maybe you need to “lose yourself”. It sounds barmy I know – but abandoning planning, abandoning schedules, and making yourself open and available to whatever opportunities may come your way – could open doors you had never even imagined – let alone contemplated doing.

Think of it this way. Imagine you have decided that you want to go out to see the world, to see what life has to offer, and to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. So… you sit down, you look at all the countries in the world, and research the sights you think you want to see, and the activities you think you want to take part in. You then set on your merry way – with your rucksack on your back, and your schedule firmly in your back pocket. What do you think you will discover about yourself on this “journey”, other than whether or not you enjoyed the things you thought you would?

Imagine that while you’re at a destination you meet a group of people that you really enjoy hanging out with. Their next destination is in the opposite direction to yours, and you’d never even heard of this amazing new retreat where people learn how to fly in their dreams while sleeping. You used to fly in your dreams, and wake up feeling awesome – and would love to go and find out some more about this somewhat “whacky” activity. Unfortunately however – you’re booked into a hotel in Bangkok, and then your flight is scheduled to leave for America a week later – where you planned to check out the Statue of Liberty – the concept of which now sounds extremely dull in comparison to learning how to fly in your sleep!!

The examples I’ve used are just that – as far as I know – no such “sleep & fly in your dreams” retreat exists on this earth – but I hope you get the point that I’m trying to make.

My humble advice to anyone who is planning to travel in order to find out more about themselves – would be to keep your options as open as possible – and to allow yourself to go with the flow. Always be aware of potential danger, and make sure someone has an idea what you are up to and where you are going – but in general – keep your eyes beaming with excitement and set yourself a mission to try things and open yourself up to the possibilities and opportunities of the unknown. Live with uncertainty and follow the stepping stones of fate and whatever you fancy at the time!!!

By the way – if anyone does know of a retreat where you can learn to fly in your dreams – PLEASE – let me know….!!!

1 comment:

Life Out East said...

Now back in England and trying to settle. Reading your blog is making my feet itch. I think some people just have the desire to travel and it's very difficult to kill that desire.