it hit me somewhere between a mouthful of bamboo shoots and insects and the hissing aggro-monkey mugging me for my orange juice bottle. a moment of realization that can change a community.
how travel is like a good book
just the other day i came across a quote from Seth Godin.
Lend/give books that have changed you to a friend. They’re not earning interest unless other people are reading them.
books do have that incredible ability to wrap a person up in a story and deliver insights from different points of view. creating opportunity for growth and change.
when i travel i always have a book with me and when finished reading, leave it for the next person to find and enjoy.
travel is similar to a great book in that it deserves to be shared.
you see my photos on Facebook? they each got, like, a hella lot of likes
this involves more than simply posting your photos on Facebook and whipping up a blog post. that’s all fine and dandy but the greatest testament is yourself.
what to do with your travels
what i’m talking about is the kind of sharing that can only happen as a result of you getting actively involved with people. and the best place is in your own community.
i’m a traveler, man. i’m all location independent. the world is my community.
if you are location independent or into lifestyle design, there’s one thing i know about you and it’s that you believe in people. along with that, you recognize the beauty of culture and community.
and the thing about culture and community is that they can only stengthen and grow through the participation of their members.
this is about you
that’s where you come in. there comes a point where you need to head back home and get involved in ways that allow you to actually put what you’ve learned elsewhere to use.
see, the truest way to honor your experiences is when they become something more than just a story to tell…. when you take the lessons and apply them.
there comes a time when every traveler must return home and “give back” by getting involved in the happenings of his own community. your community and culture will become richer as a result… and, of course, so will you.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
hey Mark!
Good points here! I’m still deciding when / if I’m going to ever go home!! But, I’m clear that by sharing our travel experiences we can give to a greater audience that may not have the funds or the opportunity to travel at any given moment. Hope all is well w you!!
B
brooke, all is well. thanks (though i haven’t appeared on TV like one cool lady i know
. i know you do a lot of work in your community – working with the kids and venturing out to remote places to lend a hand. and that’s the kind of stuff i’m getting at… as those who have had these experiences we need to do more than share stories, we need to apply the lessons.
I fall into the “world is my community” category, and I believe deeply in giving back. The longer I’m on the road, the more I work to keep a strong community (usually not geography specific) around me, and prefer settling in places for weeks/months rather than being on the move.
Great point about sharing a good book and insights from your travels. It’s so important to be open to letting your travels change you, and in turn, having your actions show the values you’ve learned.
Happy travels!
hey bessie, ain’t nothing like a shared book. i tend to value them more than one i pick up and purchase.
as for often being on the move, it’s easy to lose community or that sense of attachment. kudos for keeping that an integral part of your travels.