We tend to think that everything is better “somewhere out there”. Life is better somewhere abroad. If you live in a small town, life is more exiting in the city. If you are in a capital, everything is more beautiful in the countryside.
For a long time, I wrongly believed that I would’ve been happier if I had lived at the seaside, on the island of my ancestors.
Now, I know myself better and I understand why I thought that. For me, life at the seaside used to be a synonym for freedom, it meant life without school responsibilities, everyday practicing and lessons from early morning until late evening.
Many of us still think that living somewhere else would automatically bring us happiness – just tiny bit more happiness that we want.
Some of us subconsciously love to travel because of that feeling. We seek that “other” life in which we may be more fulfilled, happier or more authentic.
Life seems flawless when you travel. It seems unreal, perfect, and we want it to last more than it actually does (at least I hope we all enjoy vacation that much :)).
But the truth is, if I really moved to the seaside, if you really moved abroad, if they moved to the countryside, the illusion of perfection would disappear. We would bring all of our duties, troubles and insecurities with ourselves.
And when I finally understood myself at that level, I started perceiving travel differently.
Now, I don’t see vacation and travel as running away from my usual daily routines and obligations anymore.
Now, I see travel as a beautiful opportunity not to leave, but to come back – to myself.
How do you see it?