“Travel Far Enough, You Meet Yourself” David Mitchell
I recently met a friend for lunch who was telling me about her upcoming travel plans. (My favorite topic)
She was flying to Bermuda and couldn’t wait to hit the beaches. She asked me if I had any travel plans for the rest of the year and I told her yes, I was thinking of heading to Morocco. Her response was “I would love to go to Morocco, but it’s too far”. It got me thinking because this is not the first time, I have heard this comment. I understand how sitting on a plane or long layovers can be a deterrent, but I assure you the prize at the end of the long haul is so worth it. The people who refuse to venture out, I call them the “low-hanging fruit travelers”. ha-ha.
The metaphor in the business world refers to doing the easiest task first before attacking harder obstacles. In relationships, the “low-hanging fruit” is the girl or guy who is easy to attain but might not necessarily be valuable. I have come to realize that people tend to value the things they work for more, most times when we go the easiest route, we could be shortchanging ourselves because we are too afraid to challenge ourselves and go for what is hard and valuable.
I remember back in 2012 I was set to run the NYC Marathon, then Hurricane Sandy hit, and the marathon got postponed. We all still got our medals, but I never look at that medal the way I look at the other medals because I didn’t run the 5 Boroughs for it, I didn’t hustle at mile 20 for it, I don’t even count it as a marathon I ran, cause well, I didn’t do anything to get the medal. I didn’t bleed for it. (Not literally)
I feel the same way when people take vacations and only go to another state or they pick the closest location, not because of time limitations, but because they are too afraid to venture far, to do what’s necessary to experience more and better. I am happy to announce that I am not that person, ha-ha, I always understood that anything that is good, is worth waiting for, and sometimes a bit of hard work and discomfort is required. I am also aware that there is this inherent fear of the unknown and going far away in many of us. I will use this blog to dismantle most of your fears about traveling far, and hopefully, you will not only use some of this advice for travel but also for how you live your life. Don’t limit yourself! Go get what you want! If you have breath, I dare you to BREATHE…DEEP!
Fear of Flying
This is the number one fear. Most people dread spending hours on a plane. I must admit that it makes me uncomfortable too. This is why you should prepare yourself. I get my Netflix series together, so I have a distraction for all those hours. If you like to play games or read books, pack a bunch or bring your kindle. Understanding more about aviation and planes will also help you to relax. If you understand that turbulence is like a pothole and not a big deal, then you won’t freak out as much, when there is turbulence. Keep flying. The more you do something, the less afraid you become of doing it. I remember when I first moved to New York, I was so afraid of the subways. Especially when the train just stopped underground and there was no explanation of what was causing the delay. I have lived here 17 years and I don’t even think when I go on the train now, because I do it so often. When travelling far, most airlines really do a lot to make you more comfortable on the flight. I remember Singapore airlines had the best food and kept on feeding us. Speak to a flight attendant if you’re feeling antsy. Whatever you have to do GO! don’t freak out, force yourself.
Fear of Long Layovers
I like to have long lay overs when I am doing a long – haul flight. It’s the best way to explore another country without actually paying for it. I remember I had a 24-hour layover in Dubai on my way to Bali. I quickly found a tour company in Dubai; they picked me up and took me all around Dubai and had me back at the airport to catch my flight to Bali. If you’re not into touring, then go ahead and explore the Airport. If you end up somewhere like Singapore, the Changi Airport has a Butterfly Garden, a Cinema, a rooftop pool, and lots of shopping and dining. The airport is also absolutely beautiful.
Fear of Not Speaking the Language
I agree, people who are multilingual, definitely have an advantage. You miss so much when you don’t speak the language. I also realize that being further away and not speaking the language is also more frightening. This is why I have decided to sign up for some courses in Spanish and possibly French after. I recently went to the Dominican Republic, and everyone thought I was Dominican until I could only introduce myself and say a few words in Spanish Haha! I did a bit of each in high school, but it is definitely not enough. That being said, it has not stopped me from going to countries where English is not the main language. I find that in most countries people speak English or know a little English. I, however, plan ahead. If I am traveling to a country where English is not the main language, I usually connect with the hotel where I am staying and ask them to organize an English-speaking tour guide for me. This is what I did when I went to Turkey, and it made the trip so much more enjoyable.
Fear of Being too far away from Family
Now just cut it out! Unless you have a family member, who is ailing and you may have to be by their side if something should happen, then your family will see you when you return. There is also WhatsApp, Viber, and Facetime. Give them a video call and show off your beautiful destination. LOL.
Fear of Traveling Alone
Yes, it’s great to have company for long-haul travel. The truth is, we can’t wait around for company to live our lives. Most of your traveling you will probably end up going by yourself. Embrace it! It is empowering. If you check out my April 28 blog “Safety tips for the solo traveler” you will learn how to be safe while traveling alone. I started this blog with the quote by David Mitchell “Travel far enough, you meet yourself”. It’s hard to meet yourself with company. When you go alone you learn to enjoy your own company, you get to do what you want, without having to consider another person. I wish you would embrace that freedom and have fun with it. Meet yourself and show her/him a good time!
For more information on how to prepare for a long- haul flight. Please check out my December 19, 2019, blog “10 prep tips for the Long-Haul Flight”
