THE LAST, LONG & LABORED POST
For 686 days I visited 20 nations, driving over 70.000km, cycling almost 1.000km, 500Km on a motorbike and almost 7.000Km by bus, completed close to 50 hikes and visited over 100 parks, historical sites or monuments, climbed a 5,860m peak, walked up to a crater of an active volcano, swam in the arctic sea and got stuck at an international border for 12 days.
Although very adventurous, these experiences were mild compared to “The People Experience!”. There were hundreds of you, people who just crossed my path, locals who opened up their homes and lives to me, travelers who shared their own experiences, friends who sent their support and family who joined me during this two year journey. Your words, company and actions made this journey unique and helped to shape up the way I see life today.
I think today I have a better understanding of living, freedom and happiness! But Relax! I am not going to throw some of those stereotype quotes like “Follow your dreams, quit your job” or “Travel is the only thing that makes you rich”. blah blah bluh s..t!
Living a simpler life, not “go live in a bus in the wild” kind of simple!. Living just with what is necessary, for a healthy and comfortable life, without worries, respecting others and nature. When only living, exhausts all our time and energy, we can not work on our own evolution!
For years I pictured my self living free, exploring different places everyday, having no responsibilities. In those two years living without a “job”, there was not a single day I didn’t have responsibilities or tasks to do complete on my day. So no matter where I am or what I am doing, if I’m able to sustain a good physical health and my mind working freely of worries, I will take that as freedom!
We can spend a life time and endless resources going after happiness, but we are just missing out on happiness all together. Happiness doesn’t rest on things but on moments. We might think that buying a new car, travelling or getting a promotion, brings us happiness, But it is not the car, not the place neither the job, but the moment of such an achievement. Once we become aware that happiness can also be found in more humble moments like drinking a hot coffee in a cold morning or helping someone in need, then we will experience happiness more and more often.
When we understand simple living and cut down on superfluous, we eliminate worries, gaining more time, and subsequently healthier minds. Once our minds are unclouded and free to ponder, we are able to find true happiness, hidden in moments of life that often goes by unnoticed.
Again, thank you all for taking part on this journey, and I hope it has inspired some of you in one way or another.
If not “Follow your dreams, quit your job, because travel is the only thing that makes you rich”