You can’t escape yourself, so you better become someone you enjoy spending time with.
“It’s true,” he said. “No matter how far you travel, you can never get away from yourself. It’s like your shadow. It follows you everywhere.” ~Haruki Murakami. “After the Quake: Stories.”
Imagine your thoughts as a fellow traveler, taking in their new surroundings, enjoying an unfamiliar place, but also saying everything that comes to mind. Would you enjoy traveling with someone who vocalizes the thoughts in your head?
Visualize a trip with someone who constantly worries people are looking at and judging them. Someone who constantly talks about mistakes they made and what they’re doing wrong. A person whose fear of being a burden prevents them from asking strangers for assistance.
That doesn’t sound like a great travel companion, but guess what? That’s me, your humble blogger.
You cannot escape yourself. Your mind will be with you wherever you go. Are the thoughts in your head and the emotions you feel really the baggage you’d like to carry through the airport and entire trip?
You can’t use travel or any distraction as a way to escape yourself. No matter where you go or what you do, you and your thoughts will always be there. So how can you make yourself a fun travel companion?
Work on yourself. If you have negativity within you, don’t brush the thoughts aside any longer – sit with them. Work towards discovering the root cause and steps to take towards forgiveness, acceptance, and love. Improve your mind and body to a point where you’re someone you enjoy spending time with.
Any continent, city, beach, tent, or car ride, your mind will be there. Become someone you want to be with because you can’t escape yourself.
December 23, 2022
