Thoughts after 100 days of travel…

After 100 days of traveling a lot has changed for me. My hair is long and messy and my feet are strong and covered in tough layers of skin from wearing minimal and sometimes no footwear.  It’s like they have evolved into a natural pair of hikers with durable soles, which they were forced to do after leaving my only pair of shoes almost a month ago on a night train and never replaced them.  My skin fluctuates from a sun drenched gold of a free spirited surf bum, to a chapped and battered canvas of bug bites, bruises and cuts like a soldier stuck in a trench. Even though these are all physical changes, the most apparent and profound changes are on the inside, in my heart, mind and soul.

There have been times when I would go almost a whole day without speaking, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t need to and actually would never really notice. The reason why I never noticed is because I would get lost in my thoughts, thinking about what I was seeing and describing the feeling to myself in my head.  Evaluating where I am and what was happening, observing a new landscape and unfamiliar life happening in front of me.  I compare it to being a new born baby, seeing everything for the first time, not being able to speak about it and just absorbing it like a sponge.  To me it felt like I was constantly speaking, but I believe it was myself communicating with myself. At times it didn’t even feel like I was a part of this exchange, a third party at a table with old friends reconnecting, taking notes and enjoying the bond they once had and starting to regain.  I remember one of these conversations in Turkey…

Body:  Sea kayak to a remote beach? I don’t think I can do it today.  I was up all night sick, and now am too sore and worn to go out.

Mind:  Me too.  I’m tired and can’t think, it’s better if we rest.

Heart: I understand, but we came all this way, what if it’s our only chance?

Soul: Do it for me. We will remember it forever.

There was also the time in Thailand…

Soul: Is this what I really need? Is bungee jumping going to satisfy me?

Heart: We’ve talked about this, it can be good for us, it’s facing fear!

Mind:  This was a bad idea, it’s pretty high, and everyone is looking, we don’t have to prove-

Body: I’m going.  You guys are coming too.

I feel like these four are starting to trust one another again, and can pick up one another when they are weak.  The trick is if you can have just two of these crucial parts of your being communicating effectively, you find yourself leaving your comfort zone and that’s where you see gains that you would have normally never imagined possible in yourself.  At times I find myself saying “nothing scares me anymore.”

In these one hundred days I realized I had accomplished a lot of the things I set out to do. Everyone has a bucket list, and I do as well.  Things like swimming with sharks and travelling to every continent.  However, before I left I made another list.  A list of things I wanted to accomplish of a spiritual basis, such as living simply, surrounding myself with positivity, eliminating fear and creating memorable moments for myself and others.

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