October 11: Home is where you travel
You know those movies where there’s something that’s so beautiful and amazing and picturesque, and seems unrealistic, like a dream… Like two people standing with their feet in the ocean looking at the forever sea, in the middle of the night on a completely deserted beach talking about the depths of life and how to make it count. Then one person says to the other, “I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life.” That happens when you travel. Or watching two strangers lock eyes, start to salsa dance, and you witness the beauty of them falling in love right before your eyes. That happens. Or dancing until the sun comes up on a table on a beach, without a care in the world, not worrying about anyone or anything happening around them. That happens too. And there’s also getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, being really hungry, and realizing there’s a hole in your mosquito net, having more mosquito bites than inches on your body, far too frequent stomach aches, sitting on busses for hours, missing busses, eating food while being attacked by flies, knowing there’s something crawling on you but not wanting to move because you’re almost asleep even though the electricity is out so there’s no fan and you’re sticky and hot, smelling worse than garbage and having no other clothes, going to sleep soaking wet with sand everywhere, cold showers, all of it. There’s so many situations that occur which really suck. But when the incredible moments happen, all of those shitty, annoying times become part of the adventure which you love so much, and every moment, good and bad, suddenly becomes part of the life-altering, unforgettable experience.
This guy who was volunteering at The Dreamer hostel in Palomino has been traveling for 6 months. He’s from Orange County and his name is Cameron. He made this incredibly inspiring video that showcases him and many people he’s met along his travels. In the video, they state their name, where they are from, and where their home is. The name of the video is “Home is where you travel.” If they are on Machu Picchu, that’s their home. Cartagena, Home. Patagonia, home. Lima, home. Wherever, home.
I’ve never heard the question asked when traveling “where do you live?” Because their answer will be, “right here.”
I know it’s been 10 days, but I guess my Asia trip taught me how to backpack, which to me is not just about having a backpack and moving around with no plan. It’s an emotional and spiritual trip, testing your limits constantly, and opening your mind to things that never existed before. I was able to quickly snap into the mindset of living in the moment, living with my backpack, living with strangers who quickly become friends, and making wherever I am “home” in an instant. Living in the moment is a genuine feeling, as if nothing before this moment in my life matters, and nothing that happens after this matters. Just right here, right now is all there is - taking all the energy you have in your heart, mind, body and soul, and giving it to the moment you’re in, the person you’re with, the beauty you’re surrounded by, the adventure you’re living, and the story you’re creating.
Life is just a story anyway, and we’ve all been given the power to write our own.
Until next time…
"I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list."














