Countdown to 60 - Traveling

Some of the lessons I have learned in 60 years were through traveling

13. The map is not the territory

So many times I have tried to find my way on a map just to get lost because some of the roads have changed. The other thing that is different between maps and the territory is the interesting detours you don’t find on a map.

In life we plan and sketch our own “map”. When we actually live the plan, we find that the territory is different and we have to adapt our plan. If not we may go in circles and not reach our destination or not get there in time.

14. Life is not a destination - it is a journey.

This lesson is connected to living in the moment. The journey of life is the interesting part (because the final destination of life is death) so we have to make most of this journey. We should have goals, yes! We should put in the effort to reach them but we should not make our goals the end, they are just mileposts in our journey through life.

15. Pack less, take more money.

When we started traveling, we could not fit enough into our backpacks and someone gave me this advice.  My good friend Karl used to take one t-shirt in his back pack, wear it until it needed washing and then bought another cheap one and gave the old one away. He didn’t believe in excess baggage!

In life, the same applies, we tend to take too much of our past baggage with us on our journey. Most of the time this baggage slows us down and even makes us stop or break down or slide back. Get rid of the baggage, leave it behind and take more of your own abilities with you to help you in you travels through life. Believe in your abilities, not on your baggage to support you through life.

16. Know where you are, know where you’re going.

Imagine staring on your journey without knowing where you are. None of the signs will make sense and the map will be useless. The same goes for your destination, if you don’t know where you are going, how will you get there?

So, for your journey through life, know where you are and who you are and know where you’re going and who you want to be when you get there. And then make sure that everything you do, moves you from where you are to where you want to be.

17. Check for the signs

On any journey, as in life, we get many signs. Some of it we can ignore, some of it we have to pay attention to but more importantly, we have to know to look for the right signs. These are the signs that tell you that you are on the right way, still moving towards your destination.

There will be a lot of signs that will be distractions or diversions too. Things to do that look great and worthwhile to divert from your chosen path. Sometimes, you have to explore the unknown to experience the adventure or to grow. Just don’t make the diversions the only thing you ever do, keep your destination in mind.

18. Your tongue is longer than your arms

This is something my mom told me every time I reached over the dinner table for food. What has this got to do with traveling? The message – ask! (I have to work hard on this one.)  When traveling I find it hard to ask directions, maybe that is a male thing! It is so much easier to just stop and ask though.

If you don’t know, ask someone - you don’t know it all. I like to share my experience and knowledge, so do everyone else. I like it when people ask me things so it is not a sign of weakness if you ask.