Reflections: Dealing with issues through traveling

No matter how many material possessions, circumstances, friends or family I left behind temporarily or permanently, I always ended up taking the one thing with me that I could not leave behind: myself.

One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more. (Thomas Jefferson)

When I need a break from it all, I often resort to travel to find a different perspective. Some might perceive it as running away from issues, but by removing all daily routines and distractions I’m left with just myself. Nobody else to talk to, just myself to work things out. Travel ended up to be a catalyst for personal growth.

I ended up traveling more and more; removing myself further and further from everything I was familiar with. I put myself in new environments, new cultures, and even new languages every time. The only constant was me, the person undertaking the journey. I faced a lot of fears. My fear of heights, fear of being alone and in general a fear of the unknown. The heights are easy to deal …