5 Truths people who LOVE traveling won't tell you.

(I wrote this quite a while ago..so be ready for an onslaught of posts this summer.)

5 Truths people who LOVE traveling won't tell you.

1. "I wish I was home."

Every traveler I've met has had their ups and downs, which occasionally include thoughts of home. While most of the nation wishes to travel to an exotic place while down, travelers wish to be near friends or family. They fantasize this world of traveling that wherever he or she is at, they can just take a quick drive to a close friend's house or their parents for a family event. Not to say they don't love traveling, they do. In fact they very well might become miserable if they stop being them and do decide to go home and stop traveling.

2. Half of their stories

This is usually for one or both of the following: a) Who wants to genuinely listen to hours and hours of stories, let alone ones that make them wish they could travel more? b) Sometimes the stories are creepy, scary or risky/dangerous. This second category may not be told so the listener does not worry more than they undoubtedly do, or to not deter others from trying new experiences.

3. Loving is easy to come by.

If said, this would make the traveler sound arrogant or a whore. I've met both, but overall I would say love is a common bond among those who travel. They are lovers of new experiences, environments, cultures and people. Because of this, they tend to attract those who seek independent and passionate people...aka, travelers.

4. Travelers break hearts.

Friends and family endure the lack of consistent communication and unknown visits with each goodbye. Lovers, above mentioned, fall and fall fast whilst the traveler is merely passing by with no intention of actually staying. It is a fling, a fun moment or two and a friendship sometimes intense, but nothing more.

5. It can be a very lonely experience. 

Though you meet hundreds if not thousands of really amazing people, connections tend to fade to Facebook. Even those you were once best friends with back home will, over time, fade away and move on without you. Do you remember in high school how you knew so many people, had a clique and after graduation everyone went different directions? Traveling, and moving, is like that each and every time.

So what are things people in your field or hobby that people don't tell others?

Calling all ugly, odd and misspelled thank-you notecards

I started reading 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik and became inspired to begin my own two-part project: 

1. Thank each and every person (workers and students) at Eagle Rock by August 2014.
2. Secretly engage the community (a collective term encompassing all workers and students at Eagle Rock) in writing thank-you notes.

Call to Action –

I am collecting 150+ unused thank-you cards. Does it have batman on the outside of it? Is there an old flower that reminds you of your grandma covering it? Did you keep a box full of cards, forgot you had them and now they look too old to use? Do you, your school, church or creepy neighbor have any of the above? GREAT! I am accepting any and all unused thank-you cards.

Jennifer Pearsall

2750 Notaiah Rd.

Estes Park, CO 80517

About 365 Thank Yous:

(Short Version) John Kralik’s personal, professional, financial and social life has fallen completely apart when one day he is inspired to write a thank-you note. He then makes a commitment to write one note every day for 365 days. Kralik finds himself trapped within his own mission where some days it appears there is nothing to be thankful for, but he perseveres. Does he finish this challenge? I’m not sure but I bet I will know by the time I finish this delightful read.

Sincerely,

Jenn

Wait, I'm supposed to MAKE money in life?

“If you could do anything (as a career) without regard to time or money, what would you do?”

I was going through some of my old papers and notebooks from college when I came across the beginning of an assignment that asked that question. It seems odd to me that there has to be such context of “without regard to time or money” but then I realized that we as people put limitations on ourselves, the way we think and in the end, what we decide to do.

Birth –> Preschool -> Elementary School -> Middle School -> High School -> Job & College -> Job -> Career -> Family -> Death

Yep, that’s my outlook on what life is currently.

Birth -> Learning how to read, laugh, love, walk, talk, hug, high five, explore -> Finding oneself, passions, interests, desires, loves -> Exploration -> Death

This is how I hope life can one day be viewed as by everyone. The events, and even the order, can be the same but what is valued is different.

So back to my assignment, I wrote two answers: 1. I would open a leadership camp and serve at-risk youth.  2. I would travel the world helping people for free.

The first is a risk but ends with a savings, retirement plan and health insurance. It offers stability, acceptance by society and structure. The second offers freedom, cultural experiences, varying viewpoints, connections and adventure. Both are great and I will always tend to lean towards the first because that is the safer route but in my heart, I will never be truly fulfilled.

Where is your path taking you and what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money or obstacles?

 

Be true to your passions, desires, hopes, dreams,

Jenn