So now that we are at it again - traveling the world and taking in whatever each day provides, there is finally some time to reflect. It seems strange in a way to talk about reflecting as we are only a month into our travels so far, but there is a lot that we learned on our last great adventure five years ago that fortunately we don't have to relearn.
Probably the most important lesson is to let go of perfect. Of course, there is a lot of perfect - the perfect sunset, meal, or rich interaction with someone from the other side of the world ... But these moments can't be forced and trying to do so usually results in disappointment, sometimes because we all have different ideas of what perfect is, but usually because the perfect in traveling comes from the unknown and the unexpected. So the best approach to achieve perfect is to not pursue it - just let the magic happen... whenever, whatever and wherever, or perhaps even not at all. We learned that lesson early in our last RTW trip and it served us well then and it continues to serve us well now. Taking away the pursuit of perfection removes the blinders and, surprisingly, allows us to achieve it.
Now there may exist in a guidebook somewhere that 'to achieve perfection in Sweden one must picnic along some out of the way nature reserve and then wander off to meet some relaxing milk cows off in the pasture. Have one member of your group volunteer to say hello and when said cows do not respond, be sure to honour them with a flowing arm dance'. It might say that, but it's doubtful, largely because I doubt anyone else would define the perfect moment in this way (though we all thought it was pretty funny) and the cows had a memorable day (for at least a minute). But you can't manufacture moments like this - how do you teach the cows to stay put? - cows milk production might drop, farmers would get pissed and the odd tourist would likely take it too far and start twerking all across the Swedish countryside. So the guidebooks and travel writers stick to the predicable - "eat here, drive there, lie in hammock, drink this, take pictures at sunset/rise here..." and flocks of tourists and travelers will try to recreate those perfect moments, and most will believe they will have done so (and that's ok too) But for us, we'll rely on good old spontaneity, adventure and letting the perfect moments just happen ... or not.
- Bernie
Probably the most important lesson is to let go of perfect. Of course, there is a lot of perfect - the perfect sunset, meal, or rich interaction with someone from the other side of the world ... But these moments can't be forced and trying to do so usually results in disappointment, sometimes because we all have different ideas of what perfect is, but usually because the perfect in traveling comes from the unknown and the unexpected. So the best approach to achieve perfect is to not pursue it - just let the magic happen... whenever, whatever and wherever, or perhaps even not at all. We learned that lesson early in our last RTW trip and it served us well then and it continues to serve us well now. Taking away the pursuit of perfection removes the blinders and, surprisingly, allows us to achieve it.
Now there may exist in a guidebook somewhere that 'to achieve perfection in Sweden one must picnic along some out of the way nature reserve and then wander off to meet some relaxing milk cows off in the pasture. Have one member of your group volunteer to say hello and when said cows do not respond, be sure to honour them with a flowing arm dance'. It might say that, but it's doubtful, largely because I doubt anyone else would define the perfect moment in this way (though we all thought it was pretty funny) and the cows had a memorable day (for at least a minute). But you can't manufacture moments like this - how do you teach the cows to stay put? - cows milk production might drop, farmers would get pissed and the odd tourist would likely take it too far and start twerking all across the Swedish countryside. So the guidebooks and travel writers stick to the predicable - "eat here, drive there, lie in hammock, drink this, take pictures at sunset/rise here..." and flocks of tourists and travelers will try to recreate those perfect moments, and most will believe they will have done so (and that's ok too) But for us, we'll rely on good old spontaneity, adventure and letting the perfect moments just happen ... or not.
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