The Risk Of Travelling - Guest Post From My Boyfriend

Last Updated on 3rd December 2019

Today’s post about the risk of travelling is a very special guest post from someone who you’ll have heard an awful lot about on my blog; my boyfriend Matt! I’m so excited to share his first ever blog post with you guys; I really hope you love it as much as I do!

When Chloe asked me to write a guest post for her blog I wondered long and hard about what I would like to write about. I’ve never written anything like this before, so I had to make sure it was something I knew a lot about to ensure it wouldn’t be total sh*t. Travelling was the obvious answer, but what specifically about travelling? I wondered what I wished I had known before we began our travels. But I didn’t want it to be something obvious such as a list of ‘must have toothbrush covers’. I wanted it to be more personal than that, and if possible, something that is touched on a little less frequently.

One thing I found before we came travelling is how it’s portrayed as nothing but perfect paradise beaches, wonderful sunrise hikes through the mountains; and the perfect way to become the happiest version of yourself possible. How travelling isn’t about the places you see, but the people you meet. Can you think of anything more traveller cliché? I’ve even grown a man bun and had it dyed bleach blonde and I still think that statement is in a cliché league of its own! I’m not saying these things aren’t true, and many people could find travelling to be exactly that. But is it healthy to imagine travelling always pans out as such? What’s the risk that going travelling doesn’t grant you inner peace, fulfilment and happiness that will last a lifetime? Ultimately, what is the risk of travelling?

I knew what I wanted to write about.

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” ― Albert Einstein

I’ve found that life in general is just a series of calculated risks. Trying to make decisions that you perceive will minimise any potential negative impact on your life. This surely is the logical way to tackle any decision you must make? However, traversing through life with this mantra would probably lead most people insane. Life without any risk would result in never trying anything new, and personally I think trying new things and experiences is the best motivator, and a good reason to get out of bed on a morning.

If you were to weigh up the pros and cons of dropping everything to seek travel, with the ultimate factor being “will this minimise any potential negative impact on my life” – you’d be stupid to think it was the logical decision. Going travelling and opting for the unknown, where the only constant is change is pretty daunting.

But choosing the safe option can often be limiting the potential of just how good you can be.

“How much I missed, simply because I was afraid of missing it.” ― Paulo Coelho

Travelling is a challenge. At times it feels more work than actual work. I think a lot of people struggle to sympathise with that statement, especially those less travelled. I know I did before we boarded our first 14-hour flight. From my experience, the general perception of travelling is that it’s basically an extended holiday. I can now assure you it isn’t.

Of course, there are lots of times when you’re lounging by the pool or on the beach without a care in the world. But there are also a lot of times, just like being at home, when everything is going against you. Late bus, followed by poor accommodation, and topped off with terrible food; you get the picture. But these feelings are now amplified because there’s nothing you can do to resolve any of these issues; you’re also thousands of miles away from home in a foreign country where no one even speaks your language. In moments like these there’s nothing more you want than to be home. But I’ve found this is normal.

Everyone everywhere has bad days, and during those bad days the fear of not having more good days seems rational. Only once you’ve overcome the struggle and look back can you understand how irrational you really were.

But it’s these moments of self-reflection that form the person you are today. Without these moments you’d never grow as a person, you’d get too comfortable, and in my opinion, comfort goes hand in hand with unfulfillment. I live for the moments I can wholeheartedly say that younger me would be proud of what the me of today has accomplished. Especially the moments that truly were a struggle to achieve. Such as going travelling, and even writing this blog post to some extent.

“Everyone has two lives and the second starts when you realise you have just one.” ― Confucius

Before travelling my horizons were limited to the small bubble I called day to day life. Sure, I had visited some European cities, watched a few documentaries, and thought I knew how the world worked. Realistically, I wasn’t that far off. What I didn’t expect is how I would perceive far corners of the world when I actually got there.

The view of the Petronas Towers, or any of the wonderful sights we’ve seen along the way haven’t really made my life any better. The happiness felt when I saw them in person for the first time was pretty short lived. After a few days of looking at the Towers they became just another set of tall buildings. Which is a rather sad statement, but an experience I feel I’ve been through before.

I remember back in York, walking past the Minster every day and becoming agitated at the crowds of tourists swarming to take pictures of it. It genuinely felt as if it were becoming a burden on my life that other people were taking such interest in it. It had become such a common sight that it had lost its magic. But I’m not sure it ever really had the effect on me that it has on others that travel so far to see it for the first time. I hadn’t actually achieved anything when I saw it the first time, whenever that was. It was just a big cathedral I saw every day of my life. That’s where I feel all the beautiful sights we’ve seen differ actually; for me anyway. In an almost symbolic, quite philosophical brainwave I realised it wasn’t these foreign buildings or landscapes themselves that were ever going to make me a better and happier person. It was the accomplishment of being able to look back at how far we’ve come and realise how much I’ve changed from the person that hardly blinked an eye at the beautiful architecture that surrounded me constantly back home. Deciding that at this point in my life the typical 9-5 just wasn’t for me, leaving my job, home, family and friends to take the risk of travelling the world. That realisation is what I feel has made me a better and happier person.

I now see the decision to travel as the best investment I’ve ever made. When I look back at everything we’ve done along the way, I can realise this feeling of fulfilment has been compounding from the moment we landed. I feel I am much more appreciative of everything in life and each day that passes. I hope that when I see the Minster again, whenever that may be, I’ll be happy knowing I’m a better person than when I saw it last.

“Retirement is when you stop sacrificing today for some imaginary tomorrow” ― Naval Ravikant

I think the real risk of travelling is not the ‘risk of travelling’. But the risk of having not travelled; and regretting it when you no longer can. I don’t think going travelling is a tool to help people find who they really are. I think a lot of people already know who they are, and wish they were a little different. Travelling isn’t going to plug up those differences.

It’s amazing how far people will fly to escape reality only to realise that the reality of themselves cannot be escaped.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” ― George Bernard Shaw

Ultimately the content of this post is not going to apply to everyone. It may also be a little unorthodox for most readers of Chloe’s blog. But I hope anyone that made it this far enjoyed my first ever blog post nonetheless.

“Have a great Christmas!” ― Matt.