As some of you know, I recently spent some time adventuring my way through Latin America. Travelling as I did – budget backpacking with a one-way flight and only rough idea of my direction – was an incredible experience and provided a unique opportunity for learning and reflection.Here are 9 things I learned from my time on the road:
Adaptability
There is always another way. I think it’s fair to say some Latin American countries aren’t as organised as the UK. The goalposts were regularly shifted, buses broke down, and timeliness certainly isn’t valued. Yet, what I found was, if you can change, grow, and adjust, there is always another way.
Bolivian protesters meant I had to adapt my plans more than once.
Humility
Having no idea where you are – or how to get to where you want to go – can be humbling. I frequently had to ask people for help in getting the simplest of tasks done. Yes, we can be superstars if we choose, but no one ever does it alone. I also made silly mistakes with language and felt unintelligent at times with my basic Spanish – especially when in Chiclayo, Peru, I was the only person on a Spanish-speaking tour group who wasn’t a native speaker. It’s difficult to be a smart-ass when you speak clumsily. I wonder how many times we unconsciously make a judgement on the intelligence of a ‘foreigner’, or someone with a disability, labelling them as stupid?
Slow down & appreciate
Beauty is everywhere. Long-term travel taught me to slow down and appreciate my surroundings. Sure, everything was new and exciting, but if we used travellers’ eyes in our own city maybe we’d see beauty in the things we take for granted every day.
Aberdeen. Viewing my home through a traveller’s eyes.
Everyone sees differently
One thing that irritated me a little was that no one could take a photo. Countless times, I’d find myself at an awesome spot and ask someone to snap a pic for me. Invariably the pic would be horrendous (and no, not just because I was in it!). It’d be zoomed way too far in or out, or miss the background I wanted, or include random things in the shot that just shouldn’t have been there.
Instead of continually getting annoyed, I told myself that it’s just an example of how everyone sees differently. The image I wanted to capture was seen differently through the other person’s eyes. When we try only to see things our way, it’s easy to get upset with others. However, when we can appreciate another’s perspective, or point of view – to look through their eyes – we can set aside our frustration and annoyance, and enhance our relationships.
People are people
On the other hand, wherever I went, I also found that people are people. Regardless of cultural background or upbringing, we’re not all that different. Most folks care for their family, they want to be respected, to have connection and make a contribution. They want to be happy. We all need the same stuff.
A community in northern Argentina enjoying music & dancing together.
Open mindedness
Travelling helped to further open my mind. I met different people with different belief systems, doing all sorts of different things with their lives. There are no rules. There is no one correct way to live. Bruce Lee talked about “using no way as way” and “having no limitation as limitation”. You can choose.
Gratitude
Seeing the way people live in some parts of Latin America taught me to be more grateful for the things I have in life. I witnessed poverty, I also witnessed very happy people who had nothing – earning an extra dollar would make their day. In contrast, I was able to fly halfway across the world for fun, and have the opportunity to do pretty much anything with my life – things that some of the folks I met could not even imagine. We complain about the littlest of things. Be grateful.
Market life in Ecuador.
You can’t do everything
There was so much to see and do on my trip that once or twice, particularly at the beginning, I felt overwhelmed. There’s not enough time! I quickly learned that you can’t do everything. It’s best to focus on the things that matter most. We’re all busy. But are you busy doing what’s most important to you?
Surrender
Let go. Just as we can’t do everything, we also can’t control everything. If the bus doesn’t show up, it doesn’t show up. If I get lost, or say something stupid, or get ripped-off, or embarrass myself, (I did all of those things) so be it. I feel travelling helped me to let go a little of outcomes that I cannot control – especially what others think of me. I believe it’s helpful to give our best, and surrender the rest.
Lying in a hammock in Guatemala – the perfect metaphor for surrender!
