Travelogues
28 August 2015
We travel in order to become better people – unintentionally, perhaps, but all the better. That’s why the day when we feel entirely settled somewhere is a sad day.
Travelogues
We travel in order to become better people – unintentionally, perhaps, but all the better. That’s why the day when we feel entirely settled somewhere is a sad day.
I disagree when you say that it is considered to be a sad day when we are settled somewhere. This may be the case for some globetrotters who do not know/understand the concept of stability (in terms of being in one spot for an extended period of time). For some people, such as myself, we enjoy traveling and don’t seem to think that stopping in one spot is a sad day, or necessarily a negative thing. Taking a break from my traveling and living in London has been the best experience I think I could ever have. At first it was difficult, but after a while I truly feel settled here. I enjoy having my routines, my everyday coffee shop or my local pub, but most importantly is having the opportunity to explore other parts of the city.
… On the other hand, I do believe that we travel to better ourselves. Being exposed to various cultures truly allows us to become more open-minded and have more of a broad perspective on life. I do hope to continue traveling and eventually, someday settle in one place which truly feels like home.
I disagree with the comment when you say it’s a sad day when we feel entirely settled. I think when I feel entirely settled whether it’s travelling or at home it feels good. I think we can feel settled in different places, finding connections around the world. In my study abroad experience I have sat down looking out and felt completely settled and have felt this happiness and warmth in that feeling. But I also think it’s good to feel unsettled because it gives us a reason to go travel and see the world until we find that place to settle because that’s what I believe the end goal is, to feel truly settled.
Humans travel for various reasons, ranging from recreation to seeking political and economic asylum. I am of the belief that we should experience different cultures and be exposed to global perspectives. However, certain groups travel to find a stable life which is essential to achieving human security. In such cases, the destination counts more than the journey itself.
Nicholas, you certainly have a point here, in the context of the current refugee crisis. But think of the various stages along that journey – would a refugee, migrant, or traveller be the same, do you think, at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of their journey? Or will they have changed somewhat along the way? Moreover, once they settle in the new country – if they do – would they be the same person five or ten years later? Analogously for pathways of our mind – are we exactly the same after a deep soul searching or a long debate, or has some philosophical ‘event’ to quote Heidegger (remember, one of our ‘favourites’?) occurred that makes that very process more important than the actual conclusion of the debate (assuming there was one)?
I think any sort of escape from present everyday reality could be a positive thing. It helps you remember that you have a pulse. We are creatures of habit, and doing things in a continuous cycle can be very damaging to the human mind and the human need of internal progress. We tend to judge how things are going in our lives by how things used to be compared to how they currently are, and without random or spontaneous experiences such as travel, we would be settling for a sense of normalcy.
Traveling does not have to be around the world or across the world, it could simply be going to places that are completely new to the traveler and taking something away from it. I frequently travel to Siena, New York to visit my twin brother at college. When you hit that moment when you realize you are at least five hours away from what you call “home” you start to appreciate the freshness in the air, and the constant light snowfall. It seems to leave you with a sense of clarity when you go back home.