I travel the world and seemingly never stop.
To some, this sounds like the dream. And to be honest, it kind of is. I go wherever, do whatever, see whatever. My life is not bound by anything except myself, and I feel free to do and go what and where I please.
The freedom is amazing and no 9-5 could compete with it. But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. There have been struggles—big ones—and there have been times when I barely knew which way was up. There were days when I didn’t even know if I would eat.
But somehow I always found a way, and looking back, that’s what made my travels so rewarding. Learning what you’re made of, even during the hardest of hardships, is the path to self-understanding and self-acceptance.
But traveling for so long means you’re not just traveling for fun anymore—travel becomes a lifestyle. It becomes the thing you live and breathe for. And because this is by no means normal, you take yourself out of accepted society and become a part of a culture and a mindset that many others cannot understand.
Years after embarking on an epic quest traveling the world alone, I have returned to the United States as an immensely different man.
My consciousness has shifted. I have developed a broader understanding of the world and the people within it, especially myself. My understanding of right and wrong has broadened and my grasp on the world around me has grown. I see things differently, and now my life is governed by a set of rules far different from those which govern the lives of others.
When you travel for a month or a year or more, things change. But not necessarily for better or worse. After so much time traveling the world, these things simply are.
I really love this post, especially this line: “In being nothing, you learn how to embrace everything.” Keep on keepin’ on! : )
Thanks, Kelli 🙂
Gorgeous photos and insight…so, what’s next? 😉
Good question! I have some ideas in mind…the journey never ends!
Love the first photo from Pai!
Looks like you’ve learned some priceless lessons after all this travel. I’m met with a crossroads in life now and I think it’s truly time to asses priorities and try and place faith in the universe!
Ahhh, you recognize that canyon, do ya?
Indeed, these lessons have been priceless and valuable. As for you, don’t overthink anything and always go with your gut! With the right attitude, everything always works out.
So much changed for us within 1 year of travel. 4 years would just do us over completely! Congrats on your 4 years…
Thanks, Gerard! And congrats to you for marrying that beautiful woman!
Nice post. It’s definitely true that travel is transformative.
Cheers, Michael. It’s been a journey, indeed! Hope yours has been just as fruitful.
Great post Jeremy! I can totally agree with you’ve written here. Thanks to my travels I have realized that less is more and people are generally kind and friendly. I also started paying more attention to details and be happy about such things as weather, food or new amazing people I’ve met on the road!
Quite right! It’s those little details which so many people take for granted, but while traveling, we really learn to appreciate them. It’s important not to pass them over!
Welcome back, though I know it’s hard. That reverse culture shock thing is real, I learned, though I didn’t believe it before. You speak so many truths here, but I resonated with this line, “It can be hollowing and lonely, but you will learn, though the heartbreak, sorrow and joy that change should be cherished because it can make way for beautiful new possibilities in the future.” It’s so true, and life would be terribly mundane without change. And your last line about ending up where you’re supposed to be. That happened to me in Thailand, and I ended up having the exact experience I’d dreamed up…but it never would have been that way if I had been sent to teach on the beaches in the south like I’d hoped. Sometimes following our hearts and making the most of any situation is what drives a happy ending.
I’m so glad that you can relate to my experience. Sometimes life just feels too poignant, doesn’t it?
First day of packing up all and leaving it behind, sitting quietly by myself in the beautiful town of Jurien Bay on Australia’s West Coast and searching the web for inspiration I stumble upon yourself, and I have found inspiration, don’t know where I’m going or what I’ll do but enthusiasm and motivation is filling me, I will regularly check in on your site and might hopefully have some inspiring stories of my own to post, thanks Jeremy…..
The journey is always better that way. Best of luck to you!
The naked truth about the travelling experience, beautifully written. Really good!
The best on the topic i have ever read. (Not that i’ve actually read a lot on it, but it’s good to read something that articulates ones own ideas so well.)
At last, after decades of work and so on, now early retirement, i’m going to do it my way. 😉
Good for you! Kudos!
Hi Jeremy,
I just found your site, and had to say I’ve experienced much of what you describe already. I travel for a number of months each year and this year was to be Latin America, and now I don’t know where, when, or if it will end.
While everything you wrote resonated, I think the most difficult element of living an ‘alternative life of travel’ is that so many others do not understand the culture and the mindset. Which is exactly why I went searching for people of similar elk, and found you.
What are you doing and where are you now?
Thanks for sharing your experiences,
Belinda
Four years! wow! You rock! I have been traveling every 6 weeks of my life for over 20 years, but these last three I have increased it a ton, with 17 countries in 2014 and (so far) 12 countries visited in 2015 with many more scheduled out for the year!
YOU are a traveling machine, Cacinda!
Holy cow man!
Jeremy, I can share the first half of all the photos listen in this post! South East Asia is indeed an incredible place to explore and experience adventure of a totally different nature.
I think those that have experienced travel of 3 months or greater will be able to appreciate all of your ‘Lessons Learned’ in some way. Perhaps the podcast you mention, although I’m not sure if it has been located, is likely applicable to many more of us also.
Travel is a unique experience that will broaden your sight, mind, and your horizon as you embark on a journey to find success and determine what really matters most to you. That’s a great take away.
You may have wild dreams of travel, adventure, and the glory of life on the road, but does it really matter? I believe the act of long term travel will encourage you to be open to change, and will surely get inspiration flowing from the people, places, and cultures you meet.
Some people use travel to determine what really matters most (I know I did during my 12+ months on the road) and for some, it can provide a sense of direction that can lead to personal development, projects, relationships and more, that one can use to define a path forward. That’s the best part of travel. You never know where the craziest ideas and influences may lead you!
I love what you’ve done with your travel, and the journey you’ve embarked on for this 4 year period. It’s inspiring that, despite the ups and downs, you’ve carved your own path and are living life on your own terms.
Thanks for the inspiration, and re-affirming what matters to me.
Cheers,
Jason Townsend – www.kickstartacause.com
This is a great post! I am myself in a place where I have come to have a different view of the world than many people around me. I feel you about the global perspective but almost no one agrees with me – that can be difficult sometimes. I agree that something happens as you let go of your normal world and explore something new. When I started travelling I knew I needed to start new habits and I have. The last 3 years I have been travelling 4 months per year but I just want more… I just couldn’t go back to just having 5 weeks vacation again. I have a fear that if I start travelling even more I never want to go back.
What do you say about that dilemma? have you thought about going back to the average Joe daily routine and just forget about the travel lifestyle?
Of course. I think it would be unhealthy to just travel and never think about other options. It’s very important to take a personal inventory. We have to make the best decisions we can at any given time, and often our desires change drastically from year to year.
Oddly enough, the biggest thing I learnt when traveling is that travel isn’t a necessity!
Nice articulation and well shot photos. Just loved it. What are you currently doing Jeremy?
Absolutely loved this post. I can relate to all!