When travelling and staying in foreign places, it is up to you whether you want to enjoy your stay or not. Perception is everything, as cliche as that sounds. If I perceived the food as too spicy for me, the weather too hot for me, and the city too hectic for me, then it would have been difficult to enjoy other things. The way I see it, if you are willing to travel across the globe to experience new things, then you should expect those new things to feel different. The key is to perceive them simply as being different, not negative. To be honest, even after getting friends’ opinions and reading travel advice online, there is one thing I realized I do subconsciously when arriving to a foreign country. I empty my mind of any and all expectations (good and bad) for what that country will be like.
The result: I never feel disappointed, and easily adjust to any foreign things that I come face to face with. With an open mind, I have infinite space for positive experiences. Perceive your surroundings as new and exciting, and your experiences will be positive. How much you enjoy your stay, and your adaptability, is determined by how you perceive your surroundings.
This frame of mind not only allows you to see the positive experiences, but also embrace the negative ones. Being flexible means that I accept the fact that not every thing will go according to plan. There will be bad weather, there will be delays, and there will be times when you don’t feel 100% (especially if you catch a stomach bug like I recently did). Keep your mind open to the negative things that come your way, and remember that they are just a part of life, and you can’t always avoid them. Keep your mind open to the fact that bumps in the road will happen, and this will help you push through the rough patches.
The craziest part about this, is that I feel anything but adaptable at this exact moment. I am flying from India to Nepal, leaving the friends I love so much behind me, without any idea of when I will see them again. Last night I barely slept, and I spent the entire afternoon pacing around the house like an anxious animal in a cage. I’ve been crying since I’ve boarded the plane, and frankly, I’m a total wreck. My cheeks are soaked from tears, my heart is aching, and I feel legless as if I just had a few gin martinis. I never expected to get so attached and comfortable living there with them. It hurts so bad, that the exciting plans I have for Nepal are not even crossing my mind.
I can easily keep in touch, and eventually, the pain of leaving will fade. Everything in life is temporary. I had an awesome time, but that could only last for so long. In the same way, I’m also bringing myself comfort, knowing that this time apart from them is also temporary. Just as I was lucky enough to cross paths with my new friends, one day I will be lucky enough to be reunited with them.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation. Every place I visit, I fall in love with, and leave a little piece of my heart behind. Leaving can feel like a bad break up, making me feel empty and lifeless. Yet, the relationships I’ve made make my heart feel full again, and give me the endurance to keep exploring, keep creating, and keep meeting new people. All the while, never forgetting the places I’ve explored, and the people who are now a part of my life.
What I really mean to say in this random rant is yes, I feel like an emotional mess, but that is OK. Everything is OK, even though right now I may not feel that way. It’s OK to feel sad and frustrated, and that doesn’t make me weak. It’s OK to feel attached to people you meet, and to the places you accidentally start calling home. It’s OK that good times are temporary. Everything is, and will be OK.
Writing this has felt like one of my cathartic meditation binges so I will leave on this note:
My feelings of sadness right now are simply a rough patch. I am grateful for all my friends and family who make my heart full. Everything may feel horrible in the present moment, but soon, everything will be OK.