Holding Waters: Random Thoughts on Routines and Travelling
May 8, 2018 | Safwen Daghsen, 6 min read
Written in the middle of a long solo journey through Southeast Asia, this reflection explores the invisible routines that follow us — and how true freedom is rooted within.
Stuck in the office Stuck in the same job Stuck in the routine Stuck in traffic Stuck in your patterns Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy?
Time to punch yourself in the face ? start a fight club and see where it goes?
Quitting your job? getting your backpack?
Let's find thee self.
Day 90 — Southeast Asia — Malaysia— Unknown Destination
During my travels I felt like I'm my own Chris McCandless going Into the wild only to find that the wild has been crowded by many Chris McCandless doing the same thing — Of course each has his journey and reasons.
Everyone think their shit is the shit ! ~ Gary vee
I met people who've been on the road from one week one month 3 months to people wandering around for 19 months and one unique crazy Brazilian fellas who's been on the road for 6 freaking years ! It got me thinking how long am I gonna be on the road ? How long am I gonna be hopping from point to point ? And why why why am I doing this ?
It's rhetorical question of course but wondering why you do what you do is a big part of how you're doing it !
A moment of connection with a fellow backpacker who shared a wisdom told by his mother before leaving on his journey :
" Go ahead and travel but know well my son that you can visit every country travel all over the world, have the most outrageous experiences and adventures, then comeback here only to find yourself empty. The real journey is within. If travelling outside isn't moving anything inside you then better stay at home."
It is true that travelling and seeing other cultures and people from all over the world shapes our perspectives broaden our views but sometimes looking at things differently doesn't require us to go 7000 miles hitchhiking.
We re looking always for what is within without and that is the cause of all suffering in the world ~ Yogi wisdom
I am not saying not to travel nor that routines and office jobs are bad. Travelling is one of the greatest thing that happened to me and surely to many others. People tend to think that backpackers are 100% happy but you can be bored of waterfalls and sunsets. Reading that you may think that's stupid but believe me there are routines that you start building while travelling you can find yourself repeating the same things over and over : Your hostels search — a last day in a place is always different but similar to other last days — airport routines (seriously I got an airport yoga routine) — even in the chitchats with the people you meet :
"Where are you from ? How long you been travelling ? Where did you go ? What do you do back home ? How old are you "
Routines aren't the enemy here routines are mandatory for growth for achievements for building your own Rome.
Routines exist inside before your external world, routines are in your pattern of sleep of your thoughts of you going from the old to the newer version.
Also one tip commonly agreed upon by all travellers I met : "Within the constant travels we all need a time where we need to stay at one place longer than usual and have some sort of continuous routine in it, contemplate the previous, absorb the cultivated energy and redirect it to the new destination."
Routines are useful for building momentums and every time you build one know it's time to break it and go to the next level whether it's an upgrated new routine or a new adventure.
Of course a person who's stuck in a job will seek the salvation of travelling and a person that's been on the road may feel tired and want to settle but those who have tasted the freedom of travels and will not be afraid of settling for a routine because they've acquired the awareness and the ability to break out of any routine.
Push and pull is the key here, no ultimate answer here, depends on you, your context and what you need.
I am seeking a golden routine where you're in love with what you do to the point of losing the awareness of having a routine that would be amazing right ? Let's be real even in that we'll need a push and pull coz it's in our nature to seek the greener grass whether by changing clothes or flying to a new place or mentally changing our point of view at things
So if you're too negatively aware of your "routine" thinking how stuck you are or how boring it is. It only means you're not completely immersed in what you do or maybe it's not your passion and maybe you don't like it and that's totally fine. One time or another we'll be doing something we dont like or even hate but I say.
Do what you hate but never hate what you do
As intention towards actions affects energy and what we have is limited so better not drain it uselessly.
Awareness is much needed and it's the only key to break routines to break out from your current version into the better one.
"If life is kicking you in the ass don't kick yourself in the balls" ~ Will Smith
This started as an answer to a friend's question and I dont know how I got here writing this or if I have even answered the question which I honestly forgot !
The Bullshit lady in is giving a big B so clap clap and hold it.