Lessons Learned
There are lots of things in life that are total perspective-changers. Obviously, travelling is one of them; it doesn’t matter where or for how long, experiencing new surroundings, cultures and people is guaranteed to make you reconsider some aspect of yourself, of your tiny corner in the universe.
This past autumn I was in a fairly detrimental car accident, and let me tell you, those types of revelations are far less enjoyable, albeit equally educational. Of the incident itself I will say only that the driver and I were extremely fortunate given the circumstance, and that it was an indelible event.
Life continued on as normal, but my attention was fixed on its temporal restrictions: some day I will die. It was difficult to focus on or enjoy things that were once fulfilling (i.e. writing, reading, trip-planning, beating my friends at board and/or video games, etc.) Things seemed bleak, and I was disheartened… to say I was having an existential crisis seems a bit dramatic, but I was certainly questioning the very foundations of life: what is its meaning, purpose, value? Where does my misshapen cog even fit in to this eternally rotating machine?
Admittedly, it took a while for me to come around, but slowly, priorities began to shift. Being slightly more cognizant of humankind’s mortality really makes you wonder if it is worth spending time hanging out with mean-spirited people, worrying about whether your home is immaculate, or doing things to satisfy others’ expectations (often at the detriment of your own wishes and well-being).
Of course, considering its enormous, wholly positive impact on my life, travel will always remain pervasive; reminiscing about my adventures saw me through many dour days. It is therapeutic, illuminating in ways that few other pastimes have been (short of writing idle words, which thankfully can be availed of anywhere). With that in mind, again I am working toward productive, fulfilling goals and can feel my life taking positive shape.
Ready for the next chapter.
This past autumn I was in a fairly detrimental car accident, and let me tell you, those types of revelations are far less enjoyable, albeit equally educational. Of the incident itself I will say only that the driver and I were extremely fortunate given the circumstance, and that it was an indelible event.
Life continued on as normal, but my attention was fixed on its temporal restrictions: some day I will die. It was difficult to focus on or enjoy things that were once fulfilling (i.e. writing, reading, trip-planning, beating my friends at board and/or video games, etc.) Things seemed bleak, and I was disheartened… to say I was having an existential crisis seems a bit dramatic, but I was certainly questioning the very foundations of life: what is its meaning, purpose, value? Where does my misshapen cog even fit in to this eternally rotating machine?
Middle Cove is very centring, even in January
Admittedly, it took a while for me to come around, but slowly, priorities began to shift. Being slightly more cognizant of humankind’s mortality really makes you wonder if it is worth spending time hanging out with mean-spirited people, worrying about whether your home is immaculate, or doing things to satisfy others’ expectations (often at the detriment of your own wishes and well-being).
Of course, considering its enormous, wholly positive impact on my life, travel will always remain pervasive; reminiscing about my adventures saw me through many dour days. It is therapeutic, illuminating in ways that few other pastimes have been (short of writing idle words, which thankfully can be availed of anywhere). With that in mind, again I am working toward productive, fulfilling goals and can feel my life taking positive shape.
Ready for the next chapter.
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