When I was little, I remember my mom told me that one of my aunts was in Spain. My aunt was going to be visiting the Iberian Peninsula for two weeks. At that time, I thought “Wow, someday I want to go to Spain”. Of course, at that age, I thought this was an impossible dream. Spain was far away (I had never ridden on an airplane). It was very difficult to go there (I knew no one at that far away land). Also, where I was supposed to get all the money for the trip? The money issue really shocked me. I was not able to conceive all the money my aunt had. I had not realized that I knew a wealthy person!
About 15 years later, I went to Spain. Not only that, I have visited countries as “distant and exotic” such as China and Thailand. I’m not trying to amaze you by naming the countries I have visited. I am not interested in showing how superior / smart / experienced I am because I have been to some places. That’s not the point. What I mean is totally the opposite. Visiting all those locations (and more) is not an amazing feat. It’s not even difficult, complicated or whatever you want to call it. Millions of people visit those places every year.
Me in front of the Eifel Tower
It is understandable that for a child some situations can be seen as impossible feats. Today, I laugh at how naive I was at 8 or 9. The surprising thing is that adults, sometimes, think like kids. For them things are so difficult, so colossal, so impossible. And I am referring not only to matters related to travel. Because to be honest, you will not die if you do not visit Japan in your lifetime. There are other things that affect our quality of life, our relationship with others, our interior and we do not deal with them because they are so “difficult”. We feel overwhelmed but do not find a way to prosper, flourish, shine.
But if we think clearly, we realize that the methodology for carrying out many things can be summarized in a series of steps. Even better, it is likely that another person has already achieved what you want to do or has left the situation that you want to abandon. So, you just have to do the following:
– Follow the same steps another walked
– Adapt the footsteps of others to your own needs
– Take ideas from several others and create your own list of steps
And to illustrate my point, I’ll use a simple example. Some time ago, I wanted to go to Bangkok. The process to reach the other side of the world can be summarized as follows:
– Go to Orbitz.com and buy a plane ticket to Bangkok.
– Go to the airport on the day the plane ticket says you are departing.
– Get into the plane and stay there fourteen hours.
– Get off the plane.
– Show your passport to immigration.
– Exit the airport.
-You made it to Bangkok!!!
These are the basic steps. We can add one or two more steps. What’s difficult about that? Where is the science?
Many will say this list is ridiculous. I know. I am already listening to the complaints. There are so many things missing from it. What about the hotel, transportation, food, language, money, weather? But despite all the drawbacks that came to your mind, things are so simple. And I said simple, not easy. They are two different things.
Start by listing the steps you must take to accomplish something. Then start working on each step (one or more, depending on how conformable you feel). Determine the resources you need to accomplish each. Follow the same process with all the steps until you have reached your final goal.
My husband and me at Wat Arun, Bangkok
Remember many things are simple. Do not complicate them with your preconceived ideas. You have many things in your favor to get in and out of situations. Perhaps your greatest advantage is that you have a brain to reason. Each time you encounter a difficulty in a step of your simple list, you can dispel this difficulty by using your intelligence, creativity and knowledge.
Lao-Tzu said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Be sure to think that every step of your journey is the first. Without realizing it, you can accomplish a lot by concentrating on one thing at a time. Because, really, nothing is so great, grand or spectacular as you think. Seriously.
Jan Ross says
So true. People get overwhelmed by the IDEA of travel when really, they should just take it one step at a time. Love this!
Ruth says
Thanks, Jan. You are right. People can choose to take it easy and work on one step at a time. So much simpler.
jade says
I really liked this post, too. Always try to live in the moment (as corny as that sounds) and let things slide off your back- Travel should be enjoyable!
Ruth says
Hi Jade, what you say is not corny it is completely true. More people should try to live in the moment. And yes, I agree travel should be enjoyable.
Jozef @ Where Now says
Haha this is so true. When we were planning our round the world we didn’t know if it would be possible to make our way all the way overland South America. Turned out it is ridiculously easy and thousands of people do it every year!
Ruth says
That is what I am talking about. A little research can help you realize how easy some things really are. When you are not well informed, everything looks more difficult.
Mark Wiens says
Fantastic article Ruth! Our minds have a way of running and sometimes making things more complicated or much more impossible than it really is. If we can look past our own minds making things seem impossible we can accomplish so much! Putting things into perspective is also important – a plane ticket might cost $800, but you might be spending $100 every weekend on parties, that’s a plane ticket in just 2 months!
Ruth says
Or the money you spend on a super big TV can be pay for a whole trip. Sometimes, we spend without keeping track.
Laurel says
So true, nothing really is that complicated when you break it down step by step. Mmm all of a sudden I’m feeling very unaccomplished at the moment 🙂
Ruth says
When I have a lot of things to do and feel overwhelmed, I just do a list of all the things I have to do and start working on each step. Then, I start to feel better because I moving ahead and reducing the probability of missing something.
Cathy Sweeney says
Very true and well-said, Ruth. Good reminder for those times when things do seem overwhelming.
Ruth says
Thanks Cathy. Glad to see you around.
Kelly says
Awesome post Ruth! I forget to live in the moment far too often, but I’m finding that although some situations are overwhelming, all are easily accomplished by taking it all piece by piece!
Ruth says
You are right Kelly. You are pretty much summarizing what I answered to Laurel.
The Travel Chica says
Inspiring post. It is amazing how we can so easily over-complicate everything in our lives if we allow ourselves to.
Ruth says
A lot of people tend to over-complicate instead of simplify. I think we can practice and practice until we learn to simplify. Or at least, find ways to attack what we want to do without complicating if it is not necessary.
Lisa says
It’s so easy for people to talk themselves out of experiences before they even try them. A good idea to handle it in steps that allow them to see a path.
Ruth says
Yes, you just have to do a little research in order to see what it really takes to accomplish that certain experience.
adventureswithben says
Loved how simple you made the process, because quite honestly, it is easy to get to Bangkok!
Ruth says
In fact, it is easy to get to most places.
Jeremy Branham says
While I agree that taking these steps is not as complicated as we make them, we must also realize that we are one of the privileged few that get to travel like this. Even within the US, there are millions who have never left the country. While the process is simple to do it, let us never forget the extraordinary blessing that we have to travel.
I just fear that simplifying this will somehow diminish the privilege that we truly have as it is not something that should be taken for granted. The older I get, the more expensive things are, and the more complicated life gets, I realize how lucky and easy it was for me a few years ago. Now with a job, family, and less income, I truly appreciate those opportunities a lot more now.
Ruth says
Jeremy,
I understand your point.
What I am saying is that the process to do certain things (like travel to a place) is simple. I am not saying it is easy (as I mentioned in the article). It may be simple to get to Bangkok but it is not easy if you do not have the money to buy the ticket or to pay for a place to stay. The process of actually getting the resources to make your trip a reality is what makes you appreciate that trip. You feel grateful because you were able to put together all the resources needed.
I wrote this article because as I mentioned, I used to think it was complicated to visit certain places. Sometimes, I felt less than others who talked big and loud about their travels. I have discovered that the process is straightforward. I just have to plan, budget and save. That may take me a while but it is still doable. In my case, this works because I make it a priority. Other people may have other priorities but I think the process of breaking down the problem into steps is still valid.
Lastly, I didn’t want to make the article look like I have tons of money to just buy tickets and travel around as I want. I am just using the list to illustrate my point. I do have to plan and put together my resources in order to travel (and mostly travel following deals).
Thanks for your comment.
Jeremy Branham says
Ruth, I get your point. I think most travelers do get that point because we have all done it. However, I just felt I needed to give another perspective. Maybe it was just my mood today but it felt oversimplified. I guess with Memorial Day and all I was just reminded of all the privileges we have and I don’t take this for granted.
On the flip side, I do see your point. I think a lot of things we see as big and glamorous and hard to do as kids aren’t that hard when you become adults. As kids, driving a car or baking a cake or some of the simple things we take for granted are amazing feats to a wild eyed kid. Since I have kids, I get to see things from a child’s perspective again. And it just makes me appreciate the things that I used to take for granted – including travel.