“That is what roses are like; this is how they smell. We must remember that, down in the darkness.”
–Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, 1941
Seattle, Washington
I blog as a hobby—one of several. In my professional life, I work on international development issues at a nonprofit organization, trying to help people around the world who live in poverty that most of us cannot even imagine gain access to food, clean water, and better lives. In addition to these things, I’m also a history buff, a political junkie, and someone who believes deeply in the interconnectedness of the planet and everyone who lives here. I’m a proud internationalist, in a world that seems more and more to be slipping away from this ideal.
The past few weeks, needless to say, have been difficult ones for me to process. In the aftermath of the recent election, everywhere I look I seem to see rising tides of intolerance, ignorance, and even hatred. I have a hard time reconciling these disturbing trends with my vision of the America I know, and even more, with the need for our world to move toward greater inclusion, understanding, and love.
A few nights ago, I was speaking with my (incredibly patient) father on the phone, pouring out my anguish and uncertainty about how to move forward. He said something that resonated with me; essentially, even amidst the craziness of a world I feel I don’t understand, I not only have the right to be happy, but I have an obligation.
That, to me, is a fascinating concept. Happiness as an obligation: to oneself, to the people in your life, maybe even to the world—because doesn’t the world need happy, hopeful people now more than ever?
However, as compelling an idea as it is, it’s been very hard for me to find much to be happy about in recent days. So I started thinking—what can I find to make me happy even in the worst of circumstances? What can be, essentially, my light in the darkness?
And then the answer came to me: travel. Of course.
Travel makes me happy. Travel has exposed me to so many beautiful, even magical places over the years, introduced me to wonderful people I never would have met otherwise, offered me new experiences I could never have dreamed of undertaking had I stayed at home (scaling the side of a mountain without a harness in Slovenia, anyone? Yeah, I actually did that, and I survived).
And most of all, travel has expanded my understanding of the world we all live in by letting me partake, even briefly, in cultures and ideas and experiences vastly different from the ones I grew up considering to be the norm. In short, travel—and the benefits it can bring—represents not only my best hope to find happiness in difficult times, but also one of the best hopes for the people in the world to learn about one another, understand one another a bit better, and start approaching the world outside our bubbles with kindness and compassion rather than fear.
And so, I have decided: for the next few years, travel will be my light in whatever darkness may come.
I will continue traveling.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
I will visit new places I’ve longed to see: the Hermitage in St. Petersburg; the rain forests of Costa Rica; the beaches and rice paddies of Bali.
I will finally make my big trip to Australia and New Zealand happen, and officially have stepped foot on every continent (well, except for Antarctica, but I’m okay with bypassing that).
I will gaze upon magnificent art, sample scrumptious foods, climb mountains, and dive in oceans.
I will explore the world outside America’s borders as fully as possible, while also being careful not to fall into the trap of neglecting my own country, as there is much to learn and experience here as well.
I will do my very best, wherever I go, to be a good ambassador of my country, and learn all I can from people whose lives and perspectives and experiences are different from mine, even when it’s hard.
I will keep traveling. I will keep exploring. I will keep learning. And I will keep being happy…because I’m fortunate enough to be able to do something I love that brings me happiness even in the most trying times.
Travel will be my light in the darkness, whenever darkness may fall. I hope that all of you find a similar light to keep you going when times are rough…and simply to bring you the happiness of a life spent living out your dreams, whatever they may be.