Travel Changes You...

In 2000, I was working 60 hours a week trying to be somebody that I thought I wanted to be – somebody that was monetarily successful. I was doing something that I absolutely hated and working with people that had no, in my opinion, sense of honor at all. I drank 6 nights a week with co-workers after harrowing days meeting deadlines and goals. I spent my commute thinking that my chest was either going to explode (literally I kept seeing visions of spontaneous human combustion flash in my head) or cave in because I could never catch my breath. I was so caught up in the notion that being successful meant having nice things and keeping up appearances. Because, my grandfather lived in Saigon and traveled throughout Southeast Asia extensively before the war moved south in 1975, I had always been intrigued with this part of the world and wanted a place exotic to escape so in 2001, I mustered up the courage to head west and made plans to visit Thailand – not expecting how my world would change.

After 15 hours on the plane with a brief stopover in Seoul, the plane set down on the tarmac at 11pm in Bangkok. As door opened and I stood at the top of the airstairs, I was immediately struck with the heaviness of the air. I’ve never been anywhere so humid in my life. Although it was only 90 or so degrees, it felt like I was on the gangway into hell. There was just a bit of breeze which only blew hotter air into my face. Let me just say, I don’t do well in heat but somehow I didn’t expect this in October. I was determined to be OK with it and not let it ruin my experience. The city was crowded, loud and dirty, yet the people were all so very nice – from the street food vendors, to the doorman at our hotel, to the tuk tuk drivers – one even tried to teach us enough Thai to get around the city. It was to the point where you want to distrust, but then human decency wins out and you just to realize that this is how we’re all supposed to be to each other.

One day while walking around the city, I stopped to watch a small child who had been prodded by his mother sitting on the sidewalk to stand up and perform. It was blistering hot and as we watched him do a little dance with a joyous smile, I noticed a monk walk up behind me in full regalia. I remember thinking "there is no way I could walk around in all that cloth and be comfortable". When the babe finished his dance, I walked over and handed the mother the equivalent of $20.00 US and thanked her wildly for sharing his talents. I don’t really like the “performing monkey” aspect, but he was so delightful and came up to hug us when it was finished, it just made me want to cry. Besides, the donation was nothing – 2 cups of coffee on any given day and certainly not a dent in my travel budget. Just then, the monk taped me on my shoulder and explained that I had given them what would amount to a month’s income and that he appreciated my kindness. If I would have had more cash with me, I would have given them all of it. He asked us to come with him into the wat where he lived and worshiped.

We walked passed the small bookstore piled high with words of enlightenment in several different languages and into a beautiful tended garden that was surround by porches where hundreds of statues of Buddha were placed. Some held flowers and were adorned with robes while others held sticks of lit incense. We wondered around the grounds as he gave us a private tour explaining along the way, the life of Buddha and the laws of Karma. I wasn’t necessarily looking for religious enlightenment but suddenly the things that I had held tightly to as a way to justify my existence on earth seemed to be slipping away. I started to re-think that money and possessions might be more a hindrance than a status symbol. I came back home and within a year or so had quit my job in total and had started doing things that I enjoyed - that would help people and maybe make someone feel better, thus making me feel better.

Thailand is considered the land of smiles and this couldn’t be truer. It has forever left its impression on me and I’ll remember each person I met for my lifetime. This trip was trans-formative - nothing changes the way you view your own life experience like seeing the way other people live. Not only am I more appreciative and thankful for the life I have, I’ve also a new sense of wonder and empathy for other cultures and countries.

#Goals #Achieve #Inspiration