It’s kind of ironic that this guest post is appearing while I am currently on holiday myself, but today I would like to share with you a think piece about the privilege that comes with being able to travel the globe so freely brought to you by one of my favorite bloggers Jane of deluminators. Travel is an incredible thing, and I am so blessed to be able to have the ability to do so in my own life, but it is important to remember that not everyone has this luxury and that self exploration and growth are not limited to those who are able to hop a train or plane and traverse new lands.
Best, Rae
People who know me or read my blog would know that I like to travel. It’s a fun thing to do – you get to experience new places, take some nice pictures, and develop all kinds of new problem solving skills when something (inevitably) goes wrong. My savings would look a lot more impressive if I hadn’t gone on those trips, but that’s not something I think about; the money spent has been worth it to me. However, I don’t think I acknowledge enough that this is an extremely privileged position to be in.
Like it has impacted what clothes we buy and the food we eat, social media and blogging has changed the way we travel, and the way we talk about travelling. For the most part, I like it. You get to hear about and see places which aren’t in the guidebooks, or mightn’t have popped up on your radar in your own research. But, like other categories of aspirational blogging, it’s not always applicable to real people in the real world. I’m talking about the travel blogs and Pinterest quote graphics which keep portraying travel as the ultimate and one true way to grow and learn. It’s almost bizarre how out of touch some of them are. No matter how budget you go, travel is still an expense – money, time, and commitment-wise.
Travel isn’t an essential for everyone. Travel doesn’t have to be a priority for everyone. Not everyone has the means or the opportunity to travel, and if you don’t, there’s nothing wrong with that. Contrary to what Pinterest is telling you, you’re probably still trying your damn hardest to live a fulfilling life. Even though the aforementioned blogs and quotes will make it sound like the main barrier to travelling is an individual’s lack of inspiration or motivation, there are so many actual real life things that get in the way. Like having only just enough to pay for rent and food. Like having to care for a relative, or being unwell yourself. Like having a passport that makes it difficult to travel, because of the pure chance of which country you were born in. Or maybe you’d just prefer to spend your money on clothes or makeup or a car or an actual house, because those things are important to you.
Travel makes me happy, and travel is what I’ve chosen to spend most of my money on. Maybe blogging so much about travel, then turning around and writing this post, makes me a hypocrite. But I would never sit here and tell you that travel is the number one path to growth or fulfilment, because that’s only something you decide for yourself. And the flip side to this is that if you do want to travel and do have the opportunity – take it. Because not everyone does, and there are so many things that might get in the way in the future.
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Stay conscious, Rae