We’re a little behind as we write this; world travel does not allow for as much free time to write as we anticipated. We returned to Alexandria, Virginia, USA in November after circumnavigating the world in 203 days. We spent some time there with friends and family enjoying Thanksgiving but are now again on the opposite side of the planet in Taiwan headed soon to Australia and points beyond.
Meandering, Wandering, Aimless?
So back to traveling around the world. We drove across the USA in a squiggly fashion, covering 12,000 miles when we could have done it in 2,800. Then we flew to the east of Russian. Doing so, we lost a day by flying over the International Dateline. But we slowly got it back, riding the train across Asia. One time zone at a time.
After wandering for about 10,000 miles through the steppe, the middle kingdom, and the crossroads of the world, we found our way back to Moscow, Russia, and flew across the Atlantic back to our erstwhile home. In all, I count 13 distinct border crossings—some more eventful than others. We also lost five water bottles. So sad.
So what?
So what do you get traveling around the world? Perspective? Maybe. Jet-lag? Only when flying long distances (the train is a far better way to travel). The ability to ask for the bathroom in a dozen languages? Hopefully. Food poisoning and diarrhea? Almost for sure.
In the end, we should have known what the takeaway from making one’s way around the planet would be—in and out of all of the challenges that go with that, and overcoming all of the fear and trepidation that stand in the way. We should have known because it’s the same thing that countless students and we have acquired bit by bit through martial arts training. When you do something that you hadn’t done before, that perhaps you weren’t sure you could do, you gain confidence.
Confidence does not come from affirmations. Confidence does not come from other people. Confidence does not come from your parents or your teachers. Confidence comes from you and what you have done. Confidence is the distilled essence of your personal victories, no matter how small. From that, you build all of the things that you now know you can do and will do. From that, you can build a life.
For The Kids, Too
I’m sure many people reading this will assume—as people so often do—that I am harping on the benefits for our children. To which I reply, “Oh yeah, for them too.” Confidence, courage, bravery, is not a yes-no proposition. This trip created opportunities for we parents, as reasonably accomplished adults, to be scared/nervous/uncertain—the more-so because we have three (yes, still three) children to care for.
And when you come out the other side of those experiences, you feel a little braver. And for that alone, I am grateful for this experience. Do the children grow as well? Of course! But make no mistake, we are not done being and becoming. We lead the next generation by our example, and they grow as we grow—one challenge at a time.
