You can travel forever, but your life will lack meaning.

Traveling for the last three years has taught me that you can travel forever but at some point the allure wears off and you realize that wherever you go there you are.

Just look at the famous foodie Anthony Bourdain--his whole life was traveling and living well. But he ended up taking his life while on a trip.

You can have the best life on the outside, but still be suffering on the inside.

I have been traveling not necessarily to just live well. But in hopes that my depression could somehow be cured by replacing memories of loss and trauma with memories of happiness and adventure.

And after years of trotting the globe, my depression has been significantly reduced by replacing the bad in my mind with the good. Which I am incredibly grateful for.

Traveling helped heal me. And now that I am good, I need more out of life.

I look to philosophers for answers on what the meaning of life is. And to friends I respect for advice on which path to take.

And the path I am on is good. Just the other day I watched the sunset and danced all night long. Then went and got a beachside breakfast followed by a massage.

By all accounts my life is perfect. But on the inside, I lack purpose. Which causes suffering.

I remember being in India years ago just outside of the glare of a beachside fire. Watching people in their 40's and 50's who were covered in tattoos and high on drugs. I thought that is not how I want to end up--as a hedonist who only seeks mild pleasures in life.

I have thought deeply about what Aristotle said about the meaning of existence. That the means for everyone is different, but the end is the same for all--to find happiness.

And traveling makes me happy, but being of service is what brings me the most joy.

So, if you have ever daydreamed about traveling the world forever. Know that I have gone part way of that dream and have concluded that a person can be happy living this way. But at some point, one needs more.

Because traveling simply focuses on fulfilling hedonistic needs. Short term pleasures such as seeing a new monument, eating a new food, partying, etc. These things are good. But they don't fulfill the soul's need for purpose.

Submitted December 14, 2020 at 08:43PM by Chrisjstevens https://ift.tt/3846Q0v