Peeling Away The Layers

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.  - Aristotle

I’m going to find myself! This is a very common response to the question on why are you going on such a long trip. I’ve always found that statement a little odd, especially since I myself don’t feel like I was lost when I started any of my trips. It is as if the act of wandering aimlessly will magically reveal the figurative treasure they were searching for. I am not unique in that sense, since I know and met many backpackers that have a strong disposition in life. Yet almost every traveller will admit that they are undertaking some form of an intrinsic journey. In doing so, they will undergo a profound evolution within themselves. This may not be evident to the person initially, but it will be apparent to friends and family once they return home. A change this profound surely could not have happened by chance. It was most likely due to a string of conscious decisions. So maybe it’s not about finding one’s bearings in life, but really the peeling back of the layers within themselves to reveal what is truly important at their core. Why is it that travelling has the ability to do so? Is it the fact that putting up a false image is taxing enough and the energy should be spent on hauling that 70L backpack to the next hostel? Or is it that it has the effect of lowering inhibitions to a level where the truest self is slowly revealed? Whatever the reason may be, allow the journey to uncover your true self. What you may have been seeking may have been within you all along.