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- 🇺🇸 Life Changing Reflections on my Trip to the USA
👋🏼 Hey guys! I hope you've had a fantastic week. In this edition of our newsletter, I want to pick up from the last newsletter and continue sharing my travel reflections - this time from my recent trip to the USA.
As soon as I arrived in the US, I was confronted with a common challenge that often accompanies travel: the overwhelming choices of where to visit and how much time to spend at each place. This predicament is what I like to call "traveler's anxiety." It's that nagging feeling that if we don't see every nook and cranny of a city, we might miss out on something incredible and waste our time there.
During this trip, however, I had an epiphany. I questioned whether spending only 1-2 hours at each location would truly allow me to experience and appreciate the place fully. Could I learn about its history, absorb its beauty, engage in meaningful conversations and create lasting memories within such a short span of time?
Instead of succumbing to the pressure of seeing it all, I decided to be more selective. I chose a few destinations that held personal significance and where I believed I could establish a genuine connection. Rather than rushing from one place to another, I allocated more time to these chosen locations.
What unfolded was truly beautiful. By adopting this approach, I discovered that when we appreciate a place beyond its popular landmarks, we gain a broader perspective on the vastness of the world and the multitude of experiences we may never encounter. The guilt of not being able to witness everything subsides when we accept that it's improbable to capture even a fraction of the world's beauty in a single lifetime. This realization allows us to relax and relish the present moment. And if there is a place that truly captivates us to the point where we want to explore every corner, we can always plan a return visit.
In essence, this approach aligns with the ultimate objective of long-term travel: seeking a place where we feel most at home. While taking pictures, exploring landmarks and indulging in local cuisines are delightful aspects of travel, if we desire to reside in a place for an extended period, it should stem from a genuine curiosity about experiencing life in a particular environment and understanding which lifestyles truly resonate with us. The goal is not to bring our home country with us and interact with locals from afar, but to immerse ourselves genuinely and become part of the local fabric.
When we shift our focus to finding a place where we feel at home, we need to reconsider some of the values that led us down the path of travel in the first place. It's about embracing the idea that the journey isn't solely about seeking novelty and new destinations but rather about discovering a sense of belonging and personal fulfillment.
So guys, let's rethink our approach. Let's savor the places that truly touch our hearts, let go of the pressure to see it all, and embrace the joy of feeling at home wherever we may wander. Happy travels!
Enjoy the rest of your week! Kenji.
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👍🏾 Things I’ve enjoyed this week
Duolingo (app) - following my trip to Italy, I’ve set myself a target to do at least half an hour of Italian practice using this app. I’ve only been doing it for 1 week, but I feel that my Italian has already significantly improved. I’m excited to see how my speaking goes on my next trip to Italy after consistent practice!
Black Mirror (Netflix series) - this is easily one of my best series of all time on Netflix. It’s difficult to explain, but basically each story is an interesting sci-fi scenario.
Arnold (Netflix series) - a super motivating documentary on the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes you through his time as an actor, politician and body builder.
Monzo (app) - whilst being in America, it’s been great to be able to use my UK bank account whilst abroad at no extra cost. This bank/app has changed the game for me when it comes to traveling and I highly recommend you check it out. It has lots of additional amazing features that I also use whilst back in the UK. If you’d like to check it out, use my link to get a free £5.
📚 Highlight of the week
Moving across the world makes you smarter, because you stop thinking you’re always right. Those who shout, “my country is the best!” are those who have never left. In Icelandic, the word for “idiot” means “one who has never left home to journey abroad”. Only idiots think they’re always right.
Most people don’t get to choose how they suffer. Once you tame pain for yourself, tame it for others.
Value self-determination is simply figuring out what you care about for yourself. Figuring out your values allows you to tailor your definition of success to your unique personality and life circumstances. After finishing a video game, a player may take a step back to ask whether the game was worth it, whether the game was a good use of their time. But in careers, there are fewer built-in pauses. This was certainly true for Khe. It took a series of changes in his life for him to realize that the values by which he was living were not actually his own.
Resurfaced to me by Readwise
📚 Listen to any of these book suggestions free on Audible
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🛠 My favourite tools 🔨
📚 Listen to my favourite book of all time (or any other) free on Audible
🎒 My everyday and travel bag from Menos (use KENJI10 for 10% off)
📝 My favourite iPad screen protector: Paperlike