Why do we travel? Some people would tell you that its either to chase love, or money. Either way, they put it down to motivation. I agree with that. But I'm not so sure I agree with those as the only motivations.
In this day in age, our freedom to travel seems both limitless - even to the stars - and at the same so contrasted with the varied destinies of our fellow inhabitants of this world. At a time when some have so much, and so much freedom, we also have more then ever, access to the knowledge of how little some have.
Images beamed from around the globe of people with little to nothing but the clothes on their backs. And those that have being able to read about it, and see pictures of it in real-time, as if that were a selling point.
The millions who live in Europe have access to riches, freedoms and fortunes that millions, in equal or stonger numbers, in South America know no access to. The milions who live in North America are the same, if not better off, when counter balanced with those in Africa. And across Asia there are profound divisions in wealth distributions.
So, why travel? Travel is a discontinuation with our current experience. It is a way to see the world in new ways, even if it does seem that the way we are seeing it is a continuation of what we have known.
A great deal is spoken about the 'Culture Shock' that is felt when one heads out on the road to visit a foreign place for the first time. I submit that the real clulture shock - and the real reason to travel - is to know that the way you see your land is only one of many ways. And that you can't truly know what those many and varied views are until you've left, and returned. Then, you may also find out that not just your views, but in fact you have been forever changed.
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"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything." - Charles Kuralt
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The Pebbles
One night a group of nomads were preparing to retire for the evening when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light. They knew they were in the presence of a celestial being. With great anticipation, they awaited a heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be especially for them.
Finally, the voice spoke.
"Gather as many pebbles as you can. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day's journey and tomorrow night will find you glad and it will find you sad."
After the light departed, the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected the revelation of a great universal truth that would enable them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But instead they were given a menial task that made no sense to them at all. However, the memory of the brilliance of their visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.
They traveled a day's journey and that night while making camp, the reached into their saddle bags and discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a diamond. They were glad they had diamonds. They were sad they had not gathered more pebbles.
Source: Various Legends, Chicken Soup for the Soul
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