Wanderlust

Sometimes I feel a bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole as I make my daily rounds across the blogosphere. I start out just sitting in my living room with my little dog curled up next to me on the couch. Perhaps I've got a hot mug of tea or coffee to sip on and a fire going in the fireplace to keep me warm. All pretty normal, everyday stuff.

But then I turn on the computer and my journey begins. I visit Belgium, Australia, Chicago, Colorado, Marrakesh, Romania, Paris, The Philippines and dozens of other places that I've never dreamed I'd get to go. Sometimes I end up so far away from home, following links to links to links, that I think I should have left a trail of breadcrumbs to be able to trace my way back home!

I like to hear these friends in different parts of the globe talk about their day, their lives, what's happening in their own personal worlds that makes them laugh out loud or pisses them off or what causes them heartache. It reminds me that no matter where we live, we really are much the same.

We want to share our thoughts, we want to be heard, we want to change the world, and we want to feel a sense of connectedness with humanity that perhaps the closeup view we have of our own life in our own town doesn't provide us.

  Wanderlust 
  Originally uploaded by nicholsphotos.

Since I've started getting involved in online communities and also working closely with an international client who I adore, I've developed a sudden desire to travel abroad.

This is kind of odd for me.

I'm a bit of a homebody. I am afraid of airplanes (it might get hijacked or crash!) and ships (those rogue waves scare me!). I have always been kind of picky about the types of food I'll try, and I definitely enjoy being surrounded by my own stuff and sleeping in my own comfy bed each night.

I've never really even travelled vastly across the United States much less to another country, but my experiences with the wonderful, generous, encouraging people I have met online from around the globe gives me the courage to leave the world that I know and to start exploring.

I haven't bought any plane tickets yet though ;-). I'm still processing this idea and thinking of what places I would like to go and what it would all entail (I can't help it--I'm a very organized, plan-it-all-out type of person!).

Of course there's the Philippines, where my father was from, and I do have relatives in Bangkok who I'd love to visit. Who knows where I'll go...it's fun to imagine.

We all know that blogging takes down geographical boundaries, but it also removes self-imposed limitations as well. Sometimes we can get tunnel vision if we focus too much on the life we know and don't give enough thought to other possibilities.

Who knows--maybe being open to other cultures and being willing to take some risks will let us discover ways of living that haven't been invented yet.

Comments

[Gavin Heaton]

Go for it. You know you want to. And you should add Sydney to your list ... I am a damn fine host ;)

But I am sure that if you got to Europe that Luc would look after you ... or Maryam in Morocco ... and Diana in Romania. Or many others for that matter! Dare you.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Gavin--we are so in sync with the posting and commenting thing. It's like I hit "publish", then I immediately go to look at eSoup to see how the post looks and then there's already a comment from you waiting for me! Now that's immediate gratification!:-)

You're so sweet--thanks so much for the invite. Just don't be suprised when I come knocking on your door to ask if I can crash on your couch (kidding!).

[Gavin Heaton]

There are advantages to living on the other side of the planet! Your night is my day.

Of course, now I need to know when you are going and where. I hope you don't think I will forget about this, do you? I will not rest until you are sitting on a plane to somewhere!

Chop, chop!

[Maryam in Marrakesh]

Dear Sharon,
I read in a happiness study, that people report greater happiness whenever they try something new, precisely because it takes them out of their routine and pushes them beyond the tiny fear factor they may have. I know it is certainly true for me.

And of course I would love to have you here in Marrakesh. I think you might be the only person able to get my untidy life in order....But I promise that I wouldn't just pick that highly organized mind of yours and take you to see some of the sights:-)

[Verna Wilder]

I can't offer the exotic, but Colorado DOES have the Rocky Mountains and Boulder is a very cool place to hang out. You're welcome here any time, Sharon. Maybe you could start with Colorado and build up to places that are farther away.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Oh, no. See now I've made myself accountable for this secret wish of mine. You all won't let me forget it (which I kind of like).

Verna, compared to where I live, Colorado IS exotic! You have snow! But then again, I haven't seen Marrakesh or any place else for that matter,so I don't have much to compare it to.

I once knew a girl who backpacked across Australia for a month all by herself. I thought she was so brave for doing that. She planned out her course, set off on her own, and stayed at youth hostels along the way.

She ended up becoming romantically involved with a surfer there, and she almost decided to stay there permanently! She had to force herself to come back home.

Anything can happen when you go out of your normal routine, especially if going outside your routine brings you into contact with interesting people. Your life path can change completely if you let it.

[Paris Parfait]

Thanks for the nod. I think there's nothing more broadening to the mind than travel. Virtual travel is terrific, but seeing for yourself and having your own experiences to share will change your world for the better - I really believe that. I grew up in a small town and have traveled most of my adult life and as Thoreau said, taking that "road less traveled" has made all the difference. Bonne chance, bonne courage et bonne voyage! If you come to Paris, hope to meet you in person!

[diana]

Gavin is very right, Sharon :). You're always welcome in here ! And you could try experimental travel - i've written a bit about it in here http://esibplayer.blogspot.com/2006/12/experimental-travel.html :)

Blogging is so wonderful from this journey point of view as well - before, you had travel guides, which were quite stereotypical and formal. Even though you read stuff in it, they provided quite a superficial approach and you didn't actually know what you might find in the places described in the guide. But reading blogs provides a totally different, insightful view! And it's also such a great feeling to know that there are fellow-bloggers you can talk to or meet in so many different parts of the world :)

[Gavin Heaton]

Sounds more like a world tour than a "trip"!

[Michael Wagner]

"Sometimes I feel a bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole as I make my daily rounds across the blogosphere."

Your first sentence hooked me. Partly because I named my firm based on thoughts and a metaphor inspired by Alice.

And partly because I've been thinking a lot about "how" Alice fell into the rabbit hole.

She said it was either a very deep hole or she was falling very slowly because she could take her time and examine things as she fell.

The blogosphere does allow a kind of slow fall by visiting with people from all over the world. It allows discovery and conversations to emerge at a pace you can handle.

Anyhow...really liked this post. And found you via "who else" but Gavin's blog.

Keep creating...new adventures,
Mike

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Mike,

Thank you for stopping by and for your excellent comment. It's been a while since I've actually read Alice in Wonderland, so I had forgotten the description of how she fell. It fits in with the blogging metaphor even more perfectly the way you describe it!

Cheers,
Sharon