Nothing scarier than that
It always surprises me how much fear is triggered by travel. Travel is meant to be a pleasurable experience, but when you talk to people, travel means stress, anxiety and fear.
Elle to Kandy train ride
Let's just start with flying. Travel is incredibly limited if you're unwilling to fly, and yet many people succumb to the phobia and keep their feet firmly planted. I get the fear. I experienced a brief stint of a fear of flying. Most people would probably quit flying all together, but I made a promise to myself to not let my fear limit where I traveled to in the world. I forced myself to fly and continuously worked through my fear by talking to other people about it.
One day I asked my mom why she wasn't afraid of flying. She told me that she has to fly to get to the places she wants to see and she figures if the plane is going down there's nothing she can do about it, so why bother worrying? Moms- they're so smart.
If it isn't the plane people are afraid of, it's usually the places. I often hear that a place is scary. It's amazing how many comments I get from people assuming an entire country is unsafe. Often it's based on media. Of course, I'm not naive. I understand that every country has violence and crime, and the government may or may not support those circustmances. It's important to be a safe traveler and avoid sketchy situations, but I think most people would be surprised about how not sketchy most places truly are.
A local market owner shares his cinnamon
Some places I've been to have a bad reputation. But when I arrive, I encounter helpful locals who give me directions or good tips on what to do and see. I've never felt unwelcome or unsafe.
On top of Volcan Cerro Negro
A good friend always reminds me to not make a decision based on fear. And sure, I get a little nervous when I first exit the airport of a foreign country. Those moments when I'm not sure if my ride will be there get my heart pumping. But I also have faith in humanity. I really believe that it's not about the indivudal people in our individual countries, it's one world, one population.
Fear doesn't just stop people from traveling. It also can be a barrier for pursuing a new job, a new love, or trying a new hobby. We feel safe in our bubble of comfort. And the longer we stay in our comfort zone, the harder it is to leave it. But the reverse it also true. Once you take the first step towards the thing you fear, the second and third steps only get easier.
We are naturally afraid of the unknown, rejection and failure. And yes, all of these things can be scary, but what's the alternative? Not truly experiencing the potential of your own life- and to me, there's nothing scarier than that!
The port in Kusadasi
