You Are As Tough As You Need To Be

A few months ago a friend of mine was telling the story how she was down with malaria in the middle of the jungle on the Amazon, but she had travel arranged before so shaking from fever, high headaches and pain, she packed up and carried on traveling. Then another friend of mine was amazed at her strength, she was even asking how was is even possible to do it alone. We both knew the answer, we both experienced what’s it like to be in your weakest but you must carry on.

For once as a traveler you accept the unwritten terms and conditions of solo traveling, you are on your own after all. There are always others to help, but there is only so much they can do. So knowingly that we might have to struggle like never before we go into high-risk environments for the sake of adventure. When you are ill, you can choose to miss your flight but not all of us can afford to buy another last-minute ticket, so what else can you do but carry on.

People label these stories differently, crazy, irresponsible, insane, I like to call it strong. Because it takes a certain kind of person to despite the never-ending pain and weakness she put the heavy backpack on and finished the trip. Why minimise her accomplishment? Yes, she didn’t need to go to the dangerous jungle and get a tropical disease, but living life within the perceived safety box does not challenge us in any way. Our leaning is limited to that place and culture only. So for us, it is worth the risk because it pays high interest.

It is kind of a controlled gambling, shit can still hit the fan, but we try to minimise the possible damage by preparing. Every risk taker lives by it, investors, sports people, business people…so as a traveler.