More and more synergistic effects are becoming apparent as we live our life on the road and learn more with every passing day.
We have started seeing people and the places we visit as inviters. It's not really like they invited us but when we stop somewhere and park for the night we want to make the best out of it for anyone - we don't ever leave our trash anywhere but trash bins and we do our best to not disturb anyone, we park in spots not close to anyone's private home and we always make sure we are not worrying people where we are.
But after a few days this invitation becomes a bit worn - that van is still there, what are these people doing here?
It's not like anyone has ever said it to us but as a traveler you will feel it. Especially in the crazy times we find ourselves in. People start to wonder about that van that is still parked near their town entrance.
So we try to stay in the same spot only for a limited amount of time before we move on, ideally before anyone gets to a state of worry. But there is another thing we have found to just feel really good energetically and it could be called a way of paying energetic rent.
After a day or two we start picking up trash that never belonged to us!
Leave the place better than you found it
It's quite a simple calculation: If people are willing to give us the benefit of the doubt and let us park in their neighborhood for a day or a few, we want to do our best to help the neighborhood out. And what better way than to pick up trash we never produced ourselves!
Where people may have had bad experiences with vans parking there leaving all their trash behind we want to do the exact opposite: Picking up trash that was already there to leave the place cleaner than we have found it.
We have often wondered what impact this might have on the locals. How cool would it be if there was someone who had their eye on us thinking: Ok, I will leave this lovely couple there for a few days and see if they move again - maybe people who always walk their dog at night or go to take a walk on the road. Only to find that before they actually ARE getting uncomfortable with us still being there we are GONE and the entire place has been magically cleansed of cigarette buds, trash bags and paper towels left behind by other locals.
What impact might this have on the attitude of people towards foreign vans parking near their beloved places in their neighborhood?
We think it definitely counts for something and above all - it just feels great doing something for the people who so kindly indulge us for the limited time we are in their sphere of influence. It'sa true win win situation and it might also help seed trust amongst strangers who may not even speak the same language.
So if you ever feel you are somewhere where locals might get worried after a while about your presence - recognize the shifting energetics and prepare to move, but before you do - pay your "rent" by picking up some trash you find. The locals who know their neighborhood will definitely know it was you who improved the quality of the space, and they will be more likely to meet other strangers with open arms as well as that trust is not abused but paid back in kind deeds.
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