Travel is as travel does

If things are not going according to plan and you are truly having a bad time on your travels then it’s time to reassess the situation.  Being away and enduring hardship is harder in another country where the support network you have at home doesn’t exist.  It might be time to pack up and return home to regroup, then return with renewed energy (and bank account), or … it might be time to stay put and lick your wounds if that is the case.

Sometimes, if you’re in a downwards spiral, all sorts of negative stuff starts to happen.  Things can seem to go from bad to worse in a heartbeat!  If you went travelling to avoid problems or issues you were having at home, then very likely they didn’t stay at the departure lounge.  You can’t just leave things behind because you got on a plane!  They most likely came with you.

If you were having money problems at home then probably you’ll have them when you travel too.  If you were hanging out with a bad scene or you hooked up with the wrong crowd at home, the chances are the same will happen when you’re away.

“Travelling can be as spiritual or as material as you are.  It’s all about your orientation (positive? negative?) and your perception of how things work.”

But the beauty about life is that you can rewrite the script anytime you want.  If you resolve to get to the bottom of the issues – and take personal responsibility for your part – all sorts of new things will start flowing your way.

It can also be hard to keep your spirits high when the news is not so good.  Grandma is in hospital or Dad has had an accident or maybe one of your good friends has lost a sibling or parent tragically.  How you cope and what you do with this news is very much up to you.

You’re a long way from home and there may be only so much you can do.  If you decide to return to ‘be there’ and feel it is the most appropriate thing to do, then start making arrangements.  Otherwise, perhaps you should phone or email daily to get updates.  Ask your parents or your friend if they need your support and if you need to be there with them.  Talk things through – all the pros and cons of staying versus coming back. They may not want you to come back just for them, or even just for you.

If you’re going to be grieving or not at your best for the foreseeable future, then you may have to consider the feelings of your travel companions too.  No one else, can make the decision for you.  However, you need to accept that it can seem excruciatingly hard to make the choice.

It is worth remembering that your travel destination will still be here, but your grandmother won’t always be.  Whatever you decide to do – stay or go home – that’s okay.  The decision is entirely yours.

Travelling can be as spiritual or as material as you are.  It’s all about your orientation (positive? negative?) and your perception of how things work.  If you truly want to change your life in a fresh context you will have to realise that who you are is already in place but that refinements and changes to that ‘self’ are always possible.

The road is a great place – probably the ideal place – to work this stuff out.

Photographer: Anthea Paul