Uncharted Territories

Most of us enjoy a sense of comfort and familiarity in our life. It’s reassuring to have consistency and stability, knowing where our next meal will be, seeing the same people when we go home, having our favourite colleagues to talk to at work. However too much of the same thing can make us complacent or unable to adjust to the changing environment around. No matter how well established and routine someone’s life generally is setbacks and pitfalls will invariably happen. This is why it can be useful to intentionally prioritise placing ourselves in different environments, for instance traveling often. It doesn’t mean we have to go deep into the depths of the Amazon Forest with nothing but a daypack and a compass. No one is expected to become a contestant on Survivors. On the other hand I’m not defining “travel” as staying at a beach resort. Rather it’s exploring places with an intention to learn something of either the people, place, or of oneself through interacting in new spaces. It’s not an obligation to come back with newfound appreciation for life or have some grand epiphany along the way as one treks across the continents. It’s not about having life altering thoughts, it’s simply putting ourselves in spaces where we can gain a different perspective. 

Lots of people tend to avoid new circumstances and locations because it often leads to exploring parts of ourselves that we may not have been ready to face. Sure unfamiliar streets can offer dangers, but what we fear more is questioning our sense of self and losing that assurance when our identity clashes with our environments. Our identity is encompassed by our held beliefs, values, personality, characteristics. It’s made up of our inherited traits and upbringing. We settle into communities that fit what we know or have been taught to be part of. It’s not necessarily pleasant to come into conflict with someone who has such different values and ideas. But putting ourselves in these situations from time to time allows us to become more aware and open-minded. We see things from another vantage point and it can offer clarity to how we came to our own ways of doing and believing things. These challenging interactions and dealing with discomfort adds humility, kindness, and more understanding in the world. When we travel and see people acting differently than what we would have done—eating strange and exotic foods or dancing with hips that don’t lie—it can be simpler to resort to judging or finding their practices problematic. Yet, we too must look at ourselves through their lens and recognise how strangely we must seem to other people. We don’t have to accept or condone all their behaviours or values, but we can examine them and hold space for people from all walks of life to exist. The more as a society we do this, the more welcoming we can learn to be. 

We never know the kinds of people we’ll come across and the unforgettable memories we’ll make. Let the world surprise us! As photographers know, capturing something from a different angle is the distinction between a good photo and a great one. Wherever we may decide to venture next, allow ourselves to be in unknown territory because that change may make all the difference in how we experience the world. Travel is about getting lost and discovering ourselves and the world around us. A change in scenery could mean a change of heart.