The Day I Realised That I Am Alive: August 2017

Disclaimer: Read the full article to arrive at any conclusion.

"Do I love my job?

No.

But does it afford me the ability to go on lavish vacations and buy anything I want?

Also no. "

I pondered a lot thinking about the title of this article and I could not think of any appropriate one. I am a pro traveller and I can't imagine my life without travelling. But recently I came across many articles usually emphasising on travelling by quitting one's job, by stating that you do not need money to travel. I would say, that it is a very optimistic approach to encourage travelling but in my opinion it is quite impractical. Yes! There are people who travel without any money, but what they do in turn is hitch hike, ask locals to give them a place to stay and cook them a food. Humanity exists and that is why they exist. I do not see any problem in that also till the time they get the help and they are happy about it. But what bothers me is when they ask for money with a promise to return it, which they never do and then claim that they travel without any money and their life is totally sorted. I have many traveller friends who have made travelling their jobs and they are quite happy about it. In the end one needs to work to survive- mentally and physically.

During my solo travels I have come across many travellers and have found many travellers on social media also. It is always good to talk to travellers as they have lot of hidden stories with them. But amongst them few asked money from me stating one or the other very emotional and genuine reason- example: one needed money for his sister who is travelling abroad and his net banking is blocked. To few I had to say no (it was very difficult and uncomfortable for me and that ultimately ruined the friendship) and to others I fell for their "genuine" reasons, owing to my gullible nature at that time. That somehow saved the friendship for that period but ultimately it was ruined as that money was never returned. I felt a sense of being used, I felt foolish. For me money was never the issue, what bothered me was the broken trust.

As rightly said by Robert Kiyosaki- "Money is not the goal. Money has no value. The value comes from the dreams money helps achieve."

I realised value of money when I was admitted in hospital.

"The importance of money flows from it being a link between the present and the future."

It is true that money is not everything. What is important is to be productive which ultimately leads to making money. And more money is also not a solution as there is no definition of "more". What is important is to have a content life.

Some pictures from my solo trips: