An interesting article that I was reading recently about millennial revealed that about 34% of millennial opt to work so that they are able to travel. This is not surprising to me as I am an avid traveler myself, having traveled almost all of India except the far-east yet. The way I look at it, there is this unending appetite to look for the unknown and a repetitive quest in all these people. And I believe as the world progresses both technologically and psychologically this strange figment of motivation to break-free and travel will only getting more and more pronounced.
As for me, many are amazed with how I manage to do such frequent family trips or solo expeditions. By time, I have realized that more than the shock of managing calendars or finances, they are taken back as they find it hard to relate to the very desire to travel so often. Non-travelers rarely are able to spot the evenness in travel-life and work-life.
Keeping aside the cliched attributes to travel like connecting to self or finding more of life.. there isn’t really any common objective for people to travel in midst their working life. Not that such travelers seek set of standard goals, but I guess, it is more like they are able to find similarities in both the worlds. Similarities which puts their minds to peace and which otherwise are very vague to the one who doesn’t travel. Here’s a small listicle of how travel mentors you through your work-life.
Endurance: Planning in advance does not necessarily always work out. There are unplanned accounts to every trip. Consider taking up a new job in a very good company after much deliberation which is just like how you would plan your annual holiday. Vacations are precious. Upon reaching the hotel if you discover its tardiness over something’s, you end up reconsidering your options. There isn’t any point in continuing in the same hotel for the holiday. Couple of years back, I had one such experience with a company where I decided to move on. Travel makes you realize it is okay to pack your bags.
Receptivity: I had once planned a solo trip from Bangalore to Hampi which is at the central part of Karnataka. Prudently had booked myself a Sleeper AC coach for the overnight journey through a notable website. On the day of the trip, I was intimated of unforeseen sudden change when I had to make-do on a non-sleeper coach. This was uncalled-for. Much like those unanticipated changes that catches you abruptly in corporate lives. Travel prepares you to accept the fact that things happen. It makes you adaptable and instead excites you to shift focus on waking up to a new place the next morning.
Synergies: The same way that it works with your expectations and fulfillment's. Before embarking, your mind works out the framework of how it should be. Post the trip you realize your actual fulfillment. Over and over such experiences teaches you to bridge the gap between the expectations and its consequent fulfillment's. Travel ensures you self-actualize your expectations and be prepared for the worst. Also, most often people only pay attention to the beautiful pictures and your happy stories of the travel. They overlook the dark side such as the compulsions of public toilets, unexplained delays, irritating co-passenger habits or the longing to eat your comfort food. All these are the harsh realities and they do happen. By time, you realize the essence of habitation and harmony. Much of it is needed when you work in teams and cross-functional set ups. Travel coaches you to collaborate and adjust.
Buoyancy: In our trip to Nepal, I and my husband had to make an overnight journey in a bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Our time in Kathmandu was bliss and we enjoyed every moment of it. But the bus journey was a bumpy one and extremely uncomfortable. We regretted every minute of it and hated the decision to visit Pokhara. However, as it turns out like in a Bollywood movie, things turned and our stay at Pokhara was divinely stunning. Every bit right from the amazingly scenic view, hotel to food was pleasant. Much like when you join a new company; Travel tells you that the initial few months are full of bumpy rides for sure, but you never know tomorrow.
Agility: After a tiring week on a dull friday evening in Bombay, I and some of my colleagues caught ourselves in a random discussion to spend a holiday in Goa. One led to the other and in a moment of time, all of us were well charged and decided to do it right then! That’s how random and crazy trips get planned and that’s how such trips make you spontaneous. Such extemporized travel plans gives you the feel of how volatile your work can get. Start-up culture is all about unplanned random events and travel prepares you well for the ride.
Accommodation: Finally it’s about People. In my first ever solo trip, I accidentally met a co-traveler who was also visiting as a stop-over on his work assignment. I met this person on a field day and we tagged along the day together. In my course of conversation I found this person talk endlessly about his accomplishments and influences and connections. While he came across as well-read and mannerly, he had the funny pompous side to him. And in another trip, we had visited Egypt in 2013 during their mass protests and revolution time and had hired a local tour guide. During the course of 2–3 days, this guide happened to tell us about their living conditions, poor medical facilities, non-supportive government authorities and overall rough life. Yet, he was respectful and exceptionally honest. He made me realize pity is not welcoming and respect is always earned. In yet another incident, in the night market at Hong Kong, I encountered a lady who was utterly arrogant towards Indians and I remember she had treated me very poorly. I remember thinking how some people are just not worth it.
Travel gets you to experience all types of people. There is a variety everywhere. Quite similar to workplace. Most often than not, you cannot do anything to change their inherent nature. You learn to accept them as they are.
You realize it is just about the journey.
