[One Idea Monday] The danger of “social comfort zone” in traveling
Akwaaba friends,
I just got back from my vacation in Florida and North Carolina, loads of inspiration to share with you over the next few weeks!
💡 1 Idea - The danger of “social comfort zone” in traveling
It’s easy to fall into our “social comfort zone” when we travel in a group.
We all have a natural tendency to only have conversations with the people we travel with. We resist talking to strangers (locals and other tourists). Because we’re afraid that by doing so, we’re taking valuable time away from the group.
This is a terrible mistake because when you talk to a stranger, you’re NOT taking quality time away from the group’s interaction. You’re actually making it richer (in the future) with new information, stories, or even friends.
This has happened so many times to me and my friends:
In Can Tho, a vet who sat next to us in a restaurant paid for our meal, just because I asked him how to eat a dish.
In Lisbon, a family drove me to the bus station at midnight, just in time for my departure, simply because I asked for directions and looked lost.
In Portland, our Uber drivers saved the trip for us by recommending many hidden gems even Google doesn’t know about.
Sometimes, all it takes is an honest question to build a connection.
If we ever travel for more than 2 days together, I hope that you take the time to talk to some locals, even if that means leaving me alone for 30 minutes.
A healthy trip is very similar to a healthy relationship, which has a balance of “time with each other” and “time without”. No matter how much you love the person, you need to have your own life, even for a little bit.
Traveling in a group, or being in a relationship,
doesn’t mean you have to be together all the time.
Get out of the zone!
Disclaimer: If you got out of the zone and crashed into a boring conversation, don’t be afraid to exit after 3 minutes. To do so is to respect both your time and the other party’s. No one benefits from a conversation in which only 1 side is interested in learning.
💬 1 Quote
Writing this piece after a long break was incredibly challenging, so I’d like to share this quote by Rafael Nadal on the payoffs of trying even when it sucks.
If you make an effort in training when you don’t especially feel like making it, the payoff is that you will win games when you are not feeling your best. ~ Rafael Nadal
❓ 1 Poll/ Question
What makes a good traveling partner?
👇 Tell me in the comments or by replying to this email!
To me, what makes a good traveling partner is: (1) Be willing to do anything with me (even that is crazy), (2) Able to listen attentively & speak kindly and (3) Very respectful of each other's money, time and energy.
wow i needed this these days. gần đây em cũng có cảm giác mình từ một người rất thích bắt chuyện ngẫu hứng với người lạ, tự dưng lại trở thành một người somehow 'boring'... (?) giờ em mới nhận ra là do em quen đi với bạn nhiều quá, em dần trở nên comfy hơn với những nơi lạ nhưng cùng lúc, lại comfy với việc không cần bắt chuyện với người lạ nữa - cái đáng lẽ là niềm vui chính của việc ra ngoài đi chơi. không biết nó nghe có conflicting không :D anw ty!