Small World, Big World

When I have been settled in one place for any significant amount of time I always find myself, at some point, struck at how “small” my world is. My comings and goings limited to work, home, gym and the occasional weekend away to visit friends and family. My geographic roaming miniscule at best. At the same time I also notice how “big” everything in my life feels. The tiniest things in my life feel monumentally huge and scary. Work issues feel devastating, minor frustrations at home grind me down and deviances or changes from normal routine feel scary and overwhelming. My life perspective shifts off kilter and things are easily blown way out of proper proportion – causing me to stress and devote energy to things/issues that don’t deserve it.

It’s usually around that time that I begin dreaming or planning my next trip or job adventure abroad. When I travel, in particular when I travel abroad, my world grows expansive and I delight in physically expanding my global foot print. Exploring and learning about cultures and places that are completely different from my own is thrilling to me. Seeing the sites, breathing the air, hearing the noises, talking with people, being catapulted out of the familiar - My world grows “big”. At the same time my perspective on life and what’s important shifts back to a position that is much more comfortable and realistic. All those “big” things in my life are exposed as nothing more than trivial worries and wasted energy. They become “small”. The freedom of this shift allows me to relax and not sweat the small or big stuff when I travel. I become a different person – I take things as they come, I don’t worry as much and instead I spend my energy on totally engaging in the process and experience. I usually come home with a lightness that keeps me going and keeps my perspective in check for quite awhile.

Why am I writing about this now? Well, because for a variety of reasons my world is very, very “small” right now and I’m trying very hard to keep my perspective in check and not let the worries run amok. Since I’m not in a position to travel at the moment nor do I see the possibility of travel anywhere in the near future I have to find other outlets and avenues for expanding my world. So far the best outlet I’ve found is talking with other people who have lived in “expansive worlds” whether through travel or other exceptional life experiences. They can help talk me down from the irrational places I tend to creep and encourage me to not get caught up in the group think with other people who live in very small worlds.

I think learning strategies for expanding my world and managing my perspective are just another thing I’m meant to learn during this transition time. Here’s to the learning!