Travel to gain perspective

I lived all over the United States during my time doing Sales and Personal Development trainings.  I would live in a city for 3-5 months, then move on to the next one.  During the mid and late 1990’s I lived in the following cities:  Dallas, TX – twice, Sunnyvale, CA ( San Jose), Shaumburg, IL – twice (Chicago), Pembrook Pines, FL (Miami), Indianapolis, IN, Costa Mesa, CA – twice (Orange County) and Fairfax, VA (Washington D.C. area).  I also spent time in Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, San Antonio, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT, Seattle, WA, Helena, MT, Louisville, KY and Columbus, OH to name a few.   I lived in Boise, ID for several months as well.  I also had the good fortune to drive across the country and back two different times.  From those base cities, I would travel to many surrounding areas over the 3-5 months, so I really learned the areas and had a good sense of the lifestyle there. 

The thing that always struck me, no matter where I went, was the attitude of the people that somehow it’s better somewhere else.  Where people live at that specific time, is somehow inferior to other places.  EVERYWHERE I went people felt that way.  The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. 

To travel across the country and live in so many different areas, really helped me gain perspective on what life has to offer.  I appreciate each area for what it has.  Don’t spend time pining for something else.  As Jim Rohn used to say, “If you don’t like where you live… move!  Your not a tree!”  So many people are saving life up for some reason.  Waiting to really get started until some event takes place.  Before you know it, time has passed you by and you never did the things you were putting life off for.  Life is brief, even at the longest.  Whatever you desire to do, get at it.  “Don’t wind up,” as Jim Rohn said, “at the end of your life and find out that you only lived  1/10th of it.”

For me, traveling really put places, mental pictures and legends into a more realistic frame of reference.  When you haven’t been somewhere, you romanticize about how great it is.  It’s always better in your imagination than in reality.  Nothing is ever as good, or as bad as it seems.  The only constant in the world, is you.  Remember, the key to your successful life is YOU.  Not IT.  Don’t be one of those people who always blame outside circumstances for their current situation.  It’s not IT that’s the problem.  It’s us. 

When I look at a map, or hear about a news story in a certain part of the country, I have a good idea of what it’s like there.  I have a picture based on actual experience, not fantasy.  That really helps me not long for something else, something better that doesn’t exist.  Travel helped me stay grounded.

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