When I was young, the word Globetrotter was meaningful for me. Already at the age of 10-11 I knew I was “meant” to travel. Globetrotter usually mean world-traveler; a person who has travelled (a lot) around the world. But it has also a meaning of a person who feels at home, wherever she/he might be.
I think the latter meaning has resonated deeply in my heart, that is to have that feeling of home-ness allover, but of course the travelling in itself has also felt important.
Nowadays it is more common to use the word digital nomad. That word usually is defined as both a certain way of traveling as well as a certain way of working. It is both a lifestyle and a way of working, which of course is possible only because of our digital technique.
A nomad is usually referred to as a person belonging of a wanderer group. Then it makes sense with my passion to wander, I guess, since my heritage comes both from Northern traveler groups as well as Jewish grandgrandparents.
I have been thinking a lot about why I am so obsessed in feeling free to travel (and live) wherever I want. I think my passion can be divided in three parts.
To be a guest on a visit in a physical place. Somehow I enjoy the feeling that I am where I am, just temporarily. Even though it could turn out to be several years, it is the feeling. And I don’t mean this in the way of “being treated as a guest” (by someone else). Even though I for instance like to stay in a hotel during some days, I am not really fond of the “service-aspect” of it all. I like to take care of myself and usually when I stay at hotels, I decline daily cleaning (such a waste, who cleans their room everyday). No, it is more the feeling of knowing it is not “forever”, which somehow enhances my experience of the visit (short or long).
To be an observer of another cultural “box”. It is never so obvious how you are affected by the culture you were brought up in, as when you meet another cultural system. And it need not be in a country far away. I see clear differences (in some ways) between Sweden and Norway or Sweden and Denmark. It really gives me a valuable perspective of life; how different cultural “truths” can really (in one way) both be good or meaningful or acceptable. For instance, cultural differences how to hold a funeral or how to celebrate a wedding. It can really be so unbelievably different - but still, who is to say what it “best”? When I get the chance to go a little outside my own box, I appreciate so much the diversity with us human beings.
To learn new things is truly to expand. I totally get the idea of The Source dividing itself to expand itself, through insights and experiences. To learn or experience new things is so enriching! It is truly to be able to expand my own mind, mix it with the minds of the people I meet, and come out of it as somewhat richer, somewhat more complex in my understanding. It is not only a cultural learning, it can be anything from walking in a totally new forest and see a new kind of tree for the first time to tasting new food. I really love all new insights, how silly they might be. (In Turkey airport they spell WC/toilets “tuvaletler”… it is so funny, because it is so near the Swedish word: “toaletter”. That is how silly I can get!)
So. Wisdom’s Walk. Walking and walking and getting closer my wisdom. :)