I want to write about what for me is one of the most painful parts of a full-time traveling lifestyle.
I want to share it partly as a reminder for myself, and partly because I want to show a part of full-time traveling that is not the usual happy mood I often see in social media and Ads.
Full-time traveling can be hard, it needs some internal strength.
For me, the most painful part is leaving amazing people behind.
While traveling I meet a lot of great people.
With some of those people, I create a profound bounding.
In just some days we become really close and share a lot about our past life, life view, and dreams.
When I have just some days to spend with someone to me there is no point in chit-chatting.
I learn to spot people I can connect with and I go straight to those and have a deep connection.
Some of those people are other travelers, some are locals. Some of those hosted me and treated me as part of their family, with some we shared difficult and great times during the travel, with some we become also intimate.
And then what?
Then is time to leave.
Is time to keep going on with the travel, with a lifestyle that is always in movement. Discover new places and new connections.
Most of the time I exchange contact with these people, we talk for some days updating each other about our lives. Sending pictures and so on.
Then new stuff happens in the life of both and the communication become less and less.
Until it stops altogether.
I didn't forget them. I bet they didn't forget me, but that is simply how it goes. Life goes on.
Leaving people behind
For me is still very painful to open my heart and soul, welcome people in my life, let them take space in it and then let them go.
To me is particularly painful to see our relationship evolving from "you are my everyday routine" to "I send you a message once in a while if I have time".
I thought I would get used to this feeling, I thought the more people I would meet, the more I would get used to it and that is just how it is.
My brain understands it very well and accepts this.
My body, and my heart in particular, still feel pain tho.
Sometimes is so difficult to leave a place and it leaves me maliconic for days.
I think this is particularly true for solo travelers since traveling with other people makes easier to keep each other busy and feel less of an empty feeling.
The good side of keep traveling is that leaving means going to a new place, and new places are exciting. Regardless if they are good or bad, better or worst, they always keep my mind busy.
People are what makes a place
Even if is painful, I'm so happy I learn to open up and truly connect with people.
Sometimes I see people traveling the world and spending most of the time in their vans.
Others exchange some words with locals but don't really take the time to listen and connect with these people they meet.
This is a pity because for example, so much can be gained from just hanging out in a farm garden and becoming part of the daily routine of the family running the farm.
I personally value more those moments than going to a museum or doing a hike.
Both are beautiful parts of travel but is just when I truly connect with the humans around me that I feel I'm actually learning something about a country and most important I feel I gain something which will make me grow as a human being.
Unfortunately, this time I have no good "How to" technique to overcome the pain I feel in those situations.
I also understand that connecting with people requires time.
Having four days to spend in a farm garden instead of exploring the surrounding is often not double if you have a couple of weeks.
I would still recommend you to try to save a bit of time in your travel to forget about time, forget about the tourist guide's top ten attraction list and just be there. Show interest in the life of people around you, I bet you will not regret it.
If I will discover how to deal with this painful feeling, I will def update the article ;)
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