One thing I hear a lot when I tell people that Chad and I are going to travel full time and spend much of it off grid is, “That sounds amazing, but I could never do it. I like hot showers too much.”
It strikes me as an odd thing to say because to me, those things are not of equal value. With every choice comes sacrifice. And with choices that involve growth, those sacrifices are inevitably going to be ones of comfort. When uttering that statement, are they thinking about the richness, excitement, the chance to connect and learn, discover new people, and places? Are they considering this, and then determining that, nah, a 15-minute indulgent shower is worth more? They’re content to dutifully remain where they are, just so they can take their time when exfoliating? I Mean, perhaps I’d understand more if their answer was something along the lines of, “I could never do that. I enjoy my tepid baths reading Tolstoy by oil lamp. I swig Tsarskaya and listen to Tchaikovsky’s Opus 49, punctuated indignantly with Barbara’s meows.”
Fact: Comfort zones are boring. Even if you smell nice.
I get it, that all sounds judgmental. I understand that stepping away from the routine to travel and live in a small confined space is not everyone’s idea of a good time. And one does not have to forego a daily multi-step showering process in order to learn new things and achieve fulfillment. However, this is just an example. I am sure there are a ton of others where instances of unequal value are compared and used as an explanation of why someone won’t be pushed. I could never do that because (insert flimsy reason here).
With this in mind, I am going to try and be more vigilant of how it shows up in my own life. I’m sure part of the challenge will be examining if it is truly how I feel. Is it an authentic value? Or is it fear-based; transplanted by society.
I will make a conscious effort to continuously see the infinite possibility and opportunity that surrounds us. And when faced with a chance to grow, if “I could never” shows up, I will question its validity.
And finally, I think it’s worth mentioning. A shower is part of our build. This Kat is not ready to be feral.
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE 