It is astounding how you can cross man made border
lines and still see a physical change in the landscape, it´s almost as if the
earth is in acquiescence. The realms in which we all comfortably belong will change
as we pass through the invisible barriers in space that divide giants. The
monstrous historical tales of nationalities and how in one way or another we
all interconnect become apparent as we dive deeper into foreign territory. We
recognise what we see and we can relate to it, but it still leaves an odd taste
when mixed with the food you are used to digesting. In essence humanity as a
whole can all be taught and raised the same but it is the earth that decides
what language we speak and what culture we are meant to adhere to.
Once when looking out of my window at a tree in
the garden I couldn’t help but have a philosophical moment and saw in the tree
a symbol of the world as we know it. The tree grows wiser with the seasons and
allows its creatures (leaves) life and death. In death the leaves return to the
ground thus helping to refuel the cycle we all adhere to. That is the way it
works and you can twist that anyhow you want to fit in with your own ideals. I
know my science however so keep on reading. I would like to dedicate this piece
of writing to travelling. You may wonder what it has to do with travelling and
I will tell you, everything. Unless you are an unfortunate businessman living
out of hotels and journeying from office to office we all like the idea of
travelling. Travelling on our own terms anyway because when that happens we
travel for our own good. We do it to grow and feel and learn and for that
reason there is no better way to learn about yourself and thus become who you
naturally are. When you become an adult in most cases you are on your own. You
no longer have someone to teach and lecture you in the ways of the world. What
you do learn on your own however is that you have a new teacher – Life.
In my eyes these elements are one in the same
whether it is Life, Earth or Nature herself. It is there, you can feel it when
you close your eyes and ask a question. It is there to punish you severely when
you make a mistake but it is also there to embrace you when you begin to
understand. It offers you those special moments of clarity when it just all
makes sense but these moments are short lived because just when you think you
know what it is all about the lesson changes and you are faced with the reality
that you do in fact know nothing at all. It´s elusive! What you begin to
understand however is that no matter how much you may excel at your chosen
path, you need to have at least a basic understanding in all others to achieve
any form of enlightenment. Unless you are stupid of course because it is true,
ignorance is bliss.
The Earth is like a textbook on anything and
everything you want to know. Each country is a chapter, each state is a topic
and each letter is a creature (I say creature because I much prefer animals to
humans, we are all one in the same). You can analyse and experience every part
of it and that is how you learn. If you stay in one place you will never reach
your potential, you will never be as great or as wise as you can be. You need
to get out there and touch it, you need to feel and breathe it because when you
are there and it reaches across the chasm that lies in front of all of us,
grabs your shoulder and gently shares its existence with you; you feel blessed.
When I begin to doubt such things and I don’t have
the ability to travel or my mind refuses to open I like to take a walk outside
on a star filled night and take a look up. The power of creation that made all
of us and every atom is out there. I am not necessarily talking about God, in
fact you can call it what you want. But it is out there and it knows, and we
have all forgotten about it.
About the Author: Antony
J. Hayes is a British/South African freelance journalist
who currently resides in Norway. Antony believes there is no better way
to find fuel for writing than travelling. His definition of life is similar to
that of experience, and when he experiences life, he likes to write about it
and share his perspective with the world. Other than travel writing, Antony is
also professional in small business marketing and creative copywriting. www.antony-hayes.com
