On the Road Less Traveled : A Personal Essay on the Path of Most Resistance and the Adventure That is Life.

In a world that’s getting smaller by the day, it’s tempting to stick to what we know. To clam up, to cloister ourselves and fawn over the pearls of what we already know to be true. But in this era of fleeting thoughts and lightning-fast ideas, where a journey across the globe is just a click away, there’s a call for the bold. A call for the adventurers, the Ibn Battutas, Xuanzangs and Gertrude Bells of today.

I found echoes of their spirit in the people I met on my journeys. These modern explorers share more than just the road; they share stories of fleeting moments that hold more value than time itself.

I ventured into the world on a one-way ticket to Africa and a degree in archaeology and creative writing. That was back in 2012. I joined an excavation on a Nabatean site in Jordan, falling in love with the Jordaniann NOW, the Bedouin now. Let’s not forget the past but never shall we neglect the present in history’s favor.

I relearned the value of writing. Not just to share my own tale or to learn from others, but to ignite that spark in others. The spark that pushes you to put on those boots, hit the road, and embrace the unknown. It was when I found myself alone in a foreign land, where my words were as alien as the moo of a cow, and my culinary adventures were often a mystery, that life’s passion hit me like a blazing sun.

The taste of the unknown was tantalizing, and I craved more. And that, my friends, is exactly why you need to embark on your own journey.

Let’s break free from the chains of fear. Our world is out there, ready to unravel its mysteries to anyone daring enough to ask. It will introduce you to the pulse of distant cultures and unfamiliar languages. You’ll savor strange foods and indulge in delightful cuisines, face perils and discover countless blessings.

So, let’s mark today as the first day of the rest of our lives. Take your power back from the hum-drum grind of mainstream grind culture. Realize that the same vapor toxicity that drives mindless consumerism is founded upon fabricated notions of success. You are already good enough. Any additional contributions are excess to the wealth that is you and just remember that. I’m trying to. We deserve empowerment. Let’s take that leap without peering over the edge. I’m here to encourage you to shed those training wheels and embrace the road less taken.

Ready? 行きましょ！ Yallah, let’s go!

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