Hearing I can’t do something, tends to get under my skin. No, it doesn’t just get under my skin. It makes my blood boil. Suzy, you can’t do that. Suzy, don’t say that. Alert, alert, redheaded temperature is rising. I have never been one to listen to people tell me what to do, especially when they tell me I can’t do something.
What's that you say? I can't do something? Pardon my glare
Perhaps others have heard, “Oh you can’t go there. You wouldn’t be able survive in (fill in destination here).” I don’t know what I have strapped across my face, but watch me. I’m going. I don’t doubt many also hear these “can’ts” when it comes to travel. Friends, family, co-workers, or even just acquaintances that don’t even know you, may say you wouldn’t be able to “handle” some destination. All I can do is disagree. Just as there is no “I” in team, there is no “can’t”, “couldn’t possibly”, or “no way José” in travel.
By definition, travel means to make a journey, typically of some length. The meaning of the word has changed somewhat over time. What used to be considered hard and difficult is now something we do for pleasure, discovery, and work. However, with erupting volcanoes disrupting airspace and airlines not allowing bathroom breaks, perhaps the meaning of the word is changing yet again. Travel can be difficult, but it can also be an enjoyable experience. For me, sometimes the difficult aspects to travel are the most enjoyable. Those moments where you do something you would never do at home, eat some strange fish or insect you would never consider eating, chat with an interesting stranger for hours prove to be some of my greatest travel moments.
I can do it! Saving drowning cherubs in Italy
No one can say you can’t go somewhere. Of course, governments may put up blockades to some places out of concern for safety, which shouldn’t be glazed over. However, it is up to the person as to where they want to go, what they want to see, and how they want to go about doing it. Those that live cautious lives will not be venturing to the Middle East anytime soon. No judgment here, but anyone that wants to go to places outside their comfort zone, should never be told they can’t.
I was recently having dinner when one of my friends questioned whether I would be able to go to Cambodia. She drilled me if I could eat fish for breakfast. She questioned my ability to live in close quarters. She laughed at me being able to shower with just a bucket of water, probably thinking I’m still that 14 year old from high school that just had to curl her hair everyday. Rather than sinking into the seat of the booth, I quickly replied without hesitation “No, travel is all about stepping outside of your known to the unknown. If it is not, then it is not travel.” These are the words I condone to anyone that has heard can’t and travel in the same sentence.
I guess I like to think when you travel, different facets of your personality you didn’t know existed spill out just as your belongings do after first opening your baggage claimed bag. You are faced with trying situations. You are faced with enjoyable situations. How you deal with them may be completely different than how people perceive you at home.
Bumper-cars with Italian preteens? Sure, why not?
Throughout my travels, I found myself jumping off of cliffs in Sicily, eating “mystery meat” as my host family laughed about bunnies and horses, mountain biking with the greatest of difficulty through 3 feet of mud as the rest of my group biked with the greatest of ease, showering in the muds of Ireland, trying a Mai Tai and hating it in Hawaii, living in a hallway without a door in the boonies of Italy, and accidentally stealing from an London theater at 8 years old. I might not have enjoyed all of these moments, but I remember them ever so clearly. By doing things I would never consider at home, I have become a stronger traveler. No, I have not been everywhere or tried everything outside the box, but I will continue to challenge myself when it comes to travel. As I have proved I can throw back octopus with two bites, I think I’ll manage when whatever outside the box travel situation presents itself.
Climb a volcano? Would love to! Mount Etna in Sicily
All I can do is encourage those considering travel to just go. No one can tell you that you won’t do well in a certain geographic zone. Prove to people that your personality is especially not limited when it comes to travel. If you have the personality and mindset of someone willing to take a chance on travel, nothing can stop you.
Have you challenged yourself with travel? I would love to hear your travel feats in the comment box below.
Yup, get out there and do it. I’m about to (again) and can’t wait.
You can doooo it!
Suzy, I’ve meant to say this before, but I always love your facial expressions in your photos 🙂
Kudos to you for challenging those around you to think in new ways. Their questions, concern, or lack of understanding may not make it seem that way, but the more people who they encounter like you, they more they may begin to ask themselves why they aren’t trying something new!
I want to eat fish for breakfast everyday! Reading this has made me want to run of somewhere right now and do something strange or different and I think that was kind of the point.
Can’t and shouldn’t shouldn’t be confused. It like probable and possible. Like you shouldn’t go to Hillbrow in Johannesburg at night because you will probably end up in trouble, That is not saying you Can’t go to Hillbrow at night and possibly nothing will happen.
Suzy, what a great post!!! I think part of the reason I started travelling (besides my curiosity!) was in defiance against all the friends, family and teachers who said you won’t, you can’t or you shouldn’t!!! Although they never seem to learn that i don’t listen to them and still say the exhact same thing everytime I go away (not that is ever stops me) LOL. When I did my first ever trip to Europe I was a vegitarian bcos that’s how I was brought up, Mum said don’t your dare try meat! Well needless to say i’m now a fully fledged carnivore! Haha
You just have to go with the flow with travel, be open minded and don’t let the things that would normally hold you back at home stop you from experiencing new things!!!
Amen. What doesn’t kill you, leaves you badly wounded and with a great story. 🙂
Love this post Suzy! I’m currently getting ready to start saving for travel after I graduate but while I have some doubts I’m also preparing for the looks that I’ve started to get from people when I tell them my plans. Some have been very supportive but others are just flabbergasted. It’s important to know to me that the travel blogging community is supportive too.
Richard, I LOVE that! Whenever I get lost or do something silly and my friends are freaking out I just say “It will make a great story later!” 🙂
Great post Suzy. I definitely had naysayers saying my trip would be too expensive or that I couldn’t do it on my own. I definitely was a lot stronger and braver while I was traveling, especially in talking to strangers. I was more confident in starting conversations with people and meeting new people is one of the best parts of travel.
Sometimes the ‘can’t’s can be useful, pushing you into something that you might have been hesitant to do. A drive to do something just to prove you can, it kills fear and hesitation which is great.
My friends warned that I couldn’t just pick up and move to Europe knowing noone without a job or house. Haha, I did it and have been here 2 years now. best decision of my life. Been traveling from my new home base.
This post has won a Tiptop5 blog award
http://tip2top.co.za/blog/awards/weekly-tiptop5-travel-website-award/
Ok, seriously, I think we might be the same person. A huge reason that I decided to make the leap to move to France? I told my best friend that I wanted to, and she laughed at me, and said that I always say that but I never would. I booked a plane ticket the next week.
It’s not necessarily the best personality trait, but trying to do whatever people say I can’t (or won’t, or shouldn’t) has certainly led to some great experiences 🙂
The first thing that popped into my head when I read this was John Locke on LOST: “Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” It’s got to be a redhead thing. I hate it when people tell me what I can and can’t do, too. 🙂 I love what you touched upon here, that people in our lives back home have a certain perception of us that may not match our travel personalities at all. So they assume we won’t like something based on what they think they know of us, and it turns out they don’t really know us that well at all.
I am a new visitor and loved your post. I think the photo you identified as go-carting is actually bumper cars unless Italian preteens call it something different than here in the U.S. 🙂
@Melissa McKee Thanks for visiting! My mistake. Although they might call it something different than bumper cars. Something to look into…
At nearly 40 years old, I can confidently say there isn’t one thing I like about traveling. I’ve went to China once and walked the Great wall, saw the Ming tombs, etc. Was it interesting and would I do it again? Sure – if I could walk down the block for it and maybe pay $50 admission. But $3000 and all the hassles and worries about being away from home and responsibilities for a week… OMG hell no, never again – not for anything. I’ve been to Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands. Do I like laying out on the beach and hikes through the jungle, sure… but maybe for an hour or 2 and then I’d like to get back to whatever I was doing in my garage. Even if I hit the lottery one day, $3000 will always be a lot of money. I think about what that kind of money can do regardless of how much I might have to burn. The thought of blowing that kind of money on something as fleeting as a 1-week getaway seems rather sickening to me.
I absolutely agree with u! I am the same, if someone tells me not to do it, i have to do it to prove him that i can.I keep on challenging myself all the time when travel, apart from trying weird food as im very conservative just about my eating habits.