There are those among you who believe that wanderers are lost souls. On the contrary, we are explorers. Discoverers. Seekers. Lovers of beauty and adventure.
We go for the sake of going, to feel the sting of hot summer sun on our faces and hear the howling wind in high branches on cold autumn evenings, to know tall mountain peaks and valleys lower than we could have imagined before we stood on their edges and gazed out over their wide expanses.
We go to meet colorful characters along the way, descendants of priests and nomads, shamans themselves, dreamers and keepers of the world’s sacred places.
We know loneliness and exhilaration, peace and wonder at the marvels of time and age, art and nature. We have seen them with our own two eyes.
We set out when we feel the pull of the unknown, the far-off, the unimagined. We long to pack into this lifetime more than is possible, to see it all. It is a quest never finished, not realized, a quest for the sake of forever questing. It ends in us only with our last breaths and continues in the travelers we have taught and inspired.
Not all who wander are lost. We are brave souls, archivers and aficionados, living our dreams, following a call from deep within. We beg of you, each and every last one, “Now is the time. The world is a magical place laid out before you. What’s your adventure?”
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen.
I am so happy I was able to explore and wander all over Jordan with YOU.
Hey, thanks! Will get you those photos soon. I need a few from y’all, too.
beautiful.
I love it when I find fellow wanderers! I followed the breadcrumbs Swirly Girl left on Twitter.
I hope to be able to travel with you again, you are such an inspiration to me.
i’m a gypsy at heart and reading your post has just brought me right back to my deep longing for adventure and exploring! But with two little bubba’s, perhaps now is not my time. I will just have to live vicariously through you! So glad i found your place here – a beautiful retreat for me
Hi Donna, Donna, Heather and Lisa. Welcome here! Though I travel constantly and live abroad, I am so inspired by our recent trip to Jordan I promise to post regularly. I hope you’ll send me comments on what you like, questions, anything…
Lisa, do you know Letha S. of Wrap Up Africa in Uganda?
Reb – This totally reminds me of the writing you used to do at the Trident many, MANY years ago with me and Juliette. Beautiful. Well done, my friend.
Thanks Beth! It felt like that writing. Woo hoo. I think in Jordan I found my voice again. I think for the first time in 16 years I am not coming to CO this year. WIll have to post about that, too… because am so torn between old and new, past and future. It is hard to move on, even all these years later. Miss you. Much love, B.
Lovely, well said.
A gracious and timeless country Jordan is indeed. xo
Lovely essay, Rebecca. Am glad you found many things on the journey to inspire you.