We all have certain obligations in this life. Complications that limit how many things we can do versus how many things we might want to do. Whether it is money, the amount of PTO we have from our job, obligations with pets, kids, taking care of loved ones, or just a lack of inspiration to go do all the things we used to think we wanted to do, we all have our limits. But whatever we get to do in life, we should always keep in mind that anything we do needs to be on our terms. We do still get to make our own rulebook for certain things.
I have been thinking about this because of all the Facebook and Instagram groups I belong to for professional reasons. So many people doing the van life thing or hiking or traveling to other places share one thing in common: selfies. I loathe selfies. Is it because of some deeply rooted loathing for myself? No. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I really would rather be enjoying the moment, or taking cool photographs of the things I am seeing, rather than documenting the fact that I am the one doing them.
Selfies just aren’t my thing. Maybe it’s a generational thing. I am at the tail end of GenX, where our version of a selfie was holding a disposable film camera out at arm’s length and holding the button down until we heard it go click. In those days, taking a picture of yourself was almost grounds for a film developer giving you a discount on pictures because you likely didn’t mean to snap a picture of yourself. You were supposed to point the lens at the cool things you wanted to remember–not something you could just look at for free anytime you passed by a mirror.
When smartphones came about, I was always baffled by the numbers of young women contorting for their back-cam, making kissy faces or trying to get everything in the shot. Then the guys started doing it. I thought it was a monumental waste of time. Honestly, I still do, but that might just be the differences in generations. Before you tell me you aren’t on my lawn, hear me out.
Selfies are just as obnoxious as that person who brags about how many stamps they have in their passport, especially if they only ever stopped at a port of call on a cruise ship for the sole purpose of adding a stamp to their passport. Every little dock town on a cruise is going to look just about like every other one. They probably buy all their stuff at the same supplier. Just because you have that stamp doesn’t mean you enriched yourself one bit through the experience. You’re probably just as insufferable and shallow as you ever were.
Just because I don’t have a photo of myself taken with my phone at every stop along the way doesn’t mean I haven’t had the experience of visiting a place. Just because my dating profile would look pretty sparse if I ever started one again shouldn’t make me any less appealing to someone who actually understood that I’m on a trip for the experience, not to pad my social resume.
It’s perfectly okay to do things how you want to do them. If you hate having your picture taken, if you just forget to take pictures of your food because you are too busy inhaling it, or if you think it’s a waste of time to set up a tiny tripod to get that iconic picture of yourself sitting on a rock on a cliff’s edge or the shore of a lake for your Facebook groups, it’s okay.
Live the life you want to life. Don’t live the life everyone expects to see you living.
Other Resources for Would Be Travelers
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Check out the link for Origin, which made a damn fine pair of boots for my travels and living on the road. Use the code HARRIS10 for 10% off your total purchase. I’ve been wearing mine for nearly 4 years and they are still taking me where I need to go. Fight some burnout by taking a hike, or walking through a new city you want to explore. In the nomad lifestyle, your boots can make all the difference in how far you can go.
Want to have an adventure all your own? It all starts with Booking.com. Book flights, trips, and lodging accommodations with this link to Booking.com. Living on the road requires a lot of self-care, and sometimes it’s nice to check into a hotel for the night instead of living in your bus. Get your life balance back!
For my van life adventures, you’ll want to check out my storefront on Wayward. From cookstoves to solar systems, these are items you won’t want to tackle living on the road without them. Another way you can Support the show is to BuyMeACoffee. Donations are a great way to show your appreciation for the site. Though I’m sure instead of a coffee it will probably get me a gallon of gas.