Have you ever paused to wonder why we feel the need to travel? If you haven’t considered it, I invite you to ask yourself: Why do we suddenly yearn to go somewhere? Why do we travel at all? Perhaps some of you might wonder why I have chosen to start this article with such a question.
A Journey Like No Other – Let us talk about travel. Why do we feel this pull? It is because our entire life is a journey—a journey that began the very moment we took our first breath. Yet, when we hear the word “travel,” our minds immediately drift to the idea of going on a vacation. But that is only an option for those who have the freedom to move as they please; most people are deprived of this luxury. However, what people often fail to realize—or perhaps refuse to acknowledge—is that everyone is already on a journey. Whether it is a journey through personal struggles or an ongoing battle, every individual is navigating a unique path.
As for me, my current journey is caught in the midst of the kind of struggle where people often give up—a struggle against one’s own. I, too, am caught in this web. I am yet to see whether I will complete this journey or be forced to stop. Like me, so many others are trapped in this same space.
Where does this journey truly begin, and why do we all get trapped in it? The answer lies in the regressive mindset of society. This isn’t limited to any one class; people from every walk of life are entangled in it.
True travel is not just about moving from one place to another or visiting a few popular tourist spots. That is hardly travel at all. Real travel is that which gives us a new perspective on life. It can be external, but it is equally, if not more, about the internal journey. I mention this inner journey because if we cannot explore the depths of our own selves, we will never truly become who we are meant to be. We would simply live our lives as puppets. Is that acceptable? Are we content to spend our lives dancing to the tunes of others?
Our internal journey is the most difficult one, yet if we complete it, we reach the very purpose for which we were born into this world. But we often shy away from it. We settle for the surface-level definition of travel, visiting limited places without ever really searching for the kind of transformation that could change our lives—and through that change, improve the lives of others.
In this society, there are so many who dream of traveling but lack the freedom to do so. This is especially true for women. Whenever they consider setting out, the wall of societal orthodoxy stands in their way. Why has this society created such narrow boundaries for them?
As for the internal journey, one needs knowledge to undertake it. Even there, boundaries have been set: how much to study, how long to study, and what to study. Without the knowledge to distinguish between right and wrong, we cannot embark on our inner quest. It is just like a diver who, unaware of the ocean’s depth, cannot hope to dive as deep as they truly could.
We need knowledge for our internal journey, regardless of which section of society we belong to. Whether a journey is internal or external, if we commit to it, change will begin—a change that this society desperately needs. So, start your journey. Whatever form it takes, just begin. By doing so, you can help liberate those who are still shackled by the regressive mindset of this society.
Will you join me on this journey? If you are willing, start your own today—whether internal or external.
Let us embark on a new journey together.