You comparing the site to crack totally just made me giggle, FYI. WELCOME! Always, always glad to connect with new people.

I can't advocate for travel enough. We really have no idea of all of the beauty that the world has to offer us, until we get out from our little corner of the earth and go explore. It's such a wonderful, soul-enriching, growth experience and just thinking about it makes me nostalgic. For our youth, travel shouldn't be a luxury–it should be mandatory for educational, professional and personal purposes alike. You know…..that just gave me the best non-profit idea……….

Anyway, thank you so much for stopping by, commenting and getting involved in the conversation! I appreciate your kind words more than you know.

Hugs!

Somehow, I stumbled upon your site this morning while sitting at work – obviously, not working. Unreal…I'm like a crack addict with some new rocks…I can't get enough. You have an awesome thing going here – keep it up! My husband and I just returned from two weeks in Europe, and ever since we returned, I feel like a new person came home on that 9-hour flight. Your line, “other ways of life aren’t failed attempts at being you; they are other human beings being them,” hit me right between the eyes – wow, what a beautiful statement. I'm a devoted new reader – guaranteed.

Thanks again for the comment. Cheers!

I am always trying to explain to people how everyone has their own camera angle and, if you're not being viscous or ignorant in your viewing, each one is valid. But you put it so succinctly with this line:

“Other ways of life aren’t failed attempts at being you; they are other human beings being them.”

This is one of the best sentences I've read from you so far.

A whole box full of Kudos to you!

I'm incredibly envious; for a long time, I've been envisioning a small village in Italy myself. Italy because I've got roots there, and small village because it's the best way to get to really know a people, as I'm sure you're discovering! My favorite line that you wrote here is “everyone seems so alive.” Why do you think that is? I'd wager a bet it's because they're more focused on human interactions than gaining ownership of x,y,z. Thoughts? I'd love to hear more about it. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your comment. On my way to check out your blog now.

I understand what you're saying, but I think you're missing the point here. We AREN'T tolerant of other people's lifestyles and opinions because we DO believe in absolute truths. I didn't say they don't exist–they definitely exist in our minds. I'm just questioning whether or not they should, and to that I answer no. Yes, everytime we disagree with sometime, we are asserting our own truth. I didn't mean to imply that they don't exist in your head….they do. I mean to say that they don't exist in actuality, because everyone has their own. And if everyone has his/her own, then how can there be only one? There can't be.

And wherever you go in the world, murder, rape, oppression, cheating, lying –these are all all defined differently. So again, these are relative truths. In one place, what constitutes oppression is defined differently than in another place. These are all relative definitions, not absolute ones.

However, I do agree very much with your last point, and I make that same point in my Operation: Get Excited, where I encourage people to get out in their communities and explore the world we have available to us….making the point that travel isn't always necessary (although I still would advocate it).

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts – I hope I cleared up some of the confusion on what I meant by this post!

one more thought, travel is a great, awesome way to see other cultures, you don't have to travel to countries to experience enlightment. spend a night in compton usa, visit an indian reservation, spend some time with the homeless “village” in your local city.