The other bad Travelers is a series on this blog where we function other backpackers who influence us not just with their capability to travel on a budget plan however likewise the tales as well as lessons they pick up along the method as well as show the world. It’s an honor to have Jamie Bowlby-Whiting of A fantastic huge frightening world as our very first featured traveler. Here’s his motivating story.

As a kid I was scared of dinosaurs. I was likewise scared of germs. as well as the dark. as well as cannibals, spiders, dirt, being alone, being in crowds… quite much anything as well as everything. however it isn’t fun being scared. It feels like you are falling, never going to hit the ground. It’s the feeling you get when you trip, however it goes on as well as on as well as on as well as on to ensure that you begin to feel constantly unwell. Nobody, NOBODY, wishes to feel like that.

As a child, I was scared of whatever – this is my household dog
As I got older, I started to realise exactly how these fears were affecting me adversely as well as inhibiting my extremely pleasure of life itself. I tried to stop my fears, however you can’t just stop being scared: our minds don’t work like that. Instead, I concentrated on accepting my fears as well as discovering to offer with them. ‘There most likely isn’t a dinosaur outside my bedroom door, so I’ll open it slowly as well as double check, then leave my room.’ ‘Touching the grass without gloves most likely won’t make me sick, so I will laundry my hands later..’ as well as so on.

I just recently came up with an analogy for fear. I phone call it the bit pink ghost analogy. It goes like this:

“Fear is a bit pink ghost that has the capability to modification into any type of type more terrifying than your worst nightmares might even dream up. He can cripple you, taking everything. When he is around, you are falling constantly, a bottomless journey of no end. You have three options of exactly how you can offer with this bit pink ghost. Firstly, you can run as well as you can hide. He will always be chasing you, he will always be looking for you. someday he will discover you. Secondly, you can punch him in the face. fear roars at you, you roar right back. It is a simple matter of who roars loudest. as well as lastly, you can accept him as well as you can hold his hand. You walk with fear as well as you accept him for the bit pink ghost that he is, always understanding that he is there, however keeping him in your sight.” [Excerpt from The boy who Was afraid of the World]

I select now to keep fear in my sight – to hold his hand. Yet as I get older, fears modification as well as new ones appear. ‘What will I do with my life?’ ‘What occurs if I run out of money?’ In 2012, I was working as a instructor as well as not enjoying my task or the location where I was living. against whatever that my mind as well as body implored me to do, I decided to stop my job, leave my apartment, as well as begin hitchhiking around Europe. By my calculation, I figured out that I had sufficient money to travel for at least a month, perhaps two if I was careful.

When I started, I almost stop within five minutes since I was so nervous. fortunately a vehicle stopped extremely quickly as well as provided me a ride. On the very first night, I was left on the outskirts of Brussels at four into the morning as well as had to rock myself to sleep in the garden of an abandoned building. By morning, I was exhausted, however unharmed. This made me recognize that I didn’t requirement to be afraid of sleeping outside anymore – exactly how likely is it that somebody terrible would discover me as well as do poor things? Not very.

Best space with a view in Paris
Hitchhiking in Italy

Over the complying with months, my journey continued. everybody offered me nothing however kindness. Strangers took me into their homes, people who chosen me up on the side of the road offered me great conversation as well as refreshments: suddenly the world had ended up being a wonderful location full of opportunity. After three months I hadn’t paid when for accommodation, I had learnt about foraging as well as skipping (reclaiming sealed food from supermarket bins), as well as made buddies that will last a lifetime. before I understood it, I had been on the road for a number of months without completing my funds. There were days when I travelled far, ate well, as well as slept comfortably without costs a single cent (on a later trip across Europe – mainly Italy – I spent an typical of €2.36 each day for 9 days while gorging myself on tasty food as well as visiting both beaches as well as mountains). I now feel that my eyes have been opened.

Notice the Black as well as White indication above My Head
3 Hitchhikers in one little van in Turkey
Several months into this journey, I satisfied somebody who was like I had when been – they were dependent upon money as well as stability as well as did not trust in strangers. somehow speaking to me persuaded them to provide up their job, their home, their whole life, as well as hitchhike as I was. in spite of their preliminary fears as well as similar lack of funds, they insurance claim (to this day as well as beyond) that choosing to provide everything up was (and is) the very best decision they have ever made.

It took a long time coming, however all of these experiences have taught me one thing: You requirement neither money nor fearlessness to travel the world. All you requirement is a bit bit of wish as well as then to put one foot in front of the other. whatever else will autumn into place. The mantra I online by today is this (regardless of exactly how scared you are or exactly how much money you have): whatever will be OK. whatever is always OK. up until it’s not.

Get out there, have your adventure, as well as discover to like life. You won’t regret it.

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