Rice fields – Hoi An, Vietnam How I felt didn’t change because of where I was – but, it grew my mind in ways sitting comfortably in my grey, velvet swivel chair in my home-office could not. Now, I am not telling you to quit your job or your lives to travel the world – this is not realistic in our economy. However, I encourage you to read on, because what I learned is that you can feel inspired from the comfort of your own home – and that all starts with our minds, not where we need to be. Little is more People sitting on small plastic stools down the alleys of Hanoi seemed basic, there were no signs saying that you needed a permit, no security guards on the doors of bars or pubs, no entrance fees, no need for a ticket in advance, no QR codes to order your food or drink. Just take a seat on any stall that you find, and that’s it. I didn’t feel stressed or underdressed, I didn’t feel intimidated by people around me. It all felt so basic – but the atmosphere was not basic at all. It was vibrant, it was easy, it was fun. Community amongst the locals and travellers alike was clear, there was no judgement. Just laughter and the slush of drinks as they cheersed each other, language was not needed, body language was enough. Travellers tear apart the nation’s popular Banh Mi, chatting away or enjoying their own company, without the need of knife and fork. There were no signs of worrying about fitting in, everyone looked so natural as they embraced this bustling city. Crossing the roads making way for the never-ending mopeds. Travellers hopped on the back, arms around their driver so willingly, so comfortably as they chatted away on route to their next destination. Nomads and expats joined in on the community everywhere we went. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia – bars and restaurants, quaint little cafes offering painting, yoga, meditation, cooking classes, walk or run clubs, and everything else you could ever imagine down every street. Co-working spaces for all nations. Comfortable nooks for reading or eating, laughing or crying. Whatever you needed seemed a short walk away at very little price. Chatting amongst people felt so easy – “where are you from?”, “have you tried this place yet?”, “do you mind helping me out?” – another normal occurrence, no worry, no judgement. Community seemed to lead to happiness in places with little money, barely anything noticeably extravagant, but it was all people seemed to need. Banh Mi 25 – Hanoi, Vietnam Community and support I realised how little this surrounded me at home – my grey swivel chair and the odd coffee in town, a quick gym session. Keeping to myself unless I passed someone I know. Afraid of judgement, afraid of doing something wrong. This was my norm at home. Everyone seemed so busy, our routines became so fixed. I felt inspired by my travels. I wanted to do all the cooking classes I could. Buy strawberries from the local sellers. I did exactly what I needed to do, without pressure, without judgement. I wanted to speak to people. I wanted to know their stories, where they were from, why they were here. My mind had expanded beyond the fear that restricted me at home. “So, why did you leave your home to travel?” The people I met along the way gave me the same answer over and over again: I needed a break, I needed a change from home. That’s exactly why I flew across the world, too. It suddenly crossed my mind that almost everyone I spoke to left their lives seeking more, wanting to feel inspired, wanting to find purpose. Everyone I left at home felt the same – “if I could do that, I would.” Why is it so normal to feel this way? People fly across the entire world, quit or take an extended break from their jobs, all for a change, all to get away from the comfortable routine of home. It makes so much sense. But in a way, it didn’t. The fact it makes so much sense to everyone I speak to, friends, family, people at home – we all longed for more, but, we don’t act on it? Instead, we normalise wanting more as a never-ending thought, unrealistic, unnatural even. Not everyone may feel this way, some people may feel inspired in what they’re doing. Happy with where they are. But, the majority of people I speak to, or work with, are seeking change. And why? Well let me tell you – because we’re human, and our environments have become too inhuman. Locals selling strawberries – Dalat, Vietnam The biggest learning of all Billions of years ago, we formed communities that would travel miles together to experience purposeful change. Forging for food, growing what they needed. Expanding their families. Now, we mostly stay within 10km of our home for most of the year. We use modes of transport to visit our communities, we work from home, we sit longer than we need to, we use apps to speak to each other, we rely on entertainment through easy, costly items. We take breaks when we can, not when we need to. We go to the doctors or finally speak to someone when the final straw is pulled. We wait for inspiration to find us. It is no wonder the nation is suffering. Inspiration doesn’t live in geography. Change doesn’t have to happen because of the final straw. It lives in how we engage with the world – whenever, or wherever we are. Things that helped me (and might help you too): Balance isn’t just about getting more done Having a routine is good because it brings clarity, structure, and a sense of direction. But what many of us miss in the rush of life is a balanced routine. One that includes space not
