Should Paris Attacks Change Your Thoughts on Travel?
Much like the rest of the world, I was in total shock and disbelief when I heard the news about theParis attacks on Friday November 13th 2015. Many friends and family members reached out to me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram with concern for my safety, as they know that I’m currently living abroad for the next 6 months. I was touched to know that they were concerned for my safety and glad I was able to let them know that I was safe and sound in Granada, Spain. Sadly, that wasn’t the case for over 100 souls that were lost in the coordinated Paris attacks at bars, restaurants, concert halls & sport stadiums throughout the city.
When friends and family contacted me, many of them wanted to know if I feared for my safety while abroad and if the recent events made me want to come home. My answer to each person was a resounding NO! Why these terrorists decided to do what they did is beyond my understanding. The one thing that I do know is that one of their goals is to inflict fear, doubt and confusion in the hearts and minds of the people/country they’ve targeted. This post is not about them. It’s about you and every other wanderluster out there with a fervent passion and burning desire to travel the world to see and experience things beyond their backyard.
Here are 3 reasons why you shouldn’t allow the recent events in Paris, Beirut & Kenya stop you from curing your wanderlust:
Nothing life changing or new with this one but if you’ve heard it once before, you’ve heard it a thousand times. Life is too short to be stuck in a job you hate or a bad relationship. It is also way too short to not pursue whatever passion you may have. If you love to travel, then damn it TRAVEL! Go and see the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Walk the streets of Munich, Germany and drink way too many beers with people whose names you won’t remember but never forget. Drink water from a mountain spring near the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Granada, Spain. Simply put, live your life as you normally would and tell the terrorists to shove it! There’s an entire world out there for you to see and they’re not about to stop you!
You may think this is the same as the reason above but I assure you it is different. Many people have expressed that they will wait until the craziness simmers down from the Paris attacks or perhaps in the next 5 to 10 years, things won’t be too bad. Yeah… I got some news for you, my friend. Unless your name is Jesus Christ AND your mother’s name is Mary, there is not a single, solitary soul on this Earth who can say what the world will look like 5 to 10 years from now. Heck, you might not live to see the day when the craziness simmers down. Then what? The only thing you can control is YOU and your attitude towards recent events. Time waits for no man. Before your knees & joints start popping and the walk around the block wears you out, travel now when you have your health and the strength to do it.
This quote from the Former First Lady of the United States perfectly sums out what life is all about: living, experiencing and savoring each moment you’re blessed with. What are you waiting for?
There’s no need to allow these recent Paris attacks and others keep you from your passion to travel. The sad truth is that these attacks can happen anywhere, even in your own city. This hasn’t stopped you from working and living there, has it? Travel the world to gain an understanding of how other people live. This is one of the critical life lessons that I cover in my book, Blink & You Will Miss It: 30 Life Lessons in 30 Years. This quick and easy read highlights how particular lessons can help you navigate life from one second to the next & helps you determine your end goal and steps to take to get there. You can purchase your very own copy here. When you change your plans to travel and see the world because of something and/or someone outside of your control, guess what? The bad guys win and no one wants the bad guys to win. Nothing is worse than that. That’s why you have to make every minute count.
What are your thoughts on this? Have your feelings towards travel changed at all? Be sure to comment below and share this post using the social media links below.
‘Til next time,
Q the Cruzan Foodie
Good blog post – life is indeed too short