A New Perspective Outside The Lines

Recently, I returned from my first ever trip overseas to Europe. I spent a few days in London, England and spent New Years in Edinburgh Scotland before returning to London on my way home. To be quite frank, the experience was definitely life changing to say the least. I knew it would be memorable but what I was anxiously looking forward to was embracing the energy of a place with so much culture and history to offer. My first night there was somewhat of a blur because I was suffering from serious jet leg and little to no sleep the previous 48 hours, but I could still feel a unique mysteriousness as I walked around the West End of London that evening.

Now before I revel in this entry I’d like to be clear that I’ve always been quite the outspoken critic of this beloved American culture of ours. Now don’t confuse my words or demeanor, that in no way means I hate this country, as many automatically get offended when I openly make criticisms of our government, societal nature, or overall perspective of the outside world. I just have a huge problem with our public education system, current government function, and this obsession our society has with poplar culture. Its been something I’ve felt deep down since grade school, and when I say grade school I literally mean 1st grade; as I’ve always had issues with the systematic infrastructure that makes up many of our institutions in this country.

With that being said, I’ve always been curious to know what life is like outside the United States, and how the we are seen from an outside perspective and a different point of view. I, like many who yearn to spend a life traveling around the world, want to know if its as amazing as I’ve heard and read about. Is it as beautiful as the pictures? What are the people like? What’s day to day life like? How do they see the world? How will such travels affect me as a person? So many questions, and only a fraction of a suitable amount of time to answer them.

Again, I knew this adventure would be memorable and magnificent to say the least, but what ended up occurring was a complete vibrational shift in my consciousness. After the first two days I was completely enthralled by the energy around me. The buildings, the people, the accents, and scenery, all of it was almost overwhelming. Every single day was euphoric, and every single day was a learning experience. More than anything I would have to say it was refreshing and enlightening. There were so many cultures, so many perspectives of life, and I came to a realization that my speculations were correct; that there is so much more out there than what is in front of us. And it gave me relief for the first time in such a long time.

There’s an unfortunate disposition we have as citizens of the United States of America. We’ve been conditioned to believe America is the greatest country on earth, and to be quite honest that thought has always bothered me. Its like, wait, there’s thousands of countries all over world with just as many cultures and civilizations, yet we’re this is as good as it gets??? Impossible. We aren’t the only country with freedom. We aren’t the only developed nation with democracy, electricity, cars, and running water. Its so naive and ignorant to think this is the only country that has something to contribute to the world. Yet many of us remain in this hypnotized state of conditioned thinking. And unfortunately, its quite expensive to travel abroad, many will never get the chance to experience life in another country. And that saddens me.

I think more than anything I was attracted to all the various cultures that mash into one another in a place like London or Edinburgh. I saw, met, and interacted with so many people from countries with their own history, their own story to tell about their place in the world, and their own perspective of the all-mighty United States and the citizens whom inhabit it. There was an intellectual overtone that guided all of my conversations and that in itself was enough to have me sold.  And it was then that I came to a realization that I now know I was born to travel the globe and touch as many people as possible, effecting them on a deeper level than what we present to one another on the surface daily. Because by the end of the adventure I came to realize, no matter where you’re from, its who we are deep down and what’s in our heart that unifies us amidst this global consciousness. Now you can read about this all you want, but until you experience it for what it really is, you’ll never really see the entire picture. And though my stay was brief and short-lived for the time being, it was merely a preview as to what’s to come.

Now I’ve traveled all over this beautiful country of ours, and I’ve had memorable experiences all over the U.S. as well so its not like I completely take where I live for granted. But that doesn’t mean I can’t also appreciate and respect the thousands of other places around the globe and the millions of souls who inhabit those places as well. And that’s what I intend on doing for the rest of my life, no matter how long or short it may be.

Safe to say I my eyes are now open even wider than they were before. And they were already pretty open to begin with, and have been for quite some time. The places I saw and the people I met are still close to my heart as we speak. And as we speak I’ve now returned home with a new found appreciation for life. One that I was so desperately in need of for quite some time. And as I embrace this newly restored energy that is now resonating as deep as the thoughts that are responsible for this entry, I have to say, its only going to get better from here.