People ~ The Greatest Gift Of My Journey
by Lena
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This was going to be another last post on Marrakech, before my departure to Fes…
But since I hate goodbyes, decided to make this post about the true reason many of us pack our life in a backpack and leave behind our loved ones, security and comforts of home…
It’s the People.
Yes, all those faces and many, many others, have danced their way into my heart.
Let’s be honest here,
I’m not an easy person to deal with, period.
I have faults and demons. I’m human.
Do recognize that I may have hurt some people at one point or another in my life.
Some left… don’t blame them. Some stayed and I’m forever thankful.
But all of them have taught me priceless lessons.
A lot of people ask me why I have the need to pick up and go.
After traveling for years, can say that the main reason would be – to learn how to;
LOVE more
FORGIVE always
ACCEPT everyone
LET GO when it’s time
~
* Yes, going for a gorilla trek in Uganda is awe-inspiring, but having child of a total stranger fall asleep in your arms, is so much more!
* Agree, spending a night or more in Sahara is breathtaking and is a priority of many bucket list enthusiasts. However sharing food & laughter with a local nomad woman is even more unforgettable!
* Visiting Marrakech – the best destination of Africa in 2012 was great! But it wouldn’t be the same if I haven’t met Mouna, who invited me to her home to share food with her family and more than once. Her family became my Moroccan family, who’s hearts and door of their home remain open for me.
* Seeing The Big 5 at the Masai Mara National Park ( UNESCO World Heritage site ) was extraordinary! But having a Masai Warrior save me from almost being Lion’s dinner… was, well, honestly, it was an experience I will never forget!
* Yes, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, in the middle of one the most coldest Russian winters in 50 years, is somewhat insane, but it’s even more crazier to be jumping with a true Legend of the sky and then dancing with him while flying through the clouds.
* Reconnecting with your inner-self in Bali is like being born again, but having local children draw you beautiful drawings for you to take home, is not something you can get at an all-inclusive package deal from a travel agent.
* To walk with lions in the wild, bungee jump into a river full of alligators, get in a fight with a female baboon and hang on the edge of the most dangerous pool in the world, would be adrenaline junkie’s dream come true! But a true highlight for me, was seeing the faces of kids from Lubasi Home and having an intimate moment with a mute woman by the road who sold me bananas.
~
* To try the Best Tapas at ” TAPEO” is truly one of the things that one should do when in Barcelona! But becoming friends with the owner and with the whole staff of this amazing place is a totally different story. Because when you have your last dinner there, your eyes fill up with tears.
* To connect with a fellow traveler is great and many people experience this everyday on the road. But to have her leave you a heart, made of your own scarf, that she left as a surprise for you, after you let her use your shower, is not something you can forget.
* To visit The Great Pyramid was my dream, but the Pyramid became even Greater, because I was able to share it with an incredible woman. That day was so much more than just being at one of the 7th wonders of the world.
* To be able to walk in the footprints of the great Paul Bowles and other famous artists in Tangier is inspiring. But to be following those footprints with a famous French writer, whom I met in Marrakech, was a totally different experience. She unveiled a very different side of Tangier to me, the hidden side, the one, not every traveler gets to see. She even introduced me to a Russian lady, Elena, who happens to be a relative of one the Russian Empire Noble Families.
* To see The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is truly an incredible sight. But to dance in the local musicians drum circle, in the middle of the street and having homeless people laugh with you, is one of those moments that come to my mind when I remember
that great city.
* Zanzibar has to be my favorite Island in the whole world. It’s rich with history, beautiful architecture, has the most wild, unspoiled beaches and heart-stopping sunsets. But the story of me trying to persuade a bank manager on a Sunday morning, to get my “eaten” card back, is classic! Or showing my guide something even he has never seen in Stone Town, in all the years he worked as a guide… the look on his face was priceless.
* Being in one of the most bizarre and truly mesmerizing restaurants in Chefchaouen, Morocco, that has artworks everywhere, which are not for sale, is a one-of-a-kind experience. But to have the owner who spend 9 years in India, get so inspired by you, that he draws several drawings and gives them to you as a gift, is truly humbling. His drawings I will treasure for as long as I live.
~
I could go on and on about all those people and all those moments.
Journey is about the People you meet and the moments you get to share with them.
If you have the courage to open your heart to this world and run towards life with your soul wide open, there’s a chance that you will get wounded. But if you don’t give life that chance, you will never truly fly.
~
Yes, I have had bad things happen to me because of people, we all have those stories.
But the reality is, that the number of people who want to lift you up, is much greater than the ones who want to watch you fall.
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I want to thank each and one of you who come to my “online home”. You have lifted me up in more ways than one.
I feel stronger, because I have such an amazing team, who always have my back!
Some of your comments made me cry, others made me laugh to the point of tears.
But all of your comments and wishes made me feel loved.
~
And isn’t that what we all truly want?
Is this not the reason we strap on a backpack and dive into the unknown?
~
I want to thank every single person who has entered my life, good or bad.
Thank you for teaching me how to dance & never touch the ground.
~
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LESSONS PEOPLE TAUGHT ME
If you want to hear the truth ~ Listen to your heart.
If you want to fly ~ Don’t be afraid to break your wings.
If you want to forgive ~ Ask for forgiveness.
If you want to be a good dancer ~ Dance with your soul, not your feet.
If you want to get to the top ~ You have to touch the bottom.
If you want to be free ~ Don’t lie to yourself.
If you want to heal ~ Cry, Laugh, Breath & Let go.
If you want to be rich ~ Help someone.
If you want to find You ~ Get lost.
If you want to learn ~ Change.
If you want to feel loved ~ Love.
If you want to be happy ~ Be.
02/07/2013 © Elena Levon
~
_____________________
The woman behind the words …
↓
“If you want to find You ~ Get lost”
So very true
Thank You for your Sunset
The fullness you live
The Shine Sunset in your way.
And you have touched me deeply again, Elena…..through your words and photos and through the meaning behind them. The values that really matter when everything else is gone…
You are a truly gifted person to have such a affinity for other people and places. It is how you are that allows others to open up to you. Lucky you and lucky them.
thank you so much! i am a very lucky gal, to have been able to crawl, stand, walk, run, dance and then fly : )
And to feel ecstasy you must feel pain
haha! i like that! very true
Thanks for sharing! I share your passion for travel.
The sun shines everywhere unless we turn away from it.
Journey Well
oh, this is so true
The search for oblivion disappears, as far as one can go to the edge of what others may consider safety one finds love in the eyes of the people who live there.
The oblivion has always been in the safety.
Then one becomes lost to the wind where one travels within.
Deep so deep one disappears and becomes the wind.
The breath of God.
“Sometimes you need to go far away to see things clearly” – my favourite quote by Mark Twain
agree 100%
So inspirational. I love your journey, thanks for sharing. I can believe you have touched the lives of everyone who has met you. The world is certainly a better place with you in it.
humbled, i stand
this is very cool. In the african culture there is a concept: http://adiama.com/ancestralconnections/2010/03/02/umuntu-ngumuntu-ngabantu-a-person-is-a-person-because-of-people/
“Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu” meaning: “A person is a person because of people.”
how cool is that,
we affect and are affected by others… well we should be…
I LOVE this!! thank you for sharing!
Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
What a brilliant adventure that was. I’m torn between envy and admiration, but luckily admiration wins. Amazing..
GORGEOUS words, sentiments, photos.
A powerful post Elena. Thank you for sharing your lessons here. I am going to write them out in my notebook for reflection; they are that inspiring. They ring with truth.
thank you!
Just beautiful.
Your post is one of the first things I read this morning. What a great way to start the day! Thank you
Very powerful and beautiful words. Keep sharing!
[...] People ~ The Greatest Gift Of My Journey. [...]
your words help build people
and fill them with love
a true Pilgrim…
thank you for your beautiful words!!!
Elena,
Thanks for the recent “Like” on my blog. Please feel free to check back for updates.
I’m very inspired by your blog. My wife and I did some study-abroad in college and it was life changing. We hope to be able to do more in the future. Have you been to Vienna?
I love Vienna! But have been there a long time ago! It’s time for another visit! ) Thank you for your comment!
What a stunning post – love that photo with the small girls in purple skirts and you. And photo of your mum and you. The lessons – so true and spot on … you really touched my heart with this post – thank you for sharing.
And thanks for sharing your free spirit ..
thank you so much!
ps – which photo do you think is of me and my mom?
Am I out on a bike again – the top photo where a woman is hugging you – grey hair. Wasn’t that from you post about meeting up with your mom????
that’s the French writer I met in Marrakech, whom I saw again in Tangier. Her name is Patricia Tome, she also worked for UN.
Wow, how could I get that so wrong … thanks for clearing this out for me – i was so sure it was your mum.
How cool are you??? Those people may have touched your life, but you made an impression too! An ambassador for the world!
Can’t wait for your next adventure.
What amazing photographs and life story and you are still so very young!
Not as cool as you, my beautiful friend ! )) Thank you for such a beautiful compliment!
<3
A really inspiring and honest post. Every single word makes sense. I’m blessed to have heard what’s in your heart and being able to share with your stories. Cheers to more travels and more people on the road and moments that will last.
Thank you very much!
I cant believe what I just read. Truly amazing.
that is amazing! I deeply envy you! I was able to go on one trip to Morocco and I felt the same way about having them adopt you as family :)
I only wish I could travel as much as you do!
inspiring..the way you have seen good in everything…i wish someday i get to travel and learn things too..
thankyou for sharing what an amazing world we have out there …waiting for us..
Elena, your words, are truly inspiring. They have very strong feelings and emotions contained within. You have had so many amazing experiences and I’m sure you will have plenty more to come. Your writing is exceptionally descriptive and a true pleasure to read.
Reblogged this on My Real World and commented:
This is an amazing story of one woman, travelling the world, meeting people and experiencing all things in life and appreciating the good and bad things that she experiences. Truly inspiring.
Bon voyage…
Wow! What a great post. :-)
I simply love your heart. A gift of true compassion which is evident in the pictures you take and the words you write. For those of us unable to travel the world – thanks for letting us share in your journey!
I wholeheartedly agree, Elena – the people are what is unforgettable about traveling. Though, I struggle with “let go when it’s time,” and when I leave a place and its people, I always feel bereft, and so traveling doesn’t hold the same allure to me that it used to do. But, I learn from people like you, which is why I am grateful that you write down your thoughts – very inspirational. <3
Thank you Stacy!
“Let go when it’s time” is a very personal struggle… it means different things to everyone… in my case i’m talking about all the weight i carried around ( pain from past, anger .. etc.. ) .. that weight only makes the journey harder.. so travel and people have taught me how to “Let go” … but everyone must do it in their own time.. you can’t force something like that to happen… and it’s sad, but some, never do “let go” .. When I was in Bali, I went there because of health issues.. local healer asked me ” isn’t it hard for you? ” I said ” of course, i’m sick, can’t you see!? ” then he asked again ” all that weight you are dragging behind, are you comfortable with it when you walk, it’s too heavy isn’t it? ” ..
Ah – what a wise man! Yes, I’ve been dragging too much weight, too – but I’ve had to go in a different direction than you to “let go” – which is to say, I had to come home and stop trying to heal through travel. It has been good for me to come home. <3
Ah – what a wise healer! Yes, I been learning to let go of the weight of the past as well, but I had to come home in order to do so. Traveling was only adding to the weight, but I commend you on being able to go from place to place and make the most of it. <3
A beautiful reminder of the reason we always feel the pull to keep wandering – these experiences are waiting to be discovered, and they are never any less moving. Love your story!
You have the perfect gift for travelling – the ability to appreciate where you are for what it is, not what you can take home. Beautiful words and stories, I’m glad to be along for the ride.
This is beautiful. Amazing pictures and great words. Renews the wanderlust I have been feeling for years.
Love the pictures…great post! Jill