Sometimes you need to go far away, to discover what’s closest to you. This is the beauty of travel and the wonderful experiences it presents as oneSometimes you need to go far away, to discover what’s closest to you. This is the beauty of travel and the wonderful experiences it presents as one discovers the secret sauce of happiness.
I have always believed that travel is the ultimate expression of self-advancement.This is one the reasons why I love what I do for a living – telling stories that make people fall in love with places. Now, whether you’re trying to escape the corporate world or trying to close a business deal, going on holiday with loved ones or embarking on a sojourn of solitude, celebrating your honeymoon or recovering from an illness – the fact is, everyone travels, to enrich their lives.
The pursuit of happiness is an elusive one and it can be profoundly simple or exhausting. Happiness begins from within, if you’re content with yourself then you’ll find yourself surrounded by opportunities and people who make you happy. I find it amazing when I see successful people still lost, and material gratification is considered as a good bridge to the path of happiness. We all have moments like that and I think it’s normal to reward yourself with accoutrements that symbolise a stage in your life. I have been one of those chaps, from large logos to no logos – there’s an obvious progression to the definition of what creates meaningful value in life.
Happiness is all about cherished relationships and memorable moments. I know, it sounds slightly cliched but cliches are usually born from irony and truth and I have come to terms with the fact that true wealth is what breathes in your arms – your family, friends and all those relationships that are close to your heart. Happiness has an innate capability to reside within positive people so it’s important to be the eternal optimist and be forgiving and accommodating towards those who don’t necessarily align to your views. Move on, it’s their journey and their pace, so patience, positivity, passion and persistence are all the ingredients in your recipe for happiness.
I was in Da Nang, Vietnam not long ago and had a few hours to myself before heading to the airport, so I decided to go to the ancient city of Hoi An and soak in the sights. After navigating the streets through hoards of Chinese tourists in neon-coloured platform flip-flops with plastic flowers on them (yes they exist), I managed to find a quiet cafe to sit and watch the world go by. I was amused by the Americans, each one claiming to know exactly what occured during the Vietnam War and at the same was glad to see that people were keen to find out more and not just stick to documentaries on TV.
The architecture of Hoi An is sensationally quaint, with Indo-french influences and splatterings of Portugese design that can be found on the delectable yet decrepit townhouses. It was close to one of these buildings that I noticed a lady selling Vietnamese hats, she must have been in her 80s, each wrinkle hiding a tragedy or triumph, I was very intrigued by her and even though her toothless smile was endearing, what was very revealing was to observe how happy she was, interacting with those around her. Contentment of a different type and rejoiced by someone who most probably lives off a dollar a day.
As much as one thinks that exotic destinations might reveal the truth and the anticipation of new discoveries is truly enchanting, the fact remains, the pursuit of happiness begins with a journey within.
