Final Thoughts

This is sort of the post where I go into a philosophical rant about what I learned about myself, the world, other people, etc.  However, it's not all serious.  I included some fun, sometimes stupid things I learned and observed on this journey such as the fact that I'm really good at eating ice cream; not only do I like it alot, but I always eat it before it melts so I never waste a drop.

A few other things I learned...

* I'm not good at giving piggy back rides - you'd think with a big butt I'd be good, but people slide right off.

* I make friends pretty easily even when I don't speak their language. I was told on several occasions I have a friendly face...I'll take that.

* When I speak French I have a Spanish accent.

* In Spain they think I'm Italian and in Italy they think I'm Spanish...go figure.

* Walking is the best way to see and experience any city.

* Knowing simple greetings in any language goes a long way.

* I laugh at myself a lot.

* The great Japanese sushi chef Sukiyabashi Jiro once said, "In order to make delicious food, you need to eat delicious food."  If true, my skills in the kitchen should be greatly improved after this trip.  I wonder if the same applies to soccer skills...

 

* You can't be scared to fail. It's so important to try and fail than never to have tried at all. Feeling the butterflies and vulnerability of taking a risk and not knowing the outcome is a joy in life that should not go unexperienced.  Michael Jordan sums it up nicely in his quote: “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life...and that is why I succeed.”

 

* I learned it's important to not just visit a city, but live it. Meet the people, eat the food, listen to the music, live on their time schedule, endulge in their habits, drink when they drink, eat when they eat, nap when they nap, read what they read, shop where they shop, do your best to live like those who own the city and that's how you'll truly get a sense of what a city is all about.

 

* Speaking of cities, Europeans love people from Los Angeles. Well, they like the glitz and glamorous reputation of LA, but yet they've all only visited San Francisco.  SF, Miami and NY are by far the most visited US cities by Europeans (Vegas is a close fourth).

 

* This popular quote or saying came up on three different occasions on this trip and I figured it was worth sharing: "Lord grant me the strength to change the things I can; the courage to accept the things I can't; and the knowledge to know the difference." In Glasgow I met a girl who had it as a tattoo; it came up in a movie I watched on a train ride; and then it came up in conversation in Paris.

 

* Whenever you say, "I'll come back to take that photo," or "I'll come back to buy that gift," you never do.  Just take the photo or buy the item when you have the chance.

 

* French soccer fans are rowdy. French chefs are amazing.

 

* Going into this trip I knew I was a planner and preferred structure, but I am way more obsessive about planning than I thought.  The one time I didn't have a hotel - in Bastia - I was not a fan.  Several people said I should go with the flow and plan on the go, and while I did this with small things like dinner reservations or metro lines, my prference is to have a set and confirmed itinerary.  With that said, it was the time I stepped away from the plan and extended my time in Paris that I felt the most invigorated.

 

* I learned I have a lot of love to give.

 

* And I think the biggest thing I learned on this trip is nothing is worse than regret.  Big or small, regret is a terrible thing.  You have to lay it all out there; give it everything you have.  If it works out than great, if not, then at least you did everything in your power to make it happen.  And odds are you learned a lot that you can apply to the next attempt.  Whether it's in a job, a relationship, a sporting event, or simply having the guts to ask the hotel receptionist out to dinner, leave it all out there and don't regret anything.

 

 

So what's next?  New apartment and a day job?  Just relaxing and hanging with friends?  Starting something new?  More travel?  Honestly, I don't know yet.  I do know it'll include some risks, hopefully a lot of love, and definitely no regrets.

 

LAST THOUGHT(S): Eat, hug, ride a bike, swim, eat out, eat in, go on a picnic, see a movie, drink, read, write, make art, make out, stare at the moon, draw, draw a person, draw a naked person, volunteer, run, take a trip, take a risk, take a nap outside, skip, laugh, cry, try, fail, try again, travel, breath, love, live...live like you mean it!

 

Until next time, travel whenever possible, and if you do, travel in sandals.

Goodbye...Adios...Arrivederci...Au Revoir!