the real journey.

Hey friend, 

Like many, as a boy, I was inspired by certain material of great adventures & great lives.

People who sailed the world, before satellite. 

People who rode bicycles from holland to china. 

People on motorbikes from alaska to argentina. 

Who road motorbikes up the west coast of africa. 

Why? 

Because it alluded to this deep inner journey, characterised by an outer one.

Through all they experienced and who they were able to become. 

Because of the look in their eyes, a truth was undeniable. 

I wanted that.

And so I went on my own journey. 

I lived a winter in the arctic circle. 

Experienced great demonstrations, riots in the heart of Palestine.

Fought in the barrios of mexico city. 

Bridge jumped 100ft in Italy. 

Road motorbikes through the andes. 

Surfed the north of Africa. 

Saw the great sights of Petra, and the pyramids of Egypt. 

Road a bus from Istanbul to Paris. 

And many other such things. 

As I have gone on this journey, I’ve discovered that when travelling great distance, what we are really are seeking, is great depth. 

See, in all my travel, 60-something countries, my greatest moments, deepest moments, didn’t come on mountain tops, in wild places, or dangerous altercations. 

My greatest moments came in the stillness of solitude.

At dawn in the coffee shop. 

In my apartment late at night by candle light. 

The greatest discoveries weren’t in the unknown of the world. 

They were into the great unknown of me. 

And all the trips, all the places, all the countries were only so interesting, as far as they brought me back to that place in me. The unknown in me. 

And so for me, it is not so much about going great distances, as going deep.

Its not so much about going far, as it is more about getting apart…

Apart from all that isn’t me.

Because to full receive yourself 

You must let go of everything else. 

Of the need to be seen, to be understood, admired, encouraged, celebrated, accepted, received.

This is the real gift of travel.

Not connection, or new experiences (though these things are incredibly beautiful, valuable, desirable.)

But separation.

Separation, from all that is not you.

The most confronting thing about going on such journeys

The most confronting thing about extended solo travel 

Is that it all leads back to you

And the truth is, you could go for 20 years

And avoid, distract and hide from yourself every day

In other people, in other thoughts, in the endless world of distractions.

Friend, 

It’s not about distance, its about depth. 

It’s a rare thing, to give yourself permission, to give your full attention to that journey, the real journey,

the great adventure into the depths of you.

-Jay

Jay Topp is a 24 year old writer, marketer, film maker & self-led educator originally from Australia, now based between Latin America & Europe. You can see his films here. Instagram here. And his business website here.

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