I was sitting in bed last night writing in my pretty turquoise journal, all inspired after reading 80 pages of The Alchemist, and I started thinking back over my travels. I actually do this a lot, this whole reminiscing on my trip. I learned so much while traveling and it had such a huge impact on my life, how could I not think about it daily? I certainly don’t want to forget all the things I learned.
Not only did I learn a lot of lessons from my experiences, but also from the people I met. There are three people that stand out as having had a profound impact on my life during the course of my travels; three people that I plan on keeping in my life for a long time.
The first was a gorgeous Dutch boy named Joakim (the most gorgeous person I have seen in person…he was MESMERIZING) who was the first person I met who played on the street for money and totally changed my perspective on being even more open minded to people. We spent hours (and many beers) talking about life, our individual perspectives and on traveling.
The second was The Messenger who gave me the biggest scare of my life then helped me become more spontaneous, even more open to new experiences and taught me how to love people with everything I’ve got.
The third was Anneke, whom I’m going to talk about today. I have mentioned her before and now I’m going to tell you about the lessons I’ve learned from her. Or at least one lesson.
We met in Amsterdam, when I couchsurfed with her and then I traveled to Morocco for 12 days together. We became fast friends and it wasn’t just because we had a lot in common and she was all sorts of fabulous. When you travel to Morocco together, you will inevitably learn more than you ever care to know about another person.
Like, when you share a room with her and the bathroom does not have a door.
If you know anything about Moroccan food, it takes a toll on your digestion system. For the foreigners like us, our stomachs were having a…hard time with all the different spices, the tons of bread we were eating…you get the picture.
We quickly learned that we could either hold it in forever or just do our business with someone else in the room. At first, it caused us both to apologize a lot and basically freak out. You see, I’m the kind of girl who can’t…well…take a shit in a public bathroom or where anyone could hear.
I know, boys. Girls don’t poop–we fart roses.
Either way, after a very short while we learned how not to give a fuck and just deal with it. We spent the rest of the vacation laughing at ourselves and each other and joking how we now knew more about each other than even our closest friends. (We even got very naked together.) If we happened to be particularly…loud…we would comment on it. Oh, that sounded like a good one! or That sounded like it hurt.
What doesn’t embarrass the shit out of us (no puns intended?), only makes us stronger, right?
I learned a lot about not caring what people thought of me while I was overseas and this was one of those moments. It wasn’t the first, it wasn’t the last but it definitely was the one that left the biggest impression on me. Now, I’m not saying I go into a public restroom and just let loose, but I’m slowly learning how to just be myself.
How to not care what people think of me. To live life outside of my comfort zone. To be able to laugh full-heartedly at myself.
And that’s how life should be. Full of laughter, honesty and love for people and all their flaws (or farts). (I’m sorry, I can’t stop.) Lately, my heart has been overwhelmed with love, with passion and with the desire to create. To create love around me, to create even more happiness, to be creative.
This blog has been pouring out inspirational crap (SORRY) lately but I can’t help it. I’m surrounded by inspirational people, I feel like I’m on fire out here, that I can do ANYTHING and I don’t want this fire to ever be put out. I have learned so much about myself over the past six months–about my strengths, my weaknesses, what makes me tick and what I want–and need–out of life. It’s an amazing feeling when you start making these discoveries.
Who knew taking a shit in front of someone else would lead to such grand lessons?
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I am honestly scared of that thought, but if it gets you where you need to be, I may just have to give it a try…maybe?
LOL i get stage fright just thinking about having to do that. humor aside i think you are totally right. that we need to let go learn to be ourselves.
When I first read the title, I knew I was in for a treat. I giggled a little bit. I like your lesson you learned from that. Thank you for sharing this.
What lessons! Such wonderful things come from travel.
I appreciate any post that can somehow pull a life lesson out of shitting! It’s been a goal of mine over the last year or so to stop caring so much about what others think about me. I’m getting better at it – but apparently, I need to go to Morrocco and endure what you did to speed up this process!
Great post!
But the very idea of pooing in front of someone makes me cringe. How embarrassing. And imagine not having a DOOR on the loo!
This lesson, I learned, when I got married. Sometimes (shh) we even leave the door open to the bathroom. It is an incredibly freeing experience
I agree with poodlegoose…I too learned this lesson when I got married too!
As for your feeling on fire and being inspired by the people around you and by where you find yourself, I say, ‘keep it coming girl! With or without the shitting!’
Love ya girl!
I too broke the bathroom barrier when I got married. Now, we NEVER close the bathroom door. It upsets our cats and they cry, throw themselves against the door, and claw the carpet until the door is opened again.
Most inspirational TMI Thursday ever?
That’s kinda what I was thinking
I’m loving your inspirational blogs. I really am. <3 Because they help me feel better about the scary things in life.
I don’t think I know a lot of people who can make a blog about poop sound inspirational…but you did a pretty good job! The whole “just be yourself” thing has definitely been a theme in my life lately, too…you know, without all the pooping.
Thanks for the thoughts!
-kb
Hahah, I laughed my way through this. Loved it! And great comparison to real life from your experience
I think The Ex and I reached a whole new comfort level when we started pooping and such around the other. At that point, we knew we were comfortable with everything. This made our relationship better and more open, it made our sex life better, and it made us closer.
Who knew a pile of poo could be so life-changing.
Hahahahaha, love it. Europe definitely made me more comfortable with my friends I was traveling with but oh man, I can’t even imagine that!
I agree. I have zero qualms talking over our days while shizzling in front of Sean, because we are a CLASSY, CLASSY couple.
But on a side note, this is why I need to travel. So I can learn to just LIVE life.