A short story I wrote in 2015, which my Aunt Sue quite liked. Rest in Peace, Sue. "We're Told Not To Travel" We're told not to travel. We’re told not to travel by those closest to us. By our well-intentioned parents, and uncles and aunts. By our best friends. By those we love, and those who love us back. We’re told not to travel by those who want us to stay. We’re told not to travel by those we don’t give a damn about. By the boss who cares more about next month’s schedule than your dreams. By the landlord who doesn’t want to find someone new. We’re told not to travel by those we inconvenience. We’re told not to travel by our calendars. By the wedding coming up next month. By the holiday season after that. By our mom’s birthday. By that thing your friend does every year that you never miss. By the season finale of that show you like. We’re told not to travel, because we’re told there’s too much to do. We’re told not to travel by our bank accounts. By our credit cards, and our utility bills. By the price of a tank of gas for the cars we haven’t paid off yet. By the cost of tuition and two-hundred dollar textbooks. We’re told not to travel, because we’re told we can’t afford it. We’re told not to travel by our television. By the pictures of extremists, waving guns and wearing black. By the stories about diseases, and wars, and missing children. We’re told that other countries aren’t safe. We’re told that tourists are targets. We’re told to stay inside and put bigger locks on our doors. We’re told not to travel, when we don’t trust other people. We’re told not to travel by social anxiety. By the fear we have that we can’t quite explain. By not wanting to spend twelve-hours next to a stranger on an airplane. By not wanting to sleep in a room with people you’ve never met. Because what if they want to talk and you have nothing to say? Or what if they don’t want to talk, and you’re alone the whole time? And what if you take a wrong turn and get lost in a strange country, and what if, what if, what if, what if… We’re told not to travel when we don’t trust ourselves. And yet, we travel. With the whole world giving us reasons not to, we do it anyway. We pack a bag, and we head for the horizon. And when we start to travel, something strange happens. We trust ourselves. We choose not to let our lives be defined by fears and insecurities. Wayne Gretzky has a fear of flying. But if he didn’t trust himself to get on an airplane a hundred times a year, he wouldn’t have been the greatest hockey player of all time. We trust others. We choose not to let the media convince us that humanity is bad. Humanity isn’t bad; we’ve just given the bad ones the spotlight. All over the world I’ve met friendly people who are proud of their countries. People who will give you directions or recommend you places to go. All you need to do is ask. We buy less. We choose to find value in things that don’t need to be bought. Every time I return from travelling I end up donating old clothing, or finding some way to minimize my possessions. It’s liberating. To quote Palahniuk’s Fight Club: The things you own end up owning you. We stay less busy. We choose to save time to travel, to dream, and to live. This doesn’t mean your mom’s birthday or your friend’s wedding isn’t important to you. But if you’re waiting for a free schedule before your next big adventure, you could be waiting your whole life. We worry less. We choose to lead our own lives, not the lives others want for us. Everyone has their own perspective, and is going to want something different from you. While every traveller needs to know when to say yes, they also need to know when to say no. And when we come home from our travels, we love more. Because there’s nothing quite like travel to show you what you had before you left.
@tommarino1056
Ай бұрын
Dan, it’s always sad to lose such a positive person like your Aunt Sue. May she rest in peace and may you always remember her and how much she meant to you. Thank you for letting us know about her.
@jcspider7259
Ай бұрын
Now THAT was deeply moving, Dan. Big hugs going to you. So glad she was a part of your life. ❤❤❤❤❤
@davisz2465
Ай бұрын
Rest in peace aunt Sue...
@johnlarsson4437
Ай бұрын
I'm sorry for your loss Dan. Hold on to her memory. Hold on to her inspiration. Hold on the love and support she had for you and keep her alive in your thoughts and in your heart. Long live Aunt Sue.
@FeigangFei
Ай бұрын
Beautiful story
@CanadaFree-ce9jn
Ай бұрын
People say, "Sorry for your loss", but what have you lost when you have become that person? Keep driving forward and keep Sue "alive" by embodying everything about her that you value. You are the new Sue, take her lessons and promote then into the world around you.
@algonquin91
Ай бұрын
I'm sorry for your loss... Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories about your aunt and bringing her to our attention.
@josephpanzarella1417
Ай бұрын
My condolences Dan and thanks for sharing your thoughts on your Aunt Sue. I had several aunts who were very important to me. Though they're long gone they're still with me and I know that will also be the case for you. As long as someone is remembered they aren't gone. Un abrazo fuerte.
@Z0mbie.
Ай бұрын
rest in peace 🙏
@sylvierousseau125
Ай бұрын
😢 so sad for you
@OLDS98
Ай бұрын
I am sorry for your loss. I clearly see your Aunt Sue meant a lot to you. Thank you for opening up and sharing at this diffcult time. I trust and hope yoir family will make the most of your time together at this diffcult time dealing with the loss of a loved one. You are doing just as she told you Dan.
@androidron1
Ай бұрын
I'm sorry for your loss. She sounds like she was a positive influence on you and believed in you. Keep the good memories and the inspirations she gave you. Somewhat ironically, my mother's only surviving sister passed a week ago yesterday. Her other sister died in a car accident in the 60's. Keep the positive vibes, amigo.
@christofat2704
Ай бұрын
Repose en paix
@miguelidcomm
Ай бұрын
My maternal aunt also passed away, in ‘21. It was awful hard loosing her. She was a very important person in my family. She was the kind of person that always had an interesting story to tell. She was like a “talking book.” And no one else in the family had that gift. I don’t believe in heaven (or anything like that) but I confess I find myself wishing she still physically “exists” somehow, somewhere. So while we don’t know each other, I know how you feel. Hang in there.
@christinecamley
Ай бұрын
Dan I am so sorry for your loss. My aunt aunt died recently and I miss her so deeply. She was my last aunt alive. You aunt sounds very special and supportive of you and that is so meaningful. I think you are an amazing person and I care. I get how difficult loss is. Your aunt would be so proud of this tribute! I can tell how much you loved Sue. After a health crisis I am learning we can travel and do a lot without a ton of money. Scary sometimes. Your thoughts are profound Dan! I appreciate them so much! Calming and comforting!! RIP Sue. I am so moved by this heartfelt tribute and I can see how much you loved her. NTP - that's me right now. Too much happening. I hope I leave a lot for others when it's my time.
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