Travel can in some ways be a quest for Self
“For the past three decades, travel — especially when it gets written down — often has at its center a defining solipsism: the Self in search of itself in strange places promising to cast a different and edifying light on the Quest. In an era of self-absorption and self-gratification — Facebook and Twitter may be the ultimate in narcissism — such is to be expected. On a stretch of open road, a driver can roll along with his window reflection laid over the landscape ahead so that he must see through himself to see the territory — call it windshield therapy (it’s probably as effective as any couch counseling and certainly cheaper and more accessible, no appointment necessary). On the road, where no one knows your name or your past, the miles can efface one’s identity and make a traveler ready for reception.”
–William Least Heat-Moon, “True West,” Wall Street Journal Magazine, May 2009
May 17th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Great excerpt! Travel can be therapeutic and more fun than sitting in a chair or couch. It does make you face your fears and insecurities. The bonus is you meet cool people along the way and see awesome sights!
May 17th, 2010 at 11:15 am
This is a really great quote, especially the part about living in an era of self- absorption and self-gratification. So true.
However, I also like to think of travel as a way of creating yourself, not just finding yourself.
May 18th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Love the quote, Rolf.
Say, I’m wondering if you’ve had a chance yet to get out on the road. I remember you saying one of your goals was to spend more time traveling this year and less time talking about it. Anything besides July in Paris, so far?
May 18th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
The true western expansion is not tameable by a thread of barbed wire-the open road is daunting & addicting. With ‘windshield’ therapy a fine, but tough teacher.
May 19th, 2010 at 1:41 am
I love the image of a traveler looking out through a windshield through their own reflection first – we all experience the world through the bubble of our own past and experiences but more time on the road really does open perception and take a bit of the “self” out of the equation. Really lovely quote.
May 19th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Yes definitely travel as a search for self or a way of self-improvement is really close to the core of why I travel. Really like this.
@Shannon OD – At a look at the book “Night train to Lisbon”. There is a really neat scene of a guy looking at other people through his own reflection in a window contemplating on what others see and how he sees himself reflected. That we walk around in semi-transparent boxes.