various ponderings

“At the beginning of our life and again when we get old, we need the help and affection of others. Unfortunately, between these two periods of our life, when we are strong and able to look after ourselves, we don’t appreciate the value of affection and compassion. As our own life begins and ends with the need for affection, wouldn’t it be better if we gave compassion and love to others while we are strong and capable?” Dalai Lama
Compassion is the next personal issue I’m working on. I happened to be reading a book by the Dalai Lama in which he discussed that we need to have equal compassion for everyone and everything, not just those who are oppressed or in pain. While I was reading this a volunteer came to the farm that I had a difficult time having compassion for, and it really illuminated my need to work on this area. My issue was that this person created her own problems. She made herself a victim even in benign situations, and then blamed others for her feelings of insecurity. Surely there were reasons for these actions, some past suffering that I possibly could have helped with or at least had compassion for. Instead, I totally shut down and tried to avoid her. Not only that, she sometimes made me angry when I saw her manipulating people in this way. Generally this type of thing arises when something is a reflection of yourself. Have I manipulated people before by playing the victim card? Probably, hell it can be a valuable tool, especially for women. At any rate, I now realize that I need to cultivate compassion in myself that is equal and nonjudgmental.
So I met this guy the last time I was in J-Bay and he is still staying at Island Vibe. I started talking to him and his buddy about their travels. Turns out, they have been traveling for over 2 years, volunteering in some places and getting jobs when they can. Dude, I am so inspired. Why plan to stop in Egypt? I’ve always dreamt of going over to Greece, then up to Moscow and over to India, then down through Thailand and Indonesia, to Australia and New Zealand, and finally up through South and Central America. I am now thinking that it’s entirely possible. Also, the ideas about returning to the States and getting a job are fading. Who wants a crappy job when I can just travel? Here’s what I’m thinking: Travel until I am totally out of money and am forced to buy a plane ticket with my credit card; get free rides and stays (and food) whenever possible; take at least a year and circumnavigate the world. Anyone care to guess how many countries I make it through? I’ll only count those countries in which I actually place my feet on the ground, starting with Madagascar.