Reserve Judgement and Release feelings

When you are on the road there is a discrepancy between the number of people that would like to or intended to write to you and the number that actually do.

There are several reasons given:

Life back home is hectic and therefore tiring and time consuming. People that often have good intentions to communicate with you understandably get distracted and never quite get round to it. We are all guilty of this at times. Although facebook and other social networks have slightly resolved this, I would still like to believe there are still more messages that could be sent.

The most frequent response given after reading about some exotic anecdote (jealousy aside) is that they feel that their life and daily goings on are perhaps a little inadequate or mundane to share. This is a real shame for at least two reasons:

1. In just hearing a friendly voice in the form of words from someone you care about (you wrote to them after all) is really comforting. Content aside, to know someone is or had been thinking of you is uplifting. Traveling is essentially a world of strangers and the unknown. A familiar and reassuring voice is a light that can be used whenever the sunshine of the road fades.

2. The assumption that the content is boring is fragile under scrutiny. The certainties and regularities of home and a life left behind can smooth and caress the rough edges that the friction of the perpetually new can create. So please don't ever assume that they are boring to us, especially when they are about things we travelers cherish and love.

The prejudgement of ones own work or performance happens frequently and is nearly always detrimental. Don't judge for other people. Give it your best attempt and watch or wait for the reaction. Often you will be pleasantly surprised, but if not at least you will know the truth (that joke/story was never funny and now you can start the overdue search for one that is).

So please take a minute out of your busy lives and share your thoughts whatever you may think of them, there worth will double if you release them without judgement into the ether of the web and direct them to your eagerly awaiting friend.

Personally I can't wait.

J.T.Davies