I remember before leaving home everyone saying how brave I was - was there something they weren’t telling me? I’m not brave, if anything I’m a paranoid over thinker and risk-avoider, I’m not an explorer or an adventurer - I’m going a well trodden path.
I’ve always likened myself to Fred the dog in the comic, Copper. Copper is all adventurous and will plough head first into anything - that’s not me. I’ll be the first to say “That doesn’t look safe” or "Are you sure we’re allowed to be here or do this". I’ve uploaded one of my favourite pages where Copper and Fred are discussing taking a shortcut over a field of mushrooms.
But it came to my attention that maybe I’m brave because I’m alone, isolated in the big wide world. I never saw this as the case, I think George Clooney said it best in 'Up in the Air’:
Isolated? I’m surrounded!
And you know what the old adage says, 'the more the merrier’: well, China might not be a great example - it’s not all that merry, but you get the idea.
So I’m at a loss. The world is great! Why would anyone have to be brave to go and check out! Sure the world has its problems, bit the pros far outweigh the cons. Come take a look because the world is bloody amazing - everywhere you go! If I were brave I’d be on the front-lines of some war not sitting in a jazz club on a Friday night in Shanghai, sipping on a Jim Beam and Coke with three Germans.
I quit my job and packed up my things and I was gone in maybe three months from the initial spark that screamed ‘Go!’ and I don’t regret it for a second - maybe I could have timed it better to get cheaper flights or better weather or gathered more people to come… but then I’d always be waiting for that perfect moment that would never come.
So, don’t feel like I’ve done anything brave or special. So many people have told me how lucky I am or jealous of me for where I’m going. The world is right there, you don’t have to go far EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! Go somewhere, even if it’s down the road or some park you’ve never been - revaluate your commitments; chances are none of them are going to go anywhere in the short term.
Bristol is pretty nice, or Newcastle, what are you doing this weekend?