The girl with one backpack and a passport

I met an American girl during my trip to Japan. She had been travelling around for the last 4 years. Indeed her American passport made her life easier but wen I asked her how she decided ‘where next’, she said: I randomly get down at the stations and then explore the area around. This sounded dumb but exciting at the same time…playing with uncertainties. She travelled all across Europe and now was in Asia for over 2 years now. 

My first impression about such people generally was: Dude, you are running away from their life.
And, after running away from myself for years, now I can definitely say that the only way to find yourself is when you allow yourself to get lost in the first place.

There are different things that motivate people. Some people are motivated by beauty- of nature, of beings; to some, cultures provides the inspiration and to many, money. 
I think I have lived across a lot of these phases, after I realized that the recurring theme of my life has been: “Curiosity”. 

Curiosity to do things I have never done, to see how things work, to explore what lies on the other side of the river and curiosity to see if I’ll be curious forever. 

Curiosity keeps me going. Ask yourself- what keeps you going? And, explore it in all layers. 
Now, when I am 30+ and less greedy and more confident in my skin than I have ever been, the thought that half of my live is actually over (Life expectancy of an Indian female is 68.35 years) urges me to make the most out of it. Curiosity + less time available= More curiosity. 

One of the biggest fallacies I realized about life is about a beautifully (peacefully) planned and lived life. I feel predictability is a silent killer. I always thought I loved perfect plans. And look at my life: Life made sure I never fall into a trap of my own plans so kept blasting it in weirder ways. 
In a few years time, I’ll be 40 – that used to be my benchmark for calling somebody ‘old’, and I’ll reach that that before I know.  

Unless I put myself out into the dark, I am not going to see any supernova. Until I am in the usual comfort that I am used to be in I’ll not see what lies beyond. 

So, here is my challenge: I will see half of the world that God has created before I turn 40. 

Caveat being- not that I'll die or get arrested, but that the world I wish to see will not last forever. 
I want to see the world before countries destroy each other. The notorious dictators and evil leaders are on their spree to destroy histories. And, am not too hopeful.
Look at what they did to Damascus/ Aleppo. Can I think of going to Baghdad now? All those stories about Kabul have been buried forever now. 

So, I need to hurry up- I don't have forever, and the world won’t last as long as we presume it to be. 
And the challenge for you is: find out- what moves you, what shakes you and what keeps you going. 
(Believe me, you’ll get three answers. Feel free to share)