On Stanby

It is a small world.

Two days ago I had a beer with a couple that I met in the mountains in Peru 9 months ago. In case I hadn't mentioned it yet, I am definitely in Thailand. Nearly half way around the world from Peru. I would be holding back important evidence if I didnt say that we planned on meeting at some point in SE Asia but I still find it amazing!

Mark and Maddy have been traveling for nearly 16 months and will be going back home next month. We sat at a small bar talking and they told me exciting stories of their travels and and we reminicsed about all the ways I made a fool of myself the last time we had seen each other.

Toward the end of our conversation we began to talk about India. I wanted to pick their brain about it because I will be going there next month and havent really done any research. They began to tell me stories of the cities they had been to, the food they had eaten, and the people they met. It all sounds terribly exciting. During that conversation about India Mark said something that struck a cord in my mind.

Mark said that before they went to India their senses(touch, smell...) were on stanby. He made it sounds like they were being stached away only to be brought out in case of some kind of emergency. They were so used to England that its smells and the sites and feels didnt really stand out at all. But the moment they hit the ground in Delhi and for nearly 2 months after their senses were continuously stimulated. The smells and sights and tastes were to much to not take in. It would be impossible to let your senses stay on stanby while being there.

For some reason I immediately linked what Mark was saying about his senses being on stanby to my emotions being in a similar state before I left home. In retrospect I can truthfully say that most of my emotions were on stanby when I was back at home. I was so used to living and existing in that environment that nothing really tugged on my emotions. But almost immediately when I landed in Peru and consistantly until this day my emotions have been stimulated(if that makes sense) and "used" so much. The things I am experiencing are to much to keep my emotions on stanby.

Its a sad day when we let our lives become so regular and so routine that we put our emotions on stanby. Doing this can hold us back from doing and becoming so many things. To think at 24 I had got myself into a way of life that allowed my emotions to become idle is quite scary. I made a promise to myself the other day that no matter where I am in life, if I see my emotions becoming idle and being put on stanby I will walk away from that life immediately.

Life is to amazing to not feel it.