If The Eyes Are A Window To The Soul…
They Say The Eyes Are A Window To The Soul
On my last trip to Queretaro, Mexico I forgot my sunglasses in the states. Being the cheapskate I am, I started searching for the best deal at all of the little touristy shops. Mind you, I was leveling up my cheapskate game…said specs cost me $6 at the dollar store, and I was looking for better deals than the $3-4 dollar ones I was finding. I know that the touristy spot prices are often inflated. I also hated that I had a perfectly fine pair of shitty sunglasses at home and that I didn’t really “need” another pair.
But a funny thing happened in the meantime. Over the first few days, I was simply taken with how friendly people were while I was walking the streets.
So many locals smiling and acknowledging me and saying hello with genuine care. One day I was walking and caught glimpse of a man walking my way, but across the street on the other sidewalk. He raised his hand and smiled and said “Buenos Dias!” from 30 or so feet away.
Join the email list to stay in the loop on new releases!
This site participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs and may earn from qualifying purchases. You’re never charged more, but it helps out little by little! Check out “Privacy” in the top menu if you need to know more!
That’s the moment I realized that my inability to part with my precious pesos and buy an excess pair of cheap sunglasses…that would likely end up in a landfill someday…actually opened my eyes to how closed off we sometimes make ourselves.
It’s the moment I realized that little things like putting on sunglasses (or almost always wearing them), or wearing earbuds, or walking and talking on the phone can combine to disconnect us from important interactions with our fellow humans.
It Was Also That Moment That I Decided I Didn’t Need That New Pair Of Shades
I would spend the next 7+ weeks occasionally squinting through the sun but leaving myself open to connecting just a little bit more. Now it’s rare that I’ll walk in places where there are other people while wearing glasses or even my earbuds. It’s a small thing, but I truly feel like it opens me up more.
Yes, my introverted nature makes me feel more comfortable sometimes avoiding those interactions and just keeping to myself. But that’s just fear of the unknown occasionally creeping back in.
Cheers!
— Jason
Connect & Share This Article
About Jason Robinson
Jason is the author of “The Beginner Traveler’s Guide To Going Nomad,” as well as the voice behind the words and the eye behind the lens for The Nomad Experiment. “Planning to travel at some point” wasn’t actually getting the job done, so nearing 40 he decided to make it a priority, nomatter how scary that was. A few years later—through the pandemic and a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 42—now living a life of nomadic travel, he’s speaking out to encourage others of any age, or with any serious medical diagnosis, to live an unconventional life.
Travel Planning Tips
Figure out where you are going & how are you getting there…
I suggest using at least 2 to 3 different travel search sites. Start with Skyscanner or Orbitz or Booking …or whatever aggregator site you prefer. Then when you see what airlines to use, check their respective sites for better deals or rewards flights.
Figure out where you’re going to stay…
If you’re interested in hostels, search Hostelworld or Hostelling International. For longer-term or more private digs, look at Airbnb, VRBO, or you can look for hotel rooms in the links from the search engines listed above.
Get comprehensive travel insurance, or in the least, travel medical insurance if internationally…
Especially with Covid not going anywhere, get covered. Start with an insurance aggregator like Insure My Trip, or with SafetyWing, World Nomads, or another. Then decide what is important to you; trip cancellation, baggage coverage, medical, or all of the above. And get a yearly evacuation plan, since you’ll have to get home after your emergency!
Need more resources? Click here!
This site participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs and may earn from qualifying purchases. You’re never charged more, but it helps out little by little! Check out “Privacy” in the top menu if you need to know more!
