* stared at a lot of tall buildings
* stared a lot at old buildings
* Thought a lot about who designed and built the ruined structures wherever I went
* saw lots of religious looking things
* saw lots of rebranded and renovated religious things
* Went to a lot of supermarkets
* Looked at Booking.com a lot
* Learned not to believe reviews or pictures, but to look for a theme or sentiment contained therein.
* Reviews often tell more about the reviewer than the reviewee
* pitched my tent lots but often didn’t do it right
* learned to pack things in the same place everyday
* learned that you don’t need much
* learned that nearly all people are good and very very few aren’t – just like dogs
* Assuming people are good helps you see that they are good – is that confirmation bias being used in a positive way ?
* Countries have different personalities, even when you cross a soft border like those in Europe
* Routine and rhythm are relaxing and confidence building – converse is also true
* a smile, a laugh and miming transcends any language barrier
* I never get things perfect, so I’m happy with what I’ve got
* the poorest communities can be the happiest
* taking the drama out of your thoughts and reactions makes everything work and everyone changes
* Nobody cares about you as much as you do
* nobody helps unless you ask for help
* you can go anywhere apart from a war zone
* time by yourself is important to become the person you want to be
* time reflecting is time well spent
* live in the now, Yolo
* try not to live in your head
* use it or lose it. I feel sprightly at this age, so I don’t want to slow down
* understand someone’s motivations and situation before judging but try hard not to judge
* make an effort but don’t feel guilty when you take it easy
Some thoughts and learnings on the road
