A Random Thought

There is no happiness for him who does not travel!
Thus we have heard.
Living in the society of men, even the best man becomes a sinner.
Therefore, wander!
The fortune of him who is sitting, sits.
It rises when he rises.
It sleeps when he sleeps.
It moves when he moves.
Therefore, wander!
Aitreya Brahmanan, the Rigveda (800-600 BC)

Reading this poem, I was struck by two things; the first was how ingrained it is in the human nature to wander, the second was how narrow it seemed to say that someone who does not travel has no happiness. More and more, it is rare to find people who do not travel. Even those who appear to be complete homebodies travel - whether it be on vacation, to visit family, or simply driving to the next town for groceries. But what of the person who really doesn't travel? He who is born, lives, and dies in the same town, knowing the same people, doing the same things. Is he not happy? Perhaps the phrase 'There is no happiness for him who does not travel' isn't meant to be taken literally. You can travel places without even leaving your home. Perhaps it's merely the connotation that a person who travels not in life, is unhappy. And travel in life is inevitable. Every day that we change, try to make ourselves better, try to accomplish some ambition, or just the act of trying to live a good life, all of this constitutes a journey. Sure, it's not seemingly as romantic as traveling to different places, whether abroad or at home, but it is the greatest journey that anyone can take. Sometimes the greatest things in life are just hidden behind this facade of what often seems to be something arid or unexciting. So the greatest unhappiness perhaps comes to him who does not change, does not live life to the extent it was meant to be lived, does not embark on the great journey of constantly trying to reach one's fullest potential. In the end, we are all travelers, wanderers, and wayfarers, and it's exciting to think of all that we are constantly moving towards.