The Fountain of Youth Part 2
Updated: Sep 17
The Search is the Fountain
The Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia
The Search is the Fountain
We’ve all heard about the Fountain of Youth — that mythical source of eternal youth that people travel to the ends of the earth to find. But here’s the irony: the act of seeking is the fountain. This idea hit me hard when I was exploring Southeast Asia back in 1998. While I was backpacking, making my way through over a dozen countries, I came to see travel as a youth tonic, not because it magically keeps you young, but because it forces you to stay curious, flexible, and engaged, and that’s what keeps you young!
The truth is, as long as you keep searching, keep learning, and keep exploring, you’re living young. And you don’t need to book a flight to feel that way.
Travel is Always About Self-Discovery
Even when it’s just a weekend trip to the country, one of the best things about travel is that it forces you to let go of the comfort of familiarity. When you’re in a new place, your habits and possessions don’t define you. Instead, you have to face who you are, flaws and all, without the distractions and comforts of your every-day environment. Travel is a way to rediscover yourself, but it’s also a reminder that there’s always more to learn. The search, after all, is never really over.
Play, and Escape into the Unknown
In my new book Gallivant (A Travelogue), I describe travel as a kind of play, an idea I came to on my own. But I was late to this realization. Alan Wilson Watts (1915–1973), an American author and speaker, recognized for his insightful interpretations of Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophies for Western audiences, once wrote, “This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”
Embracing the unknown with that mindset makes everything feel a little lighter, a little more fun. Even in our daily lives, we can make room for play by trying new things, exploring our neighborhoods, or simply approaching tasks with curiosity instead of resentment… and gratitude.
Finding Gratitude Every Day
Gratitude was my compass on the road through Southeast Asia back in 1998. Every encounter, every meal, every sunrise felt like something to be grateful for. When you’re traveling, you hardly ever have what you want, so you learn to appreciate what you have. I realized that gratitude doesn’t just help us enjoy travel; it’s the key to enjoying life. When we’re thankful for what we have, we’re more likely to see the beauty around us, no matter where we are.
Three days ago I participated in an ancient Yoruba ritual of Thanksgiving to Yemaja and Oshun, the goddesses of water — with dominion over creation, nurturing energy, love, beauty, fertility, and wealth. It was a beautiful, crystal clear morning in Kingston after several which had dawned grey, dark and rainy. I had hardly slept but I woke fresh at dawn, and it felt as if this particular morning was a gift to me from the Universe. So, I went first to the river to say thanks for my life and talent and family and friends and ask for help and guidance. The river was clear and cold and fast and the air was crisp and fresh — and I felt a profound sense of gratitude. Tears came to my eyes and my heart was full. Then I went to the sea to say thanks again for all the many blessings in my life and to ask for guidance for my upcoming journey. The ocean was flat and golden like honey in the early morning sunlight, and I could almost ignore the drifts of plastic bottles and garbage washed ashore and piled on the high tide line. And my gratitude was tinged with a sense of shame for the damage that we humans continue to do to our earth. I wondered how my life could make a difference…
Stay Curious
The one thing I have learned is that the moment we think we have everything figured out, we stop growing. Part of the joy of life — and of travel — is staying open to new things. When you’re willing to admit you don’t know it all, life becomes a lot more interesting. In Gallivant, I wrote about learning to be OK with not having all the answers. But that was just the beginning. Over the past two decades I have learned to say, without shame, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” And that mindset has kept me moving forward, with a sense of wonder.
So, keep searching, keep learning, continue to embrace childlike curiosity and remember that the journey is what makes life worth living.
If you want to read more about the journey that led me to my Fountain of Youth, check out Gallivant on Amazon here.
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