Travel Challenge

It's a cliche, I know... Life is too short. And it is. Before you know it your twenties are well behind you and thirty to forty, well, don't talk to me about it.

Who wants to live a normal life, a boring life, a life with no risk?

Well, that's what we all tend to do when we're at home. At work we are rewarded for competency and getting things right. At home we crave order and routine, going into auto-pilot most of the time. A welcome distraction, oh no, not for me, not when I've got to get the dinner on.

But, there is an alternative. As Ben Aldridge says in his book "How To Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable", "the main purpose ... is to complete challenges and leave our comfort zones. It’s a very practical concept and something that teaches us about ourselves through direct experience. By facing the unknown and dealing with discomfort, we will become better at being uncomfortable."

So, how can we use Ben's advice when travelling?

The answer is that travel is not the norm for most people.

The very fact that you will be doing something out of the ordinary gives you so many opportunities to challenge yourself.

For minimalist travellers, we are always on the look out for a way to pack less, we enjoy the feeling of lightness and freedom from baggage, and we're not just talking about the physical baggage either - mental baggage is even better to leave behind.

Minimalist travel is one small challenge, and one that has no major downside. If you usually pack luggage that goes into the hold of the plane, why not reduce the case size or better still, take carry on luggage only.

Travel is the opportunity to try something different. To take a break from being the "old" you. Be the daring person you can be, the person you really are.

Start small, build big.