May 31, 2022 By Cassandra Johnson
You could choose to be like someone else or dare to be true to yourself. The irony is that in a space where you have your daily habits, routines and responsibilities, you might find yourself being less in tune with yourself in many ways as you try to follow rules, norms, expectations, and possible perceptions.
What is one interesting natural alternative to quickly meeting your authenticity?
Travel.
No one generally knows us where we are going to go yet. Therefore…
We could reinvent or we could reconnect.
I soon realized part of enjoying getaways also lent to getting back to being a free spirit.
The next backdrop turned me towards Cusco. Home of Machu Picchu and my new home. From Arequipa to here, I was less afraid of who I really was and all too familiar with doing what was different. I was homesick in part but in an extreme level of comfort under my own skin. As the nomad minority traveler, I was feeling rather stable and different. I felt my new friends felt it too. We could be a little wild in exploring and likewise be adventurous in just being true to who we really were. What were our own unique styles, expressions and desires?
I’m not from New York, Vegas, New Orleans or similar parts of the US (only a visitor to even livelier cities). I now was able to regularly enjoy that dancing all night meant until 6 am. It just happened to be in Cusco and there were no differences from weekdays to weekends. Chill nights of course had their place too.
Normal life now also meant easy access to some amazing nature and historical settings. Whether it was an hour or about a half-day outing to somewhere like Sacred Valley or Sacsayhuaman, we got countless chances to plan some historic trips and get the connection to what was once Incan empires and other indigenous living. Everyday surroundings were still infused with them. We got the pleasure of befriending 3 native gentleman who would gift us with impromptu Quechua lessons and uninhibited also meant hanging out with them in the plaza, at any given time.
Teaching on weekdays, while challenging at times, also meant a carefree vibe as we connected with local children and who knew how intense our energy reserves could be, even still dancing the night away.
Most of us just traveling, volunteering or doing both, from different walks of life were transported to this place with some similar objectives.
More rooted in curiosity, appreciation, aspiration and even fatigue lent to our lack of inhibition, which ironically to me did not always necessarily mean sheer abandon but rather a heightened comfort with our true feelings and wishes, a step back from various shields we would wear to get through our normal routines back home.
Normal routines had their comforts and authenticity, but I was realizing the varying types of discipline commanded in work, church, an even how to behave leisurely was easily inhibiting. I welcomed the gentle reminder traveling in the States or abroad could bring. Nothing had to be perfect. The misadventures, gloom, and danger have happened. I just know sometimes taking a break from the autopilot has its freedoms too.