I am a deeply flawed woman, with strengths that have developed into double edged swords during my time in college. I prioritize clever bitterness over thoughtful kindness and possess a deep passion for change and action that leave me perpetually unsatisfied. As I prepare to depart on my 30-day trek across Spain followed by a backpacking adventure east for an indefinite amount of time, I recognize that I will have a lot of time to grow as a person. By articulating a purpose for this journey, I hope that I may find more success. While the Spanish route I will be taking is traditionally a Catholic pilgrimage, I have found inspiration that I connect with more directly in two books I have recently read: Give with Gratitude by Katie Krueger, and Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. From these two novels, I have developed three clear priorities for my journey: people, purpose, and peace.
Give with Gratitude was written by my Digital Marketing professor Katie Krueger in 2007. In my time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this powerful, articulate, inspiring woman was the first faculty member I truly connected with. The novel serves as a reflection of Krueger’s time in Senegal, West Africa, and a series of stories that narrate the lessons she learned. Her story paints a dynamic picture of community and demonstrates the power of love when shared with everyone you meet.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is a book my good friend Collin Wisniewski shared with me. Written in 1951, it is the story of a man on a journey for peace and wisdom, with strong influences from Buddhist belief and culture.
People
From each of these books, it was clear that self-actualization was only achieved through new friendships. In the book Siddhartha, Hesse shares Siddhartha’s travels as a selfless monk, a gluttonous businessman, and a modest ferry guide. Each of these diverse experiences were meaningful not due to the activity itself, but due to the relationships built with the people along the way (141). I am convinced that the people I meet will prove to be the most enriching part of my trip. One of my favorite quotes from Give with Gratitude that delves deeper into the mindset behind meaningful relationship-building was that “anything worth having is worth sharing” (21). Krueger shares a beautiful story about this lesson, and I was shocked and embarrassed with how starkly this idea contrasts from the traditional American mindset. I am so naturally focused on “having” that the concept of sharing everything you possess with your community feels deeply foreign. I am curious about how a shift in mindset like this could alter my life. On my journey, I want to build relationships through purposeful selflessness, and approach people with authentic curiosity regarding the experiences and wisdom they have.
Purpose
In addition to learning through openness to new friendships, I hope that this trip will serve as a tool to explore my purpose in life. Hesse described Siddhartha, who explored his life purpose throughout the book, with the mindset “I am not going anywhere. I am only on the way” (93). As a woman who is not yet sure where I am going, this passage stuck out to me. In Give with Gratitude, Krueger provided more clear advice for the discovery of one’s purpose, largely rooted in the virtue of patience that I so deeply lack. “Ndank, Ndank,” is a traditional phrase in the language of Wolof, spoken by an ethnic group in western Senegal. In English, this means “step by step” (61). Everything you wish to discover should be sought after one step at a time. While I am unsure exactly where I am going, and what exactly I want to learn, I know that I can choose to cover ground step by step until I stumble upon something meaningful.
Peace
Finally, a main idea in each of these books was the exploration and pursuit of peace, through Buddhism or travel. From these two books together, I have discovered overlapping themes of time and faith that seem to lend to ultimate peace.
I was surprised to see that each of these books challenged the American approach to time that I am accustomed to: time as something that can be spent, invested, or wasted. In the book Give with Gratitude, Krueger learns from a wise teacher that “time is nothing but an illusion” (61). This idea is exercised in many parts of Senegalese culture, primarily in the value placed on relationship building over everything else. Throughout the book, genuinely happy people consistently chose relationships over efficient use of time. In Siddhartha, the enlightened main character shares at the end of the book that “there is no such thing as time” (106). Hesse invites us to consider how a river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, and how that might compare to the transitory nature of our own lives (107). The idea of time as an illusion challenges me to reevaluate how I prioritize things in my life, and how this journey might look different if I treat the concept of time as relative rather than something to be saved and used efficiently.
In both books, distinct, wise cultures seemed to be focusing much of their energy on faith. In Siddhartha, Hesse describes the feeling of awakening when a person stops thinking deeply and simply focuses on the present: "The world was so beautiful when looked at in this way - without any seeking, so simple, so childlike" (46). This sense of purposeful
awareness and deep appreciation is not something that comes easily to me, but served as a cornerstone for Siddhartha's journey of faith in the novel. Similarly, Krueger shares that the Senegalese secret to happiness was that "we wake up each morning and the first thought we focus on is to thank God” (15). Clearly, simple appreciation for everything is a meaningful life skill. Krueger also explores the idea that “traveling alone is an act of faith" as you must believe that around every corner you will find things that are good and worthwhile (89). This concept has me convinced that travel and appreciation are inherently connected, and that through hours of daily hiking my I may appreciate the world around me with fresh eyes.
I am a deeply flawed woman. I can see so clearly the ways I can be putting more good into the world, and incredible books like Give with Gratitude and Siddhartha have inspired me to focus on that growth during my time abroad. I am confident that through authentic interest in the people I encounter, a meaningful path and purpose will become clear. Further, as I explore the power of faith and challenge the way I see time, this trip may provide enlightenment to cleverness rooted in kindness, and counter my persistent dissatisfaction with a source of inner peace.
I have so much to learn. I can't wait.
Comentários