The Paradox of Departure Days

It’s 6:25pm on a Wednesday.

 I’m sitting in the aisle seat on the right side of a GOL Airlines flight, bound for Manaus, Brazil.

 A couple of days ago I thought about the paradoxical nature of departure days.

 On the one hand:

 I’m twenty-nine years old, healthy, and able to travel anywhere in the world. While I’m interested in visiting everywhere, I’m not equally interested in all places. There are certain countries that light a spark in us – for one reason or another, they have an almost magical allure.

 Countries I’ve visited in the past that fit the bill – England, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.

 Countries on the list that I’ve yet to visit – India, China, Australia, and too many African countries to write.

 Then there’s the country on the list I’m flying to right now – BRAZIL.

 The country with the greatest share of the Amazon rainforest, the largest country in South America, and the only one formerly colonized by Portugal.

 A reputation for vibrancy and love of life.

 The women…

 This is by far the number one country of interest for me in the Western Hemisphere.

 What a time.

 One the other hand:

 It hurts to leave those I love – my family, friends, and most noble dog, Winston. All mammals I cherish my time with. It’s scary – spending far more than I’m earning, while people my age are getting married, buying houses, and having babies. It would be one thing if I didn’t want those things – but I do. It’s terrifying to accept that no matter what I do, there’s nothing I can do to guarantee anything. I wonder if this lifestyle will work with my overall dreams.

 …

Which hand to go with?

I always choose the positive outlook to finish wherever my thoughts began.

I have faith - not in some book, or story - but in the idea that if I do the best I can, and always strive to reflect and improve, the rest will work itself out. Terrifying as it is to “let go”, I don’t see another way.

Accepting the uncertainty in life, and knowing that anything worthwhile requires more sacrifice than one wishes for.

Departure days truly are the great paradox 

Hope and fear, bundled into a metal tube - and shot into the sky

Sincerely, 

Jacob

P.S. Fascinating fact – TSA PreCheck at US airports is only valid IF the airline you are flying is a paying member of the registration process (I thought every airline was included). GOL, one of the major Brazilian airlines, is not a member. Didn’t matter, but is quite interesting.

OBRIGADO (“thank you” in Portuguese)