The Boringbug

Every alternate week(end), I find ways to escape this mundane life. This is by way of discovering a café, a heritage monument, a piece of writing, sketching, or a spontaneous trip to a random destination. This idea of spontaneity and self-discovery has helped me come out of my introversion and step into the social world.

Few people are aware of my introversion, and this is apparent from my constant and albeit random escapes from social gatherings. It is in order to overcome this struggle that I push myself everyday into events that are not normal for me, such as socializing and taking active interest into conversations. Yes, I enjoy understanding what people have to say or offer, but it is a challenge nevertheless.

It has been 15 years living away from home, and every morning I pause momentarily, with a deep sigh, to compose and ready myself to push out into the world. If you have ever seen me randomly sitting by a hill, river, sea/cruise, or alone despite being in a group of people, you have seen the real me- caught me in the mundane.

But, but, you are not an introvert? Maybe you are just weird!

Please believe me, the introversion (or the misdiagnosed ambiversion) does not make you weird, irrespective of what you might have heard in your formative years. And no, introversion does not make you a criminal either (remember that CID episode).

However (random realisation that this is every lawyer’s dream word to initiate an intervention with), this post is not about my introversion rather it is about what inspires me to travel. In the world of introversion, social anxiousness, draining social energy, where everyone enjoys their uniqueness, what inspires me to push myself out of my comfort zone? I may very well spend days lying in my bed, surrounded by books, sketchbooks and a mobile to play games on. What makes it so important for me?

Traveling comes across as a form of self-discovery, and traveling solo helps me contemplate life. While I read authors, I shape myself up with their thoughts, their observation and narratives reflect in my speech. However (yep this word again), I cannot always agree with their narrative. How can I, without ever witnessing the world with my own eyes? One cannot formulate one’s own opinion, understand the nuances of the world without having experienced it for oneself- just a tandem difference between theory and practicality.

Yes, you learn from others’ experiences. I do not have to put my hand in a molten lava to determine whether it would burn me or not, or electrocute myself to determine whether water is a good conductor of electricity. This is where reasonability and rationality come into play. You experience and unfurl your own myth but with reason.

As long as you discover yourself, sometimes by way of travel and observing people, you realise that the world does not exist in black and white. In reality, it is what lies in between- colours.

Everyone is living a story, authored not by a narrator but by the probabilistic networks determined by our actions. Traveling happens to be one such network for me.

What about you? How do you push past your own challenges? Do share your thoughts below.

by boringbug