This is the sad reality for most of us trying to pursue our passion. Some people don’t understand why you’d rather carry your huge backpack instead of the usual leather handbag. Some people don’t understand why you’d rather paint instead of typing an office document. Some people don’t understand why you’d rather sing instead of attending a corporate meeting. And some people will never understand why you treat travelling as your life.
This is the harsh reality of our society. They all want us to be like them. Who will type the document for them if you’re out there enjoying your life? Who will man their stores if you’re out there enjoying and understanding the culture of the places that you go to? If you don’t believe anymore in the illusion of money and success that they have made us believed in the past, the existing system will lose its power.
That’s why it’s difficult. That’s why it will hurt you if you swim against the current. You will be judged if your measure of success is different from the majority. You will be judged if your choices are different from the majority. And sadly, some of our love ones also think this way. We were all brought up in this kind of materialistic system and majority of us accepted it whole-heartedly.
I know a lot of people who loathes their 9-5 routine. They’d rather pursue “something else”, but that “something else” is not as profitable as their existing jobs. They couldn’t leave the same thing that they hate doing every day, maybe because of their needs, or maybe because of their wants or maybe because it’s easier that way. I’m not sure, but maybe it’s easier to just go with the flow and blind-heartedly follow the norms while you’re slowly dying inside.
But at the end of the day, it’s a choice. You can choose on how to live your life. You can choose to live your passion.
If you still don’t know what you’re passionate about, then spend a lot of time figuring them out. Don’t think it’s a waste of time. You’ve wasted a lot of time already doing things that you don’t love. It’s about time that you do something that will make you feel alive.
I suggest you start by reading blogs of people who are very passionate about something.
Here are a few blogs that I suggest you check out:
1. We Are Sole Sisters: Two friends who recently left their job to travel. Follow Chichi and Lois’s adventures as they travel around Asia.
2. Worldwalk Peace Tour: Follow the amazing journey of Ferenc and Istvan as they walk around the world
3. The Pinay Travel Junkie: Follow Gay’s adventure as she travels around Asia and soon the world with her husband Shervin and their cute baby girl, Luna.
4. The Longest Way Home: Follow Dave’s search for a place to call home.
5. Journeying James: Follow James as he travels around the Philippines and Asia. He’s such an inspiration because he makes it possible in a very tight budget.
6. Hole in the Donut: After decades of working in some corporations, Barbara called it quits and traveled the world. Her travelogues will surely keep you inspired and captivated.
7. The Pinay Solo Backpacker: Gael’s travelogues will make you want to join her adventures. Follow her as she prepares for her ultimate dream… to go for a long term backpacking trip.
These are just a few of the blogs that will surely inspire you to reach for that dream to see the world. It may be a holiday to Egypt or a volunteer stint in Africa or perhaps you want to be a dive master in the Philippines or Thailand.
But, if travelling is not your dream, I encourage you to browse the internet to search for other people who are living their passion. Don’t give up until you find the “something” that will make you tick.
I remember telling one professor in UP that I use a backpack when I travel, and I was surprised at her answer. She said, “Ah that’s because you don’t travel abroad. I travel outside the Philippines a lot, and people like me use the rolling luggage.” Needless to say, I was speechless ^_^
our society is now full of useless labels… keep on travelling Aleah regardless of the kind of bags that you use…
this is deep flip.
that materialistic system i hate, i hate consumerism along with it. medyo swerte lang ako bec my family supports my endeavors.
i just feel sorry for those who doesn’t want to follow their passion.
thanks pala for the mention
you could say that. the systemic capitalist system deeply ingrained in our society is driving this consumerist structure which you abhor.
off with capitalism then!
Thanks for the mention Flip! Very true! We need to come alive because that’s exactly what the world needs. People who have come alive.
But yeah, it was kind of tough to give up those platform heels for a pair of all-weather boots. I’m still a girl after all
and it’ll all be worth it… wow you’re leaving this week… time flies so fast….
I know I’ve always wanted to travel but it’s just last year that I realized that it’s one thing I LOVE to do.. Thanks to all travel blogs that I got to read. I have been able to get out of my comfort zone and pushed myself that I can do it. Hats off to those who follow their heart despite the risks involved.
follow your heart Jeff and along the way you’ll find a way to strike the balance…
salamat sa link Flip!
d ako maxado nagsasalita na about my ultimate goal this year baka kase mausog eh. Working on it secretly. hehe Tama ka! Follow you heart! 
I’m slowly tripping around the Philippines since I can still endure working on my sucky 9-5 job BUT I’m also looking ahead for that lengthy traveling around Asia or perhaps the world sometime in a couple of years from now….got to prepare the troops for that one…hopefully I can do a year or two on the road…then I can call it a life…
tara na lamyerda na tayo, nagresign na ko sa work
tnx flip you and the rest of the bloggers i’m following has been an inspiration, sarap lumabas sa comfort zone, it’s like a new world for me 
happy traveling!
wow!!! goodluck on your trips
…
tnx flip for leaving a comment on my site, naaliw naman ako ng bongga at tumaba puso ko hehe, big time at sikat na blogger ka kaya hehe… more travel for us!
set a goal, mine’s when i am 30 i will be saving up for a really really looong trip!
wowowweee! i’m excited for you jerik! go to india on your 30th birthday and stay there for at least a month…
like Gael, sana di mausog but i am planning to go to India in the next few months for about two weeks lang!!! Hey man, please blog about your plan for march and the coming months, i really wanna know where you’re heading?!
ill blog about it
I think that many of the people who judge you for pursuing your passion of travel are not just trying to get you to conform to everyone else. Although I’m sure that it is one of the reasons they judge you about what you’re doing. However, many of them would love to just drop their day job and do something else, but they don’t think that it is possible. And if they see you do something amazing like long-term traveling, it highlights to them that they have been unable to do what they want to do. It could be to save their own ego rather than getting you to be like everyone else.
nice point man.
hi flipnomad, good to read what you have to say about swimming against the current. it feels like i have been doing that a great part of my life. one day it will pay off (in internal happiness) but for now it is still a bumpy ride. when that day arrives i will also start travelling much more. to do that now feels like running away from the struggle only to find it waiting for me when i return. all the best!
wishing you all the best on your quest for a better life…
very inspiring post. really. just what i needed to hear. glad to have come across the pinoy travel blogging community. hope to join in the fun soon!
———-
lakadlipadpinoy.com
enjoy blogging paul
thanks for dropping by…