A FALSE PREMISE OF FEAR.

August 1, 2018

I grew up in a bubble—most of us do to some extent. The problem with living in a bubble is that it contorts your idea of reality into a fundamentally flawed worldview. You become accustomed to where you are from, the type of people that you live around, the routine activities of your daily life. And from all of this comfort and familiarity, a fear develops that you don’t even fully realize until you go out in the world. A fear of the unknown, a fear of difference, a fear of discomfort.

If I had a penny for the amount of times people from back home reacted with shock or wide-eyed fear when I told them that I was going to be traveling alone in a couple different countries—well I would probably be able to fill up a large piggy bank. Despite having my friendliness associated with being naive...I try not to be ignorant. I grew up traveling internationally with my family, I have traveled all around and lived in Europe for four months and I have met and befriended countless people from all over the world. I have seen the hardships and dangers that exist in places of extreme poverty and I have seen twisted people who expose the ugly side of human nature. There are places in this world that are especially dangerous to travel to—the Middle East being the most notorious right now, but also parts of Africa, Europe (every continent actually, with the likely exception of Antarctica) and of course even places in the United States. There are people with bad intentions, people who are dangerous and who should be avoided. This is all true—no amount of optimism can invalidate that. But here is what I strongly believe: that is the exception, not the rule. 

We live in a world of almost 8 billion people with an unbelievable amount of diverse cultures and peoples. The spectrum of wealth is as large as the spectrum of beliefs, both religious and moral. And despite what the news tells us and what our parents tell us, people are not innately bad and most should not be feared. When I used to travel, I would stick to myself or the company of my family and friends.  I would hardly, if ever, reach out to a stranger and start a conversation —especially in a new city or country. Why? Perhaps it was shyness, or perhaps it was the ingrained “stranger danger” concept that almost every child gets hard-pressed to subscribe to. But as I got older and began to see the world outside of my bubble and more on my own, I realized how silly it was to have that invisible box of solidarity surround me when I travel. How on Earth can you learn about people, get to know local place, open up your mind to new perspectives and gain a better understanding of the world around you WITHOUT interacting with new people? 

Before every single person you know became a friend, they were a stranger to you. Just think about that. 

There is a reason fear exists. It is an evolutionarily beneficial reaction to sense danger and keep us safe. And there is a reason we should be cautious in some places, and around some people— for judgement is extremely important in situations that could pose a threat to your safety. However, that does not mean you should close yourself off to the rest of the world and all of the amazingly unique people that inhabit every corner of it. I have met some of the kindest people from all over the globe—sitting next to me on airplanes, riding in a taxi, sitting in a cafe, staying in a hostel, going surfing, or even walking on the street. Traveling alone, I have met friends from over a dozen countries—wonderful people who I plan to stay in touch with for years to come. People who have forced me to abandon stereotypes about their culture or country and who have opened my eyes to the realization that there are so many inspiring humans out there. Whether they speak the same language or not, have different values or religious beliefs, or wear a completely different style of dress—those insufficient reasons alone should not prevent you from connecting with another individual. 

I have never understood why and how, people can look at someone different and judge his or her character without knowing anything about them at all. 

Some may think that I sound naive to the dangers that persist in this world, but I would argue the opposite—that I only say all of this because I have talked to so many strangers and have seen the beautiful side of human nature (as well as the ugly) and the kindness that exists in so many cultures. 

Our culture is not superior by any means. We cannot learn and grow from keeping to ourselves. And we miss out on some of the most enlightening experiences by fearing the unfamiliar. So be smart, use good judgement, but don’t be afraid to connect with a stranger. We may all be different, but we are all still just people. Pop the bubble you’re in—it will without a doubt change your life.