Chapter 14
@worth_traveling_to:
Why do you like to travel so much? Besides the obvious answers. I want to know the deeper reason behind it.
@girl_sees_the_world:
We’ve been messaging back and forth for ten months, and we haven’t even exchanged names yet. And now you want to know something deep? I don’t know if I’m ready to cross that line. It feels like things are moving too fast. (winky-face emoji)
@worth_traveling_to:
There’s something liberating about messaging a stranger, don’t you think? You can be honest and real without all the pretenses.
@girl_sees_the_world:
Honest and real? That’s what you’re after?
@worth_traveling_to:
I think so. Just the real me and the real you.
@girl_sees_the_world:
Minus any personal information.
@worth_traveling_to:
Yes, minus that.
@girl_sees_the_world:
Okay, then. If I’m being honest, the real me travels to escape things.
@worth_traveling_to:
What are you trying to escape?
@girl_sees_the_world:
At first, it was my family. I wanted to be oceans away because I was embarrassed of them. But now that I’m a little older, I think I travel to escape the person everyone thinks I am. For good or bad, I’ve been labeled a lot of things, but when I’m somewhere foreign, all those labels disappear, and I get to be the version of myself I like the best.
@worth_traveling_to:
If it’s any consolation, I like the version of you I see.
@girl_sees_the_world:
Thanks, but really, you don’t know anything about me.
@worth_traveling_to:
That’s not true. I know you’re a great conversationalist—messaging you has taken up all my free time. You have a vast knowledge of the world and other cultures. I hang on your every last word when you talk about some of your favorite countries. And judging by the types of activities you post, you’re adventurous, you like to have fun, and you’re a bit of a daredevil—all things that I find extremely attractive in a woman. Plus, I’m intrigued by the fact that you’re addicted to being on game shows.
@girl_sees_the_world:
So basically, I’ve shown you the best version of myself. I’m really good at only showing people what I want them to see. Coworkers get my professional side. Family gets my worst. Friends get a mix of everything in between.
@worth_traveling_to:
Where do I fall?
@girl_sees_the_world:
I don’t know. I guess you’re getting more of the real me than most people. Like you said, you can be honest and real when messaging a stranger.
@worth_traveling_to:
I have a feeling I’d like the other versions of you as well.
@girl_sees_the_world:
That’s to be determined.
@worth_traveling_to:
Try me. What’s one of the “labels” you’ve been given in your everyday life that you get to escape while traveling?
@girl_sees_the_world:
I like to be in charge of things. When someone is looking for a volunteer or choosing someone to run something, I immediately think I would be better at it than everyone else in the room. I don’t always want to be in charge; it’s just this understanding inside my head that I would be the best person for the task. And it’s probably some sort of a false confidence in myself, but I can’t help it. I think I’m better equipped to run things than everyone else, even if it’s not true. So I’ve been labeled as…controlling. (grimace emoji)
And this is the moment you realize I’m a psycho and never message me again.
@worth_traveling_to:
You are a psycho. In fact, there’s probably a psych ward looking for you right now.
I’m kidding if you can’t tell. So you have a type-A personality? Who cares? It takes all kinds to make the world go ‘round. I don’t view it as a negative trait. I love working with people like you.
@girl_sees_the_world:
You’re just saying that to make me feel better about my OCD tendencies.
@worth_traveling_to:
No, really. I hate being in charge of things. I can do it if I have to, and I’m pretty good at it, but I’m not volunteering myself for anything. I prefer to sit back and let everyone else do the work while I enjoy life. You’re the perfect yin to my yang.
@girl_sees_the_world:
Does sitting back and letting others do the work make you feel lazy or like you should be doing more?
@worth_traveling_to:
No, it makes me feel stress-free and happy.
@girl_sees_the_world:
I’m jealous of you. Why can’t I be content without conventional markers of accomplishment?
@worth_traveling_to:
Who says you have to be? If you’re happy being in charge and you’re in your element, then who says that’s a bad thing? People can be a lot of different things. You can be highly driven and responsible and still like to jump off cliffs recklessly. I like that there are multiple sides to you. It’s what keeps me coming back for more. You keep me on my toes, and it’s exciting.
@girl_sees_the_world:
You’re the first person who hasn’t made me feel like there’s something wrong with my personality.
@worth_traveling_to:
I’m pretty good with risk management. I wouldn’t hang around if I didn’t think you were worth my time.
@girl_sees_the_world:
What about you? What’s the deep reason behind why you travel so much?
@worth_traveling_to:
It was initially just for fun, and it drove my dad crazy. To him, traveling is just one vacation after another. He’s a lot like you—very driven. But he likes to project his personality onto others. He wants me to be more responsible, stop playing around, and grow up. Real men run companies, not see the world. So, I leaned into my carefree lifestyle even more just to spite him. He already thought I was a failure, so I decided I might as well do something I enjoy instead of trying to convince him otherwise. Traveling and seeing new places morphed into something bigger. It became my career and my identity, and, to this day, the reason my father and I don’t get along that well.
@girl_sees_the_world:
So you travel to lean into your labels, and I travel to escape them.
@worth_traveling_to:
Sounds like it.
@girl_sees_the_world:
I happen to disagree with your dad. Real men see the world.
@worth_traveling_to:
Good news for me.