Our Shared Shelf discussion

As I was reading My Life On the Road, I was enchanted by Gloria Steinem's travels. It made me want to drop everything and travel the world. But, that's not an option for many people. How can one create a 'travel' or 'on the road' mindset when traveling is not an option?

Hey, Kaycee! Such a thought-provoking question you have here. :)
I believe that there is indeed a 'travelling' state of mind of sorts. In fact, isn't precisely that what life is all about? A finite yet endless travel where we often change our pace and way of transportation but we always keep moving. Sometimes we make a stop or there's something on our road that forces us to do so; sometimes we seem to be in constant motion through different people, landscapes and states of being. As I grow older, it often occurs to me that I am not myself fully anymore, for I am now also composed of the places I've been to and small parts of those who are or have been dear to me. In my daily speech, I suddenly find a friend's usual expression. In a song, I meet with someone who is faraway from me or else I gain a cherished memory. Different foods also make me remember the time or the place where I had them. Your hometown is probably filled with images that are deeply linked to yourself.
I mean, even this forum, where we ultimately never get to see each others' faces but for a profile pic, and that we visit on our free time, is perhaps already making a difference for some of us in between jobs, family life, daily chores and whatnot.
Nearly every small act in our life matters, I would say, so get involved in whatever there is around you, as little or as much as you can. Try really finding out about the cultural agenda in your city, try and meet more people. If there's a topic that piques your interest, then try and incorporate it to your readings. Make the most of a holiday to go somewhere different. Get out of your comfort zone.
Mostly, as holy Jack Kerouac once said, 'Live, travel, adventure, bless, and do not be sorry.'
(I sort of let myself be carried away by my thoughts here, haha, sorry!) :)

I love your perspective, Ana!
I agree with what you wrote about being composed of the places you've been to.
Lately, I've been trying to be present in each moment even if it is a route I've driven hundreds of times before. I see things that I overlooked previously. It's kind of like viewing the area through a traveler's eye. I think that when we go through life on autopilot we miss the beauty of everyday life.

I vaguely remember in the book, Steinem said something like - not everybody can travel, but the 'on the road' state of mind is not just about traveling. It's about being open to, and seeking out, new experiences, and being willing to go where the universe wants to take you ("if you find yourself drawn to an event against all logic, go. The universe is telling you something").

Like Ana said, it's about going out of your comfort zone to learn about new perspectives and experience new things! :)

In an effort to keep and 'on the road' state of mind, a friend of mine has begun renting out her second bedroom to other travellers. She spends time getting to know many of her guests, shows them around her area, or just chats with them to hear about their journey. She is both supporting other people by giving them a place to stay on the road, and keeping herself in an 'on the road' state of mind in between her own travels as well.

Caitlin wrote: "In an effort to keep and 'on the road' state of mind, a friend of mine has begun renting out her second bedroom to other travellers. She spends time getting to know many of her guests, shows them a..."

That is a really neat way of having a traveling mindset, especially for people who might be less inclined to travel for financial or personal reasons.

Why I don't drive - "Because adventure starts the moment I leave my door." p. 70

I completely agree with the idea of a travelling 'state of mind'.. in my opinon the great thing about Gloria and the book is that the road is ultimately an attitude, as she often says 'because I asked', or in general, how her curiosity and the desire to know the person next to her, lead to all the experiences and the discoveries of the road.
I believe that this attitude is actually a really revolutionary one: in a world where we are first of all more and more absorbed by technology and social media and we pay less and less attention to our sourrondings, and secondly where as women we are told to be careful, not to talk to strangers, to be wary and defensive because there might be a 'bad guy' waiing for us around the corner.
I believe is a truly inspiring thing.

I think one good way is to use public means of transport, since one can way better concentrate on one's surrounding. And one can always try to meet new people, like here on OSS. I don't think that the "on the road state of mind" is only connected to the road, it can also happen here, one can meet other people and get into discussions. But I also think that the road helps one to understand the arguments. It's different to hear a story when you sit next to the narrator, than read it on the web.