Explore the unknown places and learn about yourself

You’ll gaze with awe at me… – Olya Aman

Supreme importance of charisma

Deep blue eyes and a little scar. The natural grace of my person and that deep voice with a slight wheeze, as if it was broken and never fixed properly. I have that nervous organization that makes one think I am constantly struggling with myself. You will be put out by my peculiarities when you first see me.

I receive every person gruffly enough to avert any foolery towards me. But the atmosphere around me is so healthy and benign after just a moment‘s reflection that every fine-bodied specimen of humankind cannot resist my natural magnetism.

My story is fascinating. So Bent your listening ear to the faintest sound of my charismatic voice…

Become your own faithful friend.

When young and inexperienced, we have a very limited view on ourselves. Often lost in self-doubt, we timidly make unpropitious choices. To avert most misfortunes is to never derogate from every opportunity to learn about ourselves. When your perception goes to many countries and discovers many human characters, the despairing voice of private doubtful thoughts becomes less and less audible until it finds no echo in your soul.

I spent all my childhood years in my native little cozy house in rural Germany. My parents as two faithful guardians kept close watch over their only beloved child, not letting me wander too far from their watchful lead.

I dreamt about courageous travel enterprises, and a world map on my bedroom wall was my devoted comforter. No wonder my favorite subject in school was geography. I could not have enough of every bit of information about the places I wanted to visit.

My mom was not indifferent to my lamentations, but my dad was out of all positive spirits when I announced to them that I’d saved enough money from my laboring vacations to go around the world. By-the-by they used to the idea and offered me a deal that was going to save peace between us.

I had one year right after finishing high school to do what I pleased, but when the time was up, I had to submit to their order and enter the university they’d already picked for me.

Get rid of your private misgivings.

Often the lack of first-hand impressions, that only traveling experience can provide, goes hand in hand with the lack of life-defining self-knowledge. People and places, above all things, teach us to rise to our misfortunes and feel genuine pride for what we do and who we are, and without those, life may be doomed to disappointment.

It dumb-founders my mind now to think about all the self-doubts I had. I left my country being scared as a sheep going right to the claws of a wolf. I was exploding with private misgivings.

Well… To tell the truth, there was not much for me to be worried about, my parents being over productive and overthinking every little thing about my bon-voyage. I had a place to stay in each country on my list: close mother’s friend here, old father’s coworker there, a third cousin of my grandma’s younger sister, a respectable host family… and so on and on and on.

In three months and seven countries, I was driven to my wit’s end by hospitality and predictability and went astray with my plan.

And that when the self-discovery journey began.

Discover new places and get into self-digging.

Most people find themselves hindered in believing that the choice made for them by someone they trust and love is the most prudent and favorable. Disquietude becomes a daily companion for these people and they often find themselves sunk in deepest thought about all other scenarios that could have been possible and most likely happy.

India by far was the most interesting place I visited. This country taught me to love my blunders rather than being ashamed of them. At any rate, they suited me admirably. I mixed words and time-zones; I forgot names and numbers; I got lost in wonderings and markets… but I was good-tempered and compassionate — and those were the only valuable things needed in the country where heart treasures reign over any material possessions.

Now I can see clearly that if I hadn’t made mistakes at that time, I would’ve failed in becoming who I am today. I was finally disposed to favor myself to the utmost not ‘despite of’ but ‘even if’ finding myself tripping.

Traverse the countries and occupations.

Traveling helps to obtain a commanding view on all the possible scenarios in life. By trying new things and learning new skills, we get a better picture of how other people make their living. There is no other way to know if you like it unless you do it, even if for a short time.

Halfway to Sydney, Australia, and a half through the predetermined traveling year, I got tired of misnomers. In France I was a writer, a true worshiper of Hemingway; in Spain I dared play Gaudi; in Italy — Michelangelo; a philosopher in Greece, a detective in England, a politician in Ireland…

I gave myself enough concern on the subject and scrupulously went through my abilities and preferences. Outfits and movies were my bug-bear faults. This passion I decided to transform to dexterity in the next six months I still had to myself. I needed to provide valuable and doubtless proof of my talents so that my dear parents could agree that successful leaving was possible in this occupation. And here I am — a film costume designer.

Beguile the time with valuable encounters.

One worthy encounter can open up a prospect of a brilliant future. The material advantages of some fortune cannot compete with a good conversation that makes the burning ambition possess the person and make him conquer the dream of his life. In the nature of things, people are more costly than any soulless things. So let the new encounters be incessantly renewed in your life.

I worked on many film sets. Found great connections, many acquaintances, and a few friends. I longed to tear away this industry and endured many inclemencies along the way. I was kicked out of my first place in Sydney where I traversed with one of the leading actors trying to push through his objections my vision of his character’s look.

I spent two months in Moscow helping to film a comedy series. My life there was full of daring and chivalry when I was in love, and incessant doubt and torturing suspense when the euphoria ended.

Just an outside observer in China, no one willing to take an apprentice with no language skills what so ever. An errand girl in Canada and an assistant to the Costume Director in Hollywood. Many places, many characters, a load of co-existing experience, and quite a bit in the trade itself.

Become a guru in your trade.

The wealth of feeling — love to your chosen career, should be a cult — the accelerator that drives you to improve yourself constantly and elbow your way through any difficulties to the desired height. The cup of that struggle to learn should leave a sweetness of illustrious improvement on your lips.

Often I find myself in a supernatural aberration of mind that induces me to see the characters, especially if it is historical or fantasy movies. Those are my favorite. I enjoy every day of my life and consider myself endowed in an eminent degree.

This is why you should travel

Traveling by far is the best generator of positive developing stresses in life. The scenes our senses go through should be bewildering sometimes, stunning often, and gloomy now and then.

There is no need to run to and fro and burst in and out in life — you will always be the better (as the case might be for a thoughtful voyage) when gratified by new encounters, in a frenzy of love to nature, and seeing the distinct glimmer of your dream coming true. Explore the unknown places and learn about yourself on the way to every destination.

Stay tuned…