Valentine’s Day is upon us and just as every year, I’m single. Yet, unlike every year, I’m on the road without any intention of stopping for anyone. Always being on the move seems like I’ll never have time to form any romances, right? Wrong.
Travel brings out a different side to those who wish to see the world which means you meet people willing to take risks to open their hearts and let you in. Even if it’s just for a moment. Maybe it’s something in the air (or the water) because you know that you may not ever see that person so why waste the precious time you have together? Live in the moment and give all of yourself to this person with whom you share a connection.
While traveling, you’re constantly moving and sometimes you have to make a choice: do I want to spend more time with this person or shall we leave it as it is? Rational thinking hardly comes into play because you don’t have one week to decide– you have one moment. Therefore you go with what feels right and what you desire. It won’t last forever but, damn, it will last that day and all that matters is the present.
Not only are you meeting new people from all over the world but you are also experiencing new things together. Whether it’s searching for waterfalls or gazing at the stars, romancing doesn’t stop at flowers and chocolate while on the road. In fact it becomes the much simpler things in life that bring you closer together and creates unforgettable memories.
On this Valentine’s Day, I’m reflecting on the past romances I’ve had since traveling:
There was that time when he showed me around his country, revealing the best kept secrets and timing everything perfectly for maximum awe and we kissed after midnight
And there was he who helped me translate when I clumsily stumbled onto the bus like a lost foreigner, laughed at me, gave me some pudding and then showed me around his city.
Or when I saw him again for the first time in years and it was like I was meeting a whole new person as we caught up and reflected on our pasts.
I could never forget about the one that didn’t speak English but he taught me his language and I taught him mine, yet we hardly needed words to communicate.
And the unexpected one that had a hint of crazy that almost sent us off the road as we sped down the hill with me on the back of his motorbike and we both took a breath as our hearts were racing.
Then there was the flirtatious one that wasted no time in showing his interest after I said hi. And every night he crawled in my bed where we silently “cuddled”, our roommates asleep.
Or the time we traveled together, looked up at the stars, drank whiskey and beer, danced the night away, and relieved each other’s stresses of travel when we finally had a moment alone.
And the one I went searching for the brightest stars with, just before the moon rose and while we were walking through the dark woods, I saw my first firefly.
But of all of them, I will never forget the persistent one. The one who never gave up despite my rejections. He made me laugh and always looked at me with beautiful eyes. We had the most crazy times together, an endless list of wonderful moments.
Even without sex, I find a connection with different men and when I know it’s right, I know it’s right. Rather than denying my feelings, I am completely honest with myself and based on that I find I’ve been happy creating these small moments in time with these beautiful men. And when we part it is never completely in sadness but rather in happiness as we are fortunate to have collided in this big world of chaos, even if it were just one spec of time.
