Loneliness and Connection: The Inner Balance Quest of a Traveler

Deeply impactful stories, all of us have them, I know. Our encounters, experiences, and journeys, none of them seem to be mere coincidences. Every second in our life turns into a transformative journey triggering our development. In these journeys, sometimes we find ourselves alone, while at other times, we seek inner balance by forming profound connections. Last year, I embarked on a journey to find my inner balance, leaving many things behind.

Upon graduation, like many others, I felt the pressure to follow the corporate path, perhaps even fearing the consequences of not doing so. The sequence of graduating, starting a job, saving money, and then getting married, you know the drill. However, adhering to this sequence can be challenging when circumstances or our inner reasons prevent us from doing so. Suddenly, I found myself stepping far beyond this predetermined order. Maybe life's flow didn't allow it, or perhaps I didn't allow it myself.

In my corporate job, I learned a lot and had the opportunity to work with a fantastic team. However, over time, I felt disappointed by the actions of my loved ones. I had learned to love and believe, but then I realized I was being exploited for the sake of others' interests. Love, astonishment, anger, and the process of forgiveness—a difficult one indeed, especially forgiveness... Maybe all these emotional upheavals were signs from life, guiding me toward following my own path. Despite working in a dynamic field like "communication," I felt trapped and started losing my creativity. I needed a change of scenery and an adventure to reignite my creativity. I had to take risks to find my own truth, support my inner journey, and explore my passions while staying true to my values. First, I resigned from my job, and then I came to a place I had never been before—Portugal—and subsequently traveled to five more countries in five months. I keep setting new goals every month.

This journey for me is not just a trip but also an opportunity to push my emotional and mental boundaries. Trying different cuisines from different cultures, meeting new people, and listening to their stories while sharing my own has brought me profound peace. Every week, every month, living with my backpack and a small amount of money in my pocket in a new country, I felt alive. Each new experience opened new doors and introduced new people into my life.

There is a quote in 'Eat Pray Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert, 'Maybe, you are a woman searching the word of yours?' And yes! I wonder, what is my word? I am still searching. In every phase of our lives, we ponder the 'maybes.' Sometimes, I think, 'Maybe I made a mistake on this path, maybe I'm wasting my efforts.' However, every day, I feel like these 'maybes' are strengthening me even more.

"Sometimes losing balance for love is part of balanced living" (Gilbert, 2006, Eat Pray Love). When a spark ignites in one's heart, sometimes balance is lost. But this imbalance is actually an experience life offers us. Sometimes, we need to lose. Losing balance can be worth what we gain, and even if it's not, it teaches us a lot. We fight, strive, insist, and sometimes travel the whole world in search of what we're looking for. What I have learned throughout this process is that you can miss someone, so miss him/her. You can love someone, so love him/her. Don't suppress your emotions, experience everything, feel everything, and whenever your heart aches, send your love and light to that person, and then let go. Remember, nothing is permanent...

The quest for inner balance, as described in this blog, continues to make significant contributions to my career and inner world. By distancing myself from academic rankings and stereotypes, I have gained the opportunity to express myself more freely, focusing on my talents and the things I love doing. There are no rules here; you set your own limits... Money can be earned somehow; you won't die of hunger. However, youth is limited, and so is health. Perhaps in the future, you'll be rich and free, but your health won't allow you to explore. That's why it's important to step out of your comfort zone and societal expectations, to live your own reality, to explore, to seek love and be loved, and to be courageous and venture beyond the limits.

Elif Irmak Erkek