Motivational Monday: The beauty of friendships on the road
Published by Johnny Ward on July 23, 2012
Loneliness is a common emotion on the road, especially when you travel alone however, it’s not an emotion that lasts long, trust me. Sometimes paths cross and sometimes they separate but it’s what happens in between that keeps us going.
“True happiness is only known when shared” Alexander Supertamp
Every time I embark on a new leg of my journey I let a group of friends know my vague plans, I hope that one or two of them are at a juncture in their lives that they can join me, and over the past 6 years that’s happened quite a lot.
It’s common for people to feel stifled by their job, to dread the alarm on a Monday, to be in a relationship that’s dragging them down – I offer them a way out, or at the very least, a break from their status quo where they can get their heads straight and work out what it is they want from life.
Traveling with someone does something that no other walk of life can truly do. It creates a bond that really cements a friendship, it takes you from drunken bar buddies to someone you can rely on, share your problems with and rejoice in each other’s success.
Traveling, and backpacking in particular, is no holiday as any true traveler can attest to. You’ll be lost, beyond tired, hungry, hungover, broke, homesick, uncomfortable, too hot, too cool, heartbroken. You’ll also be ecstatic, happy, appreciative, free, independent, positive, enthusiastic, exhilarated, and radiant. The range knows no end.
Extreme emotions are tied to traveling and there’s no avoiding it. Your travel buddies will see the best and worst of you, they’ll see you from defensive to vulnerable, from selfish to selfless and if you’re still at the next platform, waiting to board the night train to your next destination, cracking jokes about the crazy sh*t that’s happened on your trip, then you’ve probably got a friend for life.
Traveling reveals new depths of friendships. You’ve got proof that your travel pals are there for you through thick and thin, and it’s reassuring. Your paths may separate but your bond will remain strong. Continents may be between you, but your experiences transcend that. Every facebook status liked, every new backpacking plan and you’re right back together again, even if it’s just in thought. And sometimes that’s all you need.
Loneliness only exists when we forget to appreciate the friendships that we’ve already formed, the escapades that you’ve shared with people you’re close to, so next time that sad pang hits your heart, recollect the good times, reminisce. How can you be lonely when you’ve shared all those experiences with someone, and they’re only a thought away. Happy travels.
Tags: friendship, inspiration, motivational monday
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OneStep4Ward loves to hear from you readers, so don't by shy! 
“Yes mate!” in my best Johnny Ward voice. See you on the road sooner than later…
Sooner i hope buddy
haha, sooner bro – much sooner!
Love your motivational Mondays! More please soon mate…
Working on them
man, I don’t know how I missed this post previously. It’s great. I’m hoping to get some buddies to come down here to Chile over the next several months or somewhere down here in South America. Great writing!
Hope they come bro, you’ll have the best time imaginable – i don’t doubt that for a second!
Great article Johnny! Over the last few months my best experienced were shared with the lot of you boys and a few others. I can’t wait to be on the road again and I know it won’t be long before we’re traveling together again. Enjoy Israel buddy
thanks Ian, great times mate
Hope to see you soon in the east!
thanks ian, hopefully see u in the East sometime soon bro
There certainly is no dispute to this. Over the last few months my best experiences have been shared with the lot of you and a few others. Thanks for the great times boys and it won’t be long before we’re on the road together again!! Great article Johnny. Enjoy Israel
Great post Johnny, absolutely spot on – and you used my favourite quote even though I never get it right!
Was great catching up with you on Friday, can’t wait to actually see you again next year!
Miss ya, stay safe and will be thinking of you come Thursday
you gave that quote to me Duffster, much appreciated!
April will be here before we know!
P.S Loving your website, great read
And with that being said, here’s to Iceland and going in search of the Northern Lights mate! December can’t get here quick enough!
northern lights here we come mate, gonna be epic!
I can’t really say I ‘traveled’ there (was a geography school trip when I was 15) but it was brilliant! Bloody annoying that it didn’t really get dark though.
Some very good thoughts, Johnny!
Sometimes I’m astonished by the opposite. Other lone traveller3, that I say hello to, but immediately realise, they prefer to stay alone. And then back home they probably complain, how shitty everything was. …
Then it’s just next person, next try to me.
Greetings from another continent, from Burma, Charles
mr Rahm! always good to hear from you – in Burma no less? Cool country i know exactly what u mean btu some ppl are just born to be alone! lol.
Still based in Bangkok? I’ll be there in October, will u be around? Also, going to your home country in the next couple of months too!
So true. You get to know a travel companion soo well its scary. Especially like the line about the transformation from “drunken bar buddies” haha
thanks Phil, nothing wrong with drunken bar buddies either tho! lol
No truer words were said – miss you already big man.
Thanks Mr Qais, cheers for the memories