Philosophies of Chance

One of my Lonely Planet 'Blue lists'....

Philosophies of Chance for the Lonely Traveller

Freedom
Freedom is an ideal. True freedom however, exists within the self. Think of things you have never done before, and then just do them. Be it sitting in a bar alone, karaoke, nude life-modelling or speaking a foreign phrase. If one so chooses, lone travel will liberate you from fear and conditioning.

Coincidence
Most travellers are familiar with the phenomenon of coincidence. You bump into an acquaintance in a bar in Barcelona or pass your long-lost sister on an escalator in a random airport somewhere. What does it mean? Maybe nothing, but maybe something. Just think about it.

Signs
Whether you believe in fate or not, it is an interesting concept to toy with as alone traveller. Always look for signs and opportunities. Life is full of them and you can choose to let them pass you by unnoticed, or you can choose to observe them. The path this leads one down will only be a rich and exciting one.

Gambling
Taking intelligent chances is the key to successful and rewarding experimental travel and indeed living. Chance and danger is what most people lack in their everyday life which is why they seek it out. Don't buy scratch cards. Book that flight, talk to a stranger, ask for the job, bin the map, deliberately miss the last train and see what happens.

Cause and Effect
For every event there is a cause and an effect, or so modern thinking leads us to believe. For every daily occurence, be aware of the effect this has on the self. Then consider the cause, that through us, it could have on the future. Shape the past that produces your future.

Serendipity
For every person you meet on your travels, or even at home, listen to what they have to say. Every person has a story. Consider what you can learn from every encounter you have. The meaning of life lies within the significance one perceieves in every human interaction.

Opportunity
Never turn your back on opportunities even when it requires effort or discomfort. Pursue them, seek them out, follow them. However, never be foolhardy. Question everything and trust your instincts, they are always right.

Limits
Push the limits within you and the world will expand and unfurl. Taking chances, using your imagination and developing awareness will bring you not closer to the edge, but reveal the joy of the endless possibilities of life. But take care, 'controlled chaos' is the goal.

Luck
Think of yourself as lucky, beause you are. Believe you are a lucky person and you will be. When confronted with difficulty, pain, injustice or frustration, remind yourself that in the future, 'luck' is now in your debt, and it will repay you.