Author Archives: Steven

Travel the World for Two Dollars a Day

17 October 2010

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The other day on the Hundred Goals Facebook Page I asked “What can you buy for two dollars?”  It didn’t take long for some really interesting (and admittedly strange) responses to start coming in.  Tony from Venezuela says he “can’t buy shit” in his country for two dollars.  Isaac can park his car for two hours in the metered parking on campus and two dollars will pay for Sheena’s ATM fees for withdrawing cash from her bank account.

It seems that our feelings for two dollars isn’t much different from two cents…in other words, pretty worthless.  On its own, two dollars really isn’t much.  Maybe it’d get you a couple of McDonald’s cheeseburgers or a few minutes on a payphone but you probably won’t get very much more than that.  You can’t even get a Starbucks coffee for less than two dollars!

If two dollars is such a measly sum, how can anyone possibly travel the world on that kind of money?

In the book The Art of Non-Conformity, Chris Guillebeau points out on page 194 that you can get to almost anywhere in the world for two dollars a day:

I’ve found that even people who say they don’t like travel can usually think of at least one place somewhere in the world they’d like to visit before they die.  I believe that if you can save as little as $2 a day, you can get to that place within two years or less.  Many places cost less, and if you can save more than $2 a day, you can get there sooner.

Two years, 365 days a year, two dollars a day: $1,460.

Seeing it like that makes it look like a pretty impressive amount of money, doesn’t it?  And all you thought two dollars could get you was nothing.  But the question now is, can $1,460 really get you anywhere in the world?  In my experience, yes.  I’ve never paid that much for a plane ticket, so you’ll probably even have money left over to pay for other expenses like a room and the cost of food while you are there.  Okay, it’s probably true that getting to Bora Bora might cost a little more, but in all honesty, not that much more.  To get there in two years, just save a little more each day or save a little while longer.

Maybe you can’t afford to be a world traveler at this point in your life but that doesn’t mean you can’t see the world.  Saving even a small amount of money each day will eventually get you to anywhere you want to be.  Egypt, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Alaska, Russia…anywhere you can imagine.

The next time you think two dollars can’t buy you anything, or that the ATM fee isn’t a big deal, think about what you might be missing out on.  Change your perspective about those two dollars and give your money its value again.  Just imagine yourself wandering around the ancient cities in Greece or riding through the Serengeti on safari and adjust your spending habits accordingly.

Think of your money in terms of how it will bring you closer to accomplishing your goal.  Ask yourself, “What can two dollars buy me in France?”  The answer might be “Not much!” but wouldn’t you rather spend your two dollars in France than wherever you are now?  I don’t know about you, but it always seems just a little better sipping on a soda halfway around the world than it does on the couch in my living room.

Spend wisely my friends!

The Secret to Happiness

15 October 2010

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What’s the secret to happiness?

A million dollars?  Maybe a house on an exotic island deep in the South Pacific?  A new wardrobe?  A better job or more recognition at the one you already have?  Maybe you’d be happy if things just weren’t how they are now…

Happiness can be hard to find.  As a matter of fact, our founding fathers only ever guaranteed us the right to pursue happiness, not to actually be happy.  And so we seek our happiness in many ways.

Some people find their “happiness” in shopping.  Others find it in a substance.  One person might discover that the “secret” to their happiness lies in the heart of another person while others never find exactly what it is they’re looking for.  Indeed, happiness is elusive to those who seek it.

It’s hard to find because we’re looking in all the wrong places.  Happiness isn’t something we’ve lost.  You see, the secret to happiness isn’t that it’s somewhere “out there” for us to find…it’s already inside of us.

Of course, accepting that happiness can’t be bought, snorted or borrowed from another is confusing to understand in a society that subliminally punishes us for our flaws, quirks and shortcomings.  It’s easy to feel insecure, weak and to doubt ourselves in a multitude of ways.  We feel ugly, fat, stupid.  Our complexion is nothing like the models in Vogue Magazine.  We have pimples on our cheeks and freckles on our nose.

And we dream of all the ways our lives could be better, so that someday we might be happy…

We dream of having fast cars, big houses, a successful career, lots of money, a sexy wife, smooth skin and a tight ass.  Suddenly, our dreams have replaced our happiness.  All the while we’re thinking about how much better our lives will be, someday, we fail to appreciate all that we’ve been given today.  Rather than appreciating life for the blessing it is, we critique and criticize what isn’t “perfect”.

So in our dreams we delay our happiness, telling ourselves that once we reach this milestone or that once we graduate and find the perfect job, that’s when we can finally be happy.  Maybe happiness will happen to us when we meet the man of our dreams or buy a big, beautiful house…Yes!  Then we’ll be happy!  But all these dreams we believe will someday make us happy actually won’t make us happy.  Not really…not in a way which is meaningful.

“Lies!  Of course I’ll be happy when I’m rich and driving my BMW to my amazing job where I make lots of money!!!”

Let me tell you a secret about finding happiness in material possessions; it doesn’t happen.  There will always be something more that you don’t have, can’t afford or wish you had.  An even faster car, a house on the lake and a boat to go sailing on the weekends.  Botox injections, Gucci purses, Prada shoes.  So long as you seek happiness externally, there will always be something else and thus another reason why you can’t be satisfied with your life.

Pure, authentic happiness isn’t found by buying Stuff or reaching a certain milestone.  Happiness comes naturally only once you’re able to realize that everything you could ever need, you already have.  It comes in accepting the things that are less than perfect and appreciating all that you have, right now.

That is where you will find your happiness. 

The Power of a List

12 October 2010

6 Comments

I must apologize.

I feel like I’ve done a terrible job of keeping everyone informed about what’s going on in my life.  Why?  When I write about my life, either I feel like I’m bragging or whining…neither of which I like doing.  And, as much as I try to fill every moment of my time with excitement, not every moment is exciting!  Actually, most days are pretty routine.  I put my pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of the world.

Where I feel like my life diverges from a large portion of people isn’t in how I live my daily life but how I plan for the future.  My eyes are always focused on accomplishing the goals I set for myself and making plans for world domination.  Creating my list of goals has helped me build a remarkable life, even if once in a while (or more often than not) I’m at home reading a book or doing homework.  But just having a list of goals isn’t what makes my life exceptional…lots of people have goals and some of their lists are longer than mine!  No, a list isn’t enough.  Making plans and taking action is what an amazing life is all about.

And I always have a plan.

As a matter of fact, I’m in the process of making plans for four rather significant trips: Japan, France (Spain, Morocco, Italy, Switzerland), Russia (Belarus), and Ethiopia.  Whether these trips come to fruition is not entirely certain but the point is that I’m making plans.  I’m doing what I can to make it all happen.  Making plans gives me something to look forward to and they give me the extra little push I need to make it through the less-than-extraordinary days with a smile.

Every once in a while I’ll read through my list looking for something I can scratch off.  Apparently Erin also looks at my list with the same intentions.  This weekend, thanks to an incredible birthday gift, I’ll be going on a hot-air balloon ride (weather permitting, of course).  And in November, if everything works out, I’ll be traveling to Taiji, Japan to spend a week doing volunteer work with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, #5 on the list, “Volunteer time with an environmental group”.

I’d like to think I have the ability to convince everyone to write a list of a hundred goals but I know not everyone will.  Some people are too cynical to believe in the power of such a list, minimizing it as just a stupid “Bucket List”.  This isn’t about creating a list of shit to do before you die, it’s about creating a list that’s meant to guide you and help create a meaningful life, not only for yourself but for others as well.

If writing a list of 100 goals seems daunting, don’t get discouraged.  You don’t need to write your list all at once.  Carry it around in your pocket for a week or two.  When something comes to mind, write it down.  I have no doubt that you’ll come up with a hundred goals quicker than you thought possible.  There are so many things in this world to see and experience that you might even have a hard time stopping at one hundred!