Don’t tell me what a man knows or where he’s from. Tell me where he’s traveled.

Don’t tell me what a man knows or where he’s from. Tell me where he’s traveled. ~Anthony Bourdain✨
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I’ve logged a lot of miles over the years, lived in different countries and speak several languages. The question people inevitably ask me is not “Where are you from?” but “What are you?” To me, this means “You don’t fit in a box.” It’s a huge compliment- or, at least I take it as such. It’s a way many acknowledge feeling connection with me despite my complexion, accent or other obvious “foreign-ness.” A bit awkward yet endearing. Whenever this happens, I think of Bourdain. He made authenticity cool.
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While the goal of travel is to explore the world, the benefit is discovering oneself. Travel helps us break free from the self-limiting definitions of who we think we should be and become more of who we are and want to be.

His honesty and insight challenged us to look at travel differently: “The journey changes you. It should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, your consciousness, your heart (...).”

He showed us that travel is more than cool places and bucket lists. It’s about people- going beyond identity markers to find our shared humanness. Beyond the walls that protect our insecurities and ego… in what the French call our “for intérieur” (in our deep conscience), we find catharsis, compassion and potential for transformation.

Bourdain showed us places that Uber and tour guides can’t. Sure, his VIP status opened doors, but it was his curiosity that unlocked hearts. Curiosity is courage. It requires vulnerability… a willingness to feel like a fish out of water, to let others see we’re novices- or, sometimes, just plain clueless. It’s choosing “When in Rome…” instead of one’s comfort zone. Vulnerability says yes to “Parts Unknown.”

Obama tweeted it best: “(Bourdain) taught us about food- but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together- to make us a little less afraid of the unknown.”

Bourdain’s legacy: “You take something with you and, hopefully, you leave something good behind.” Indeed, that’s just what he did.💫💛