Comments on: 5 Unique Ways To Avoid Depression On The Road

By: Emily Dilling

Emily Dilling — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:50:56 +0000

Hey there van peebles,

There are so many great Huey and Phil songs to choose from. I would recommend steering clear of Phil’s more heartwrenching ballads if you’re already in a fragile state, go with “In the Air Tonight” over “Against All Odds” for example. “Easy Lover” and “One More Night” are personal favorites of mine. As for Huey Lewis, I think his “Sports” album pretty much says it all.

Happy travels!

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By: Merri Ellen

Merri Ellen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:14:28 +0000

Victoria,
Ah yes journaling! My saving exercise. I haven’t missed a day for the past 18 years. I think it’s an obsession perhaps but it helps me clarify things. Someone said to me today… “read yourself full, think yourself clear, write yourself empty”. Getting thoughts on paper brings clarity and understanding to the joys and pains of my life.

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By: Victoria Fenner

Victoria Fenner — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:32:14 +0000

I’m so glad you wrote this .. the pressure to have a “good time” on holiday sometimes makes me ask myself “what’s wrong with me?” when those occasional downtimes happen.

What helps me through (and also produces a great record of the trip) is writing. Do a daily journal … getting your thoughts out will get you through the rough times and also provide a record of the trip that the strongest memories can’t match. I love going back and reading what I wrote .. down days included.

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By: Merri Ellen

Merri Ellen — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:40:00 +0000

For me it’s the cheesy music! Especially the 50’s rock.

“She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini…”

I first heard that song on an 8 track tape!!! (I’m really not that old). Hearing the song again takes me back to road trips in the vintage truck camper that had the 8 track tape player in it. Good road trips with the family!

[Note: Now I listen to my tunes on an ipod. Yesterday I saw a kid travelling with a discman! Woa, that was a jog down memory lane.]

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By: VickiElizabeth

VickiElizabeth — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:34:25 +0000

One day, after a couple of months on the road, I found myself feeling unexpectedly lonely. I slipped into an Internet cafe that evening, and simply wrote an email to some of my closest friends saying how I felt, and could anyone cheer me up a bit?
The next day, my inbox was bursting with corny jokes, “Miss you too!” messages, and MP3s for me to download and listen too. It beat the travellerÂ´s blues within 24 hours.

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By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:44:21 +0000

I agree that it’s the bad times that make the best stories so, as long as I can find a bit of fun in a bad situation, they’re never really that bad! Sometimes losing control of a situation leads to the best outcomes.

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By: Turner

Turner — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:13:30 +0000

Emily, you must have some sort of psychic insight into my latest predicament, because these tips came at just the right time. Well done.

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By: Anna Brones

Anna Brones — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:08:44 +0000

Good piece Emily! I most certainly agree with the last one; letting the unexpected happen is a fantastic way to enjoy your new surroundings and forget about your frustrations. Merci!

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By: van peebles

van peebles — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:03:24 +0000

Thank you Emily for the wonderfully written piece. Are there particular songs or albums by Phil Collins or Huey Lewis that you would recommend? I have my favorites, but perhaps there are ones I am forgetting.

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By: Michaela Lola

Michaela Lola — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:14:49 +0000

Great piece! I think this topic is something that really doesn’t get discussed enough, mainly because most people would be ashamed to admit to feeling a bit low on the road as there is this expectation that travelers are constantly on adventure-mode or always happy. However, personally speaking, I find that embracing these “down phases” leads to greatest moments of reflection and enlightenment.

There’s this quote from the book “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts that describes the condition perfectly:

“Sometimes you have to surrender to win…One of the reasons why we crave love, and seek it so desperately, is that love is the only cure for loneliness, and shame, and sorrow. But some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again…”

michaela

http://michatheperegrine.googlepages.com/

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