Learn to Like Yourself

Learning to like yourself as you are is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Finding others that agree can lead to the greatest friendships of your life.

I'm not saying to be self-centered, egotistical or narcissistic. This is the dark side of admiring yourself. What I'm saying is that in Western culture, it is very difficult to believe in and accept yourself as you are.

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. - Benjamin Franklin

Don't get wrapped in yourself. Get wrapped in life and other people, too.

Learn to like yourself, but don't go overboard.

And help others accept themselves, too.

There's so much negativity in our society that is unchecked and unchallenged.

It's easy to believe that everything is bad. There is nothing good. Everything is dangerous, and, somehow, we are to blame, that it's our fault.

It's simply not true.

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. - Benjamin Franklin

Try this, be the “you” that you always wanted to be but couldn't. Be adventurous, crazy and try all kinds of combinations.

After telling people in Europe that I was from Chicago and getting an Al Capone imitation (Ra- tat-tat of a machine gun) shoved in my face every so often, I had enough.

I decided to tell everyone my father "was Al Capone's body guard and NOT to mess with me."

Instantly, I got a lot of respect and was pressed to tell "my father's Al Capone stories." I made up them up on the spot, such as when my father "saved Al from choking on an olive from a martini." It didn't happen.

It was a hell of a lot of fun.

I returned to my own boring self a few days later, when my "admirers" returned home.

One of the great discoveries in travel is that the world IS a wonderful place. Most strangers CAN be trusted.

Negativity of the press, most writers and way too many people are self-serving. It's designed to be self-justified and self-fulfilling.

It's all just plain wrong.

Learning to like yourself as you are and finding others that agree with you is one of the best ways to improve the world.

First of all, you get to find wonderful people who are interesting and true, instead of whiners and doubters and self centered money grabbers.

Becoming a good friend to others is the very definition of peace on earth.

You learn the mechanics of getting along, sharing the good things in life, and becoming enamored with things that give spice and wonder to living itself.

To me it's a waste of time to do anything else...

If someone doesn't like you as you are or seeks to change you, to "improve" you, dump them.

These are not your friends. They will not help you when you need them. They will just laugh at you behind your back and maybe to your face.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

So learn to like yourself as you are and go traveling and find others that agree with you.

It's the BEST way to travel!

Here is a quick list of Travel Secrets I found out about on my trips. I hope it helps you in your search for better travel:

Go to the Page on My Way to Travel

Slowing Down

Nervous about travel?

Travel is Scary

Learn to Like Yourself as You Are

Time Slows Down when Traveling

Retirement Plans

KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid

Being Stupid

The Power of the Open Question

Ask the Unbusy Police Officer

Ask the Locals - They know

Listening - An Important Skill in Travel

Contrast the Old and the New

Some Unusual Travel Insights

Be a Good Guest

Take a Walk - Relax - Enjoy Good Travel

Get Lost on a Bus - I Dare You

Change Course - Follow Someone Else's Idea of a Good Trip

Good Exercise is a Travel Bonus

Friendship

Interacting with Children in a Foreign Land

Treatment of Americans Abroad

Terrorism

After All - It's Your Vacation