~ Lauren Martin

Signless Guidance

Lauren Martin, the sole operator and founder of Words of Women – an online and physical community dedicated to the growth and development of women, describes the curious traites of wandering in her Elite Daily article: Wanderlust Is Real: The 22 Signs You’re A Wanderer.

Here is a sample of what she wrote:

“It was J.R.R. Tolkien who said, “Not all those who wander are lost” and I couldn’t agree more. There are distinct qualities of “the wanderer” or “the dreamer” that will forever hold a special place in the world.

For it’s the wanderers who discover the unique and the new, the foreign and the unnoticed. They are the ones who travel across the world for no reason but to follow the urges in their hearts and to pacify the restlessness in their souls.

They are a refreshing depart from the average Joe. They view life in another way, a way that enhances experiences and justifies randomness. They find beauty in the ugly and challenge traditional norms. They protest the typical and the rigid and demand a life that’s less stoic and more magic.

It’s also the wanderer who is the most misunderstood. Scorned for having “their head in the clouds,” they are victims of misrepresentation and misguided hate. They are deemed unfit for jobs, daily life and societal pressures.

They are cast as “unreliable” and named “hippies” or even “nomads.” They are seen as irresponsible and lazy. When, really, they are the most creative and inspiring people we know.

They dream of books that haven’t been written, cities yet to be discovered, and lives yet to be lived. They see the beauty in the unknown and the trivial. They find meaning in the mundane tasks of everyday life and inspire others to seek adventure and originality. They are the leaders of the pack, the revolutionaries and the inspiration for the rest of us.”

These are a few of the positive traits of wandering. What then are the negative sides to wandering?