Lost & Found: why travel helps you find and lose yourself.

Have you even been lost?The more amazing and life changing the experience, the longer it takes for us to realise its impact. Good or bad. The longer it takes for us to become 'normal' again. To be found.I was lost.This always seems to be the case when I return from big trips. Its like life has continued without you, and you with it. But at the same time it feels like it has been on pause, and upon your return play was pressed. Its like your trying to rewind and fast forward at the same time and you get lost in a place of past present and future. A limbo of your own creating.The past - you want to relive the time you missed, and recreate your experiences for those you love. You can't understand why they haven't changed because of your experience. The present - you are happy to be home and want to appreciate everything. Time is special, seize the day. Live for the moment. The future - you want to move on, yet embrace your past experience and live for a new dream. But its like your still carrying around your backpack and all the hopes and memories held with in.Like the black white and grey lines that were on video tapes, when you wanted to rewind or fast forward. Lost in a place of past present and future. Black white and grey. How can you be lost when you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Perhaps, we are just the wanders, the persons whom are not lost but not found.“Not all who wander are lost” - J.R.R. TolkienI brought the card in the picture in 2007. I sent it to myself. It has been around the world with me. Twice. This card reminds, me that whenever I feel lost it's ok.Is there anything wrong with a pause? Is it ok not be lost, but to have no place to be. To just be. Why are we defined by where we are going? Without getting lost we will never be found. We will never feel the relief of arriving at our destination – having hiked through the sweat and the tears.The road less travelled has no map. It does not mean we are lost. It does not mean we do not know where we are going. We are the trailblazers. We are the ones whom must get lost so we can create a new path for others to follow.Have you ever felt lost? How did you find your way again?