James Michner in his well known best seller The Drifters tells the story of a group of 20 somethings who meet and travel together in Europe and beyond. Each chapter begins with a series of quotes that make it worth the read all on their own. I first read the book 30 years ago. Amongst all the quotes the Five Rules of Traveling are one of those profound thoughts that have remained with me over the years, a template to live life by. If you are a citizen of this world then you are a traveler who might gain some insight here as well. So I give you the Five Rules of Traveling along with my personal interpretations. Eat anything containing wild rice A simple but wise reminder that eating wholesome and natural foods should be a central part of a long, happy and healthy life - Stick to the basics when it comes to food. Fancy sauces, elegant feasts, all you can buffets and over processed items all lead to ill health and rob us of enjoying all life has to offer. Never play cards with a guy named Doc The world is an exciting place but being naive, gullible or ingenuous is not an excuse. Knowing the rules and knowing the players is the first rule to being in the game. Then realizing that there may be no rules and there is more to the players than you first thought is a sign of maturity. Trust is important in life but as a wise prophet once instructed "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" Never eat at a place called Mom's While this might seem similar to the wild rice rule it takes us a little further in considering all the things that come into our lives. While food nourishes our bodies, Thoughts feed our minds and relationships enrich our souls, We need to be fully aware and fully responsible to make sure that the thoughts we entertain are not damaging to our energy and our actions and that the company we keep is not toxic to our life. Just because Mom said so is no reason not to make wise choices on what we let in and around us and those we love. Clean your clothes at every opportunity Cleanliness is next to Godliness and in this time of rampant bacterias and super viruses we would be wise to consider the importance of not only looking good but actually being good with our hygiene and other matters dealing with health and safety. Wearing seat belts, not drinking and driving, watching our speed, keeping our important papers and information secure, staying organized and keeping personal what is personal are all part of not letting stupid preventable things mess up enjoying life Never refuse an offer of sex So after all the previous advise of caution and safety this rule might seem truly out of place. But get your mind back under control and see the meaning of sex as analogous to opportunity, calculated risk and a chance to experience new things. We are reminded that life is meant to be lived and while we all have to die someday not everyone makes an effort to really live. We should make certain we live life and live it to the fullest! There you have it – now go out there and Live Real!
