Have you ever experienced the feeling of losing trust in the world? Realizing that things you once believed in—trust between people—are actually very fragile? I recently went through something like that, which made me think about how we build trust in the world.
After much thought, I still don’t have a complete answer, but I realized that when traveling, stepping out of your comfort zone and doing braver things—like striking up a conversation with a stranger or hitchhiking—can be considered acts of “courage.”
Some may ask, isn’t such “bravery” dangerous when you’re in a foreign place? What if something unexpected happens? But the truth is, whether we’re in Hong Kong or abroad, there are always risks. So, we should stay vigilant to protect ourselves, but also be open to embracing the unknown, immersing ourselves in the local environment—only then can we truly enjoy our travels.
I remember last year in Bolivia, I happened to be there during a local festival. The whole city was in a festive mood, and everyone was having a blast. Locals enjoyed playing with snow spray and throwing water balloons, and my friends weren’t spared either. However, when they saw that I was a tourist with a camera, they didn’t “attack” me. Instead, they smiled and let me take photos, making it a happy time for me.
In fact, to live happily, we need to have trust. Conversely, why do we feel unhappy? It’s often because we harbor so many doubts and worries about the world. Even in Hong Kong, a society full of oddities, rebuilding trust isn’t easy—but that doesn’t mean we should give up.
I often remind myself to hold onto my original intentions, to try to trust myself, others, and the world around me. When we do that, we become more relaxed, and society becomes more forgiving. Rediscovering trust and reigniting hope might just be what we need most right now. In truth, happiness can be simple—just be willing to believe, isn’t that enough?
Text and photos: Daneil @ The Story of a Half Travel Journalist