The trap of comparison

When I landed in Zambia with Lisa last summer, I was enthusiastic about a new country and volunteer experiences. We landed in the evening and were just tired. However, we were both a bit overwhelmed, and I quickly realized that this experience would be completely different from Tanzania the previous year.

It started with the fact that Livingstone is a much smaller city and not as lively as Arusha, and then there was the fact that our volunteer house was a bit outside the city. On the first evening, we thought we would not stay here for a long time; maybe we should go and look for an adventure in Zambia or fly further to Kenya or Tanzania. Later, as we got to know the group and had the once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Victoria Falls, we slowly but surely arrived and felt more comfortable day by day.

I completely fell into the trap of comparing. I was comparing everything to Tanzania. In Tanzania, we had a social night every Thursday night, which was excellent. The houses in Arusha were closer to the city. Arusha is much more lively and exciting. Tanzania is much more pristine, and Livingstone is already very Westernized. And so on. On the safaris in Tanzania, we saw much more - I was allowed to look at Chobi, one of the famous national parks in Botswana, and couldn't help comparing it with Serengeti and Co.

Every day, I found again something to compare. At some point, I got on my nerves and realized I could not get involved in this experience. I brought this up with Lisa and Isobell (our roommate). They both said that I was doing this a lot. So, I asked them to make me aware of this from now on and calmly say a solemn word if I started comparing everything again. 

Suddenly, I had a completely different volunteer experience and got involved with Zambia and everything coming my way. I started living here and now again and appreciating the things I was experiencing on this trip. As soon as I stopped the stupid "comparing," I realized how great this experience was and how lucky I was to discover this new country and its people. I also got more involved with the other volunteers and didn't keep drawing any comparisons to my friends from the previous year. Unfortunately, that's the curse of frequent travelers: the constant comparison with the last experience, especially when it's always on the same continent and in a similar region. Lisa showed me that each experience is unique and cannot be compared again this year in Tanzania.

In a world full of social media and endless possibilities, it's getting harder and harder not to slip into the rut of comparing. Personally, I unfortunately tend to compare myself to all kinds of people, often strangers, all the time. Every day on social media, you see people making a lot of money and luxury trips after luxury trips. This one has this job, and so and so made a lot of money in three days. This friend is just there. This friend is just here. Logically, many could also think that now with me, wow, she lives her dream, her life, but this unfortunately often gets into the background with one.

In the last few days, I have noticed again that I must stay with myself and live with no one and nothing to compare myself to. I have learned to be grateful again, grateful to be here and live this life. I am grateful for the chance to take time for myself and my needs. I am grateful that the generations before me have laid a foundation I can continue to build. Grateful that I have learned again to be happy with the small things and the simplicity of life. Stop comparing yourself with others, stay with yourself, and go your way because that is precisely the right one for you!