Serbia is poised to be the world's top European destination. It will do it without the things tourists are trained to want, because the world is about to change its mind about travel. Cheap flights and growing economies have created a massive populace of new tourists. The industry which funnels them into the world is based on creating inflated expectations. Think about how much fun you'll have on your 5 day tour through Europe!
This paradigm is good at making money, but terrible at providing what we deeply crave: connection. Expectations ultimately let you down. Things are never as rosy as imagined, or as glossy as their marketing. The romance of Paris will evaporate when a local is rude to you, the "cultural experience" in Vienna will sour when you notice the only Austrians in the room are being paid, and Stonehenge won't provide the wonderment you hoped to feel because you were quickly marched around it by a person holding a mini flag. This disappointment will lead this new populace to the same conclusion most travelers eventually reach: Travel is better without expectations. A destination is more impactful when it's allowed to define itself. Enter Serbia: a country with a minuscule presence in the travel market. You probably know nothing about this destination. Perfect! Come without reading a single article. What a treat to open a destination like a Christmas present, with no idea what's inside that big box. Serbia has dodged the mainstream trap because it doesn't have many marketable checkboxes. There is no Everest, no Vatican, and no Eiffel Tower. It has a subtle charm and beauty which can't be easily defined in a tourist brochure. It's simply genuine, open, and honest. What that means to you will have to be defined through direct experience. When today's multitude of new tourists mature they will desire a deeper level of travel. Serbia is ready to provide.
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Coffee is one of the world's favorite drinks. It has many health benefits. It's the centerpiece of pleasant morning rituals, business meetings, and casual dates. So why stop? A temporary break from caffeine could make a profound impact on your perspective. Principally in these five areas:
1. Sympathy for your fellow addict: Go cold turkey on your coffee habit and you will quickly realize you are an addict. Moreover, there is a good chance you will relapse before breaking free (while reciting the classic excuses used by all drug addicts). The rough attempt to quit caffeine will create sympathy for the staggering amount of people in prison for drug possession. Perhaps you could become an ally in changing the world's draconian policies to something more like Portugal's successful model of decriminalization. 2. Boost your self control: One of the great virtues in life is self control. Are we a slave to our passions or do we have choice? Whether it's porn, coffee, or refined sugar; the only way to prove control is to confirm the ability to stop. You've got a whole lifetime to indulge. Can you abstain for just one month? 3. Reframe views of happiness: There are many folks who would benefit from anti-depressants but don't utilize this resource. Why? There is a societal disapproval of chemical cures... a belief that a person should be able to make themselves happy through pure willpower. Quitting a caffeine habit will smash this perception in the teeth. A day or two into the cleanse a chemical reaction will plunge one into a deep state of grumpiness. A grey raincloud will hang above. Watch how fast it evaporates just minutes after drinking a coffee. Everything is right in the world again. While contemplating a new appreciation of chemical cures, the caffeine abstainer can also seek other methods of finding well being, such as meditation and mindfulness. 4. Get a grip on anxiety: There is a heap of worry in our modern world. We are inherently anxious creatures. But what is our baseline and how much is the caffeine? Temporarily removing this stimulant provides a more accurate assessment of the stress we process. 5. Unleash caffeine's power: To the addict a dose is like scratching an itch. Its appeal is the sensation of relief. To the casual user a dose provides the full potential of a drug. After breaking a coffee habit, one will discover that caffeine becomes a useful tool for moments when a boost of energy and alertness is most useful. The addict doesn't get the same reward. The research say coffee consumption is positive, but committing to a cleanse has many benefits. I'm a fan of the beverage, but also dedicate myself to the occasional break**. It gives me a sense of self control, makes me more understanding of the delicate nature of brain chemistry, and has given me more sympathy for people who struggle with other addictions. Hope it does the same for you. ** The first break from coffee, done while filming in Romania, was a bitch. The withdrawal lasted 10 days. Sleepy, lethargic, and grumpy most of the duration; although I'd occasionally wake up at 4AM wide awake. Now I no longer cold turkey my breaks from caffeine, but will slowly decrease consumption over the course of a week until I'm off the sauce. However, that cold-turkey experience was extremely valuable for self growth and understanding the addictive power of drugs. I recommend everyone try it once. |
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