Crying on my lunch break because I’ve realized I’ve seen more of the world than any of my relatives

[Anonymous]

OP, a lot of people don't care about travel.

I left the US 20 years ago and have lived in multiple countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. I have ALWAYS regularly invited (even urged) my siblings and other relatives to visit, but most of them don't have any interest in this. I can understand why they didn't want to come to some of the crazier places I've been posted, but I also spent a number of years in London and Germany, Dubai, Singapore, etc. I have a sibling who has been to resorts in Mexico only, and that's it. She can afford to travel, but doesn't. Many Americans just don't prioritize travel.

It's kind of arrogant to assume that your relatives WANT to do what you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really respect how African Americans, Palestinians and Jewish people never let go of or let others forget their trauma. In South Asia, you are just suppose of forget trauma and hustle harder to do better in life. Not great for mental health.

Trauma will find a way out. Asians will often abuse their children passively aggressively. at least AA have positive means to express trauma.

Lol are you actually saying Asians abuse their children more than African Americans?

[Anonymous]

Honestly this thread was kind of eye opening. OP shared an experience that showed she is a sentimental and sensitive type of person. I read her OP and could totally relate. There are random moments in life when that sentimentality and nostalgia just hit. And what happens? Posters think there is something wrong with her. Newsflash there is something wrong with you all for apparently never feeling deep emotions.

Then OP shares that she is African American, and whoa, then I guess all criticism is off limits because everything she feels and experiences MUST be the product of institutional racism. Poor OP cannot help but be crazy, it is not her fault!

Seriously people, sometimes is wrong with you all. What OP experienced is perfectly normal. It is call being in touch with yourself and emotions. It was clear from her OP that her family members didn't travel because of circumstances out of their control, like poverty, and not because they just didn't like to travel. That context was enough regardless whether she is black, white, purple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really respect how African Americans, Palestinians and Jewish people never let go of or let others forget their trauma. In South Asia, you are just suppose of forget trauma and hustle harder to do better in life. Not great for mental health.

Trauma will find a way out. Asians will often abuse their children passively aggressively. at least AA have positive means to express trauma.

Generalize much? Dumba$$ post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly this thread was kind of eye opening. OP shared an experience that showed she is a sentimental and sensitive type of person. I read her OP and could totally relate. There are random moments in life when that sentimentality and nostalgia just hit. And what happens? Posters think there is something wrong with her. Newsflash there is something wrong with you all for apparently never feeling deep emotions.

Then OP shares that she is African American, and whoa, then I guess all criticism is off limits because everything she feels and experiences MUST be the product of institutional racism. Poor OP cannot help but be crazy, it is not her fault!

Seriously people, sometimes is wrong with you all. What OP experienced is perfectly normal. It is call being in touch with yourself and emotions. It was clear from her OP that her family members didn't travel because of circumstances out of their control, like poverty, and not because they just didn't like to travel. That context was enough regardless whether she is black, white, purple.

Some emotions are stupid. Crying because dead people didn't get to go to the beach is one of them.

[Anonymous]

Are you about to get your period? Talk to a therapist or psychologist if this is not pms.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I'm white and have relatives in that part of the country and other parts with similarly limited travel. I also have other relatives who have traveled widely in multiple countries.

I've mourned this, not exactly as guilt, but as deep sadness. Are you sure some of it isn't anticipatory grief? As people get older their world often gets smaller whether by dementia or hearing or vision or mobility.

It's hard to see that the door for them to travel the country and world has already closed or will close soon. I feel and have felt this regardless of which relatives would have liked to travel more. At least years ago they could have dreamed about it and maybe worked really hard to make it happen if it was their priority, but now they aren't even free to choose it. Maybe some of that is survivor's guilt because you are young and healthy enough to keep planning adventures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly this thread was kind of eye opening. OP shared an experience that showed she is a sentimental and sensitive type of person. I read her OP and could totally relate. There are random moments in life when that sentimentality and nostalgia just hit. And what happens? Posters think there is something wrong with her. Newsflash there is something wrong with you all for apparently never feeling deep emotions.

Then OP shares that she is African American, and whoa, then I guess all criticism is off limits because everything she feels and experiences MUST be the product of institutional racism. Poor OP cannot help but be crazy, it is not her fault!

Seriously people, sometimes is wrong with you all. What OP experienced is perfectly normal. It is call being in touch with yourself and emotions. It was clear from her OP that her family members didn't travel because of circumstances out of their control, like poverty, and not because they just didn't like to travel. That context was enough regardless whether she is black, white, purple.

7:06 here and agree and like I said in my post I'm white and understand and have felt similarly. Being AA may add personal context to OP's emotions but it doesn't validate them in and of itself just like being white doesn't invalidate mine. And both of us have a lot of other family-specific context like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure they want to travel? What’s a big deal about traveling??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really respect how African Americans, Palestinians and Jewish people never let go of or let others forget their trauma. In South Asia, you are just suppose of forget trauma and hustle harder to do better in life. Not great for mental health.

Trauma will find a way out. Asians will often abuse their children passively aggressively. at least AA have positive means to express trauma.

Lol are you actually saying Asians abuse their children more than African Americans?

Highly educated Asians you meet in us are not typical Asians.
So Americans learn about world geography? I will give you a pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really respect how African Americans, Palestinians and Jewish people never let go of or let others forget their trauma. In South Asia, you are just suppose of forget trauma and hustle harder to do better in life. Not great for mental health.

Trauma will find a way out. Asians will often abuse their children passively aggressively. at least AA have positive means to express trauma.

Lol are you actually saying Asians abuse their children more than African Americans?

Highly educated Asians you meet in us are not typical Asians.
So Americans learn about world geography? I will give you a pass.

NP. You didn’t answer the question.

[Anonymous]

Your ancestors would be embarrassed to know you're doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really respect how African Americans, Palestinians and Jewish people never let go of or let others forget their trauma. In South Asia, you are just suppose of forget trauma and hustle harder to do better in life. Not great for mental health.

Trauma will find a way out. Asians will often abuse their children passively aggressively. at least AA have positive means to express trauma.

Lol are you actually saying Asians abuse their children more than African Americans?

Highly educated Asians you meet in us are not typical Asians.
So Americans learn about world geography? I will give you a pass.

Asia is a big continent which part of Asia are you talking about. You certainly didn’t answer the question as pp pointed out

[Anonymous]

I totally emphasise! Although my parents were quite well-traveled, I was able to see 100 countries before I turned 30. First in my family to do that.

[Anonymous]

I've traveled extensively and lived abroad for longer periods and while its an experience, missing out on it literally takes away nothing from your lives. Majority of the world can't afford this privileged $hit so its really naive to cry over it while people are literally dying of hunger.