Go Backpacking

  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
×
Home » Planning

The Secret of My Success

Modified: May 15, 2020 · Published: Feb 25, 2007 by Dave Lee |

Yesterday, the Salvation Army was the benefactor of my full size, barely used ironing board, and an oversized Prince tennis racket.

Since last summer, I've been slowly assessing my material belongings and deciding which are worth paying to store while I'm away, and which I'm better off donating, selling, or throwing away.

It's been an interesting and valuable experience.

Early on, I began with my clothing. I would run through my two closets looking for clothes I no longer wear.

Each week I would find something further to donate.

So why did it take several months to reach a point where I was satisfied with the amount of clothes remaining?

I'd suggest it is human nature to grasp and hold onto things, feelings, and egos, regardless of the value they currently serve us.

My awareness of these concepts was turned on around the same time, I decided to take my trip, through my decision to place a higher value on experience versus materialism.

I realized I had a pretty good lot in life, and I was reaching a point of diminishing returns in my quest to spend and consume.

Ironically, I made this decision during the four months following a layoff from my first post-college job (Careerbuilder.com).

So week after week, I realized I would survive without this shirt or those sneakers.

I brought my dumbbell set to my apartment's gym so others could benefit from the extra weight plates. I gave away books and DVDs too.

I sold my Sony VCR on Craig's List for $15. The more I gave away, the easier it became to give more.

I continued to give money to the International Campaign for Tibet, my local Buddhist center, and my alma mater, Colgate University.

I genuinely believe the more you give, the more success you will reap.

Giving is just as much to satisfy the giver's ego as it is to benefit the recipients, regardless of the dollar amounts involved.

And that is OK. Giving of your time, money, or possessions lifts the spirits.

You exude greater confidence and positive energies, and somehow people will find a way to give back to you as a result.

Regardless of your financial situation, whether you're saving every cent for a big trip or working your way out of debt, find a way to give, and you'll be a better person for it!

 

Related Stories

  • Business class cabin on a LATAM flight (photo by Dave Lee).
    The Impact of Seasonal Demand on Business Class Ticket Prices
  • Beach life (photo by Peggy Anke).
    How To Balance Work and Travel While Staying Efficient
  • Hiking in California (photo by Spencer Backman, Unsplash).
    The Best International eSIM for Your 2025 Travels
  • Driving through the Himalayas on a motorcycle (photo by Anand Yadav, Unsplash).
    The Best Types of Vehicles for Reaching Remote Destinations
  • Share
  • Email

About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. carol says

    March 01, 2007 at 11:17 pm

    I truly believe this! What goes around, comes around. Karma!

  2. RaymonWazerri says

    April 21, 2007 at 12:46 am

    Hey,
    I love what you'e doing!
    Don't ever change and best of luck.

    Raymon W.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

Footer

back to top

About

  • About
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Follow Us

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Submissions

Copyright © 2025 Go Backpacking