I’m not parent but I, too, can say hitchhiking changed my life. First it made it possible for me to travel, because I was too poor to move around otherwise. Tra

I’m not parent but I, too, can say hitchhiking changed my life. First it made it possible for me to travel, because I was too poor to move around otherwise. Travelling is life-changing for many, and it was for me as well. I received lots of love and kindness. Second it was a chance to experience an activity that put me in the present. Like sailing, paragliding, or hunting for instance, hitchhiking is about gathering free energy, the one that’s available right there, right now. But this energy is unlocked through a peculiarly social technique. Which brings us to the third way it changed my life. It was a fantastic chance to exercise my social abilities. Granted, it’s a very specific situation: getting a stranger to trust you in a short time, while assessing if you should trust said stranger, not only in terms of basic safety but also in regards to their ability to actually help you—many want to be kind even to the cost of actually wasting your time. The fourth one would be related to the people I met and the conversations I had with them while in the car. Oftentimes, drivers have a good reason for being on the road. I met many professionals who gave me a glimpse into their world. I had the chance to ask questions for hours to several entrepreneurs. I also got to see some of the diversity of society. Where else can you hear people talk with no regard for political correctness? Fifth, there’s a hitchhiking subculture (at least in Europe) with fascinating characters and a great aesthetic.