And, one thing I definitely enjoyed personally, from a selfish

Hearken to the words of Duane G. Carey, who once declared: “And, one thing I definitely enjoyed personally, from a selfish point of view, was exploration and going to places that I had never been to before and learning, you know, meeting the people and getting to know, new sights and sounds, etc.” At first glance, his words seem but a reflection of joy in travel. Yet in truth they carry the ancient pulse of humanity itself, for to explore, to learn, and to encounter the unknown has been the sacred rhythm of our species since the dawn of time.

The desire for exploration is not mere indulgence of curiosity; it is the fire in the marrow of humankind. From the first wanderers who left Africa to walk across continents, to the sailors who set forth across uncharted seas, to the astronauts who dared the silence of the heavens, the hunger to seek what lies beyond has shaped the destiny of nations and souls alike. Carey, as an astronaut, spoke with the voice of one who has lived this eternal calling—not in metaphor, but in truth, venturing into the vastness of the skies and finding joy in its peril and its wonder.

He speaks of meeting the people, of learning through encounters. This, too, is sacred, for the journey of exploration is not only about the land or the stars, but about the faces and voices we find along the path. When Marco Polo set foot in the courts of Kublai Khan, it was not only the distance he had traveled that mattered, but the exchange of stories, the mingling of ideas, the recognition that wisdom blooms in many soils. The true traveler is not one who conquers the land, but one who opens his heart to the new sights and sounds, letting them expand his spirit as rivers expand the fertile earth.

Consider also the story of Captain James Cook, who sailed into seas uncharted by his own people. His journeys were filled with both discovery and danger, and while history remembers him in many ways, his legacy reminds us that knowledge of new lands and peoples forever changes the one who beholds them. Exploration alters the explorer. Carey’s words echo this truth: that the personal joy of the journey is not selfish indulgence, but a reminder that growth is inseparable from venturing beyond the familiar.

The origin of his quote lies in the personal joy of discovery—yes, a joy he calls “selfish,” but which in truth is universal. For when a man learns, when he breathes in the air of new places, when he listens to unfamiliar voices, he is not only enriching his own soul but also carrying treasures back to his people. Every explorer who has ever lived has been both selfish and generous—taking joy in the adventure, yet leaving behind knowledge, inspiration, and proof that the unknown can be faced.

The lesson, then, is profound: do not fear the unknown. Instead, let it call to you as the horizon called to the sailors, as the stars called to the astronauts. Do not remain bound by the walls of habit or the borders of your comfort. Seek new places, if not across seas or skies, then across the landscapes of thought, of culture, of friendship. Meet those who are different, and learn their ways. Let their sights and sounds shape your own understanding of life.

Practical actions arise from this wisdom. Step beyond the narrow paths of routine. Walk in places unfamiliar, speak with those outside your circle, read the words of foreign tongues, listen to music born of distant soil. In every act of openness lies a seed of growth. And know this: to explore does not always mean to travel far—it means to embrace with courage what you have not yet known.

Thus, let Carey’s words be preserved as a teaching for generations: that exploration is both the joy of the self and the gift to the whole. To seek, to learn, to listen—this is the way by which humanity rises, becoming ever more than it was. So take heart, O traveler of life, and step boldly, for each new horizon is both a mirror and a doorway to the greatness that lies within you.