5 Things We Can Learn From Anthony Bourdain

On June 8th, 2018, the world lost a creative genius. Anthony Bourdain was not your average television personality on CNN. Heck, he was not the average documentarian on cable television, period. He was a renowned chef, who had the personality of a rock star and carried a “I do not care attitude.” However, that “I do not care attitude” was far from what he really was. It was when he made his debut on CNN with his documentary, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, where he really touched people’s hearts. In the show, Bourdain would travel the world, eat food, and mingle with the locals. This sounds like your typical food/travel documentary but it was not. He offered something more that other food/travel shows did not offer- life advice. Even though that was not what he intended to do, it was with his wisdom that viewers of the show learned more about the world. Here are 5 things we all can learn from Anthony Bourdain:

1. Travel With An Open Eye

If there is one thing, we can learn from Anthony Bourdain it is that everyone should be open minded to the country they are visiting. After all, you are the guest in the country. Keeping an open eye, will help you better understand the country, the culture, and most importantly, the people. It is with that open eye, you will be able to create lifelong connections with people you never thought you would.

2. Sometimes The World Is Not So Pretty

When it comes to traveling, society has painted a very beautiful picture, which it should. Visiting different countries is a beautiful experience because it allows you to open your own world. You learn about languages, cultures, landmarks, food, etc. However, sometimes you do get hit by the harsh reality of life. Bourdain said it best “As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks–on your body or on your heart — are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.” Experiencing the good and bad, allows you to understand life to the fullest. A lot of the times, you will not get the answer to why the world is the way it is but you will be able to grasp it better when you accept that sometimes life can be rough.

3. Food Is The Way To Everyone’s Heart

Who did not know that? While watching Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, you soon learn food is not just for eating. It is actually bigger than that. It helps bring people together and creates the society we live in. When you eat the native cuisine of the country you are visiting, that dish has multiple gestures. First, that dish they are serving you, is them inviting you with open arms. Second, they are allowing you to see and understand their world. Food allows boundaries to be crossed in ways you could never imagine.  

4. The Human Condition Is Bigger Than You Think

One of the biggest themes Bourdain reiterates in his show is the human condition. This is a topic Bourdain revisits every time he travels to a new country. For him, the human condition plays a bigger role in our society than we imagine. When it comes to the human condition, it is every characteristics, every event, and every situation that creates a human. Understanding a country’s history will give you a better insight into why people behave a certain way and why their culture is different from ours. If you can understand the human condition, you have a better understanding of the people around you.

5. When You Try New Things, Your Mind Will Explode.

Bourdain is the face of unplanned adventurous traveling. He was a man that marched to his own beat of the drum, and he advocated we all do the same. He once said, “Nothing unexpected or wonderful is likely to happen if you have an itinerary in Paris filled with the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.” Of course, if it is your first time visiting Paris, you have to visit the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower but also visit other unique places that are true to Paris. It is with those places, you often find inspiration and excitement of your own.

There will be no one like Anthony Bourdain. He is truly a one of a kind man, who did things on his own terms. He loved traveling because it allowed him to understand humans better. If there is one thing we can learn from Bourdain it is that, understanding people from different countries, will allow you to have a different perspective. This does not mean you have to agree with everything that person is doing but it is all about respect. At the end of the day, that is what people want, respect and a feeling of connection.

References:

Justich, Kerry. “Anthony Bourdain’s Best Quotes on Living Life to the Fullest: ‘It’s Been an

Adventure’.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, 8 June 2018,

www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/anthony-bourdains-best-quotes-living-life-fullest-adventure-14

3047855.html.

“Human-Condition.” One-Dimensional Dictionary Definition | One-Dimensional Defined,

www.yourdictionary.com/human-condition.

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