Around 700 years ago , a 20 year boy in Morocco, set off to do Hajj. While his trip was planned for 16 months. But, he did not return to his home for next 24 years.
For next 30 years, he travelled all around the world.
In fact he travelled more than any explorer in pre-modern history , approximately five times the distance covered by Marco Polo. Covering Africa, Asia, Middle east , libyan peninsula .
His name was Ibn Battuta ,the legendary explorer and scholar.
Most people know about the voyage & exploration of Ibn Battuta.
He made the best use of his youth, by travelling around the world, while he had health , vitality and curiosity by his side.
But, what many people do not know is- later in his life Ibn Battuta , took decades to write meticulous details of his voyage. The details of his worldwide voyage is, known as “The Rihlah”- which in arabic means journey.
Ibn Battuta, made the best use of his old age- by sharing his travelogue and his wisdom with the world.
We would not have known about the world of 13th century, had Ibn Batuta not spend the last decades of his life -patiently documenting all the cities he travelled, all the culture he experienced
So, I think it is important to utilize the gift of time. When you have youth- you have time, energy, health, and no responsibilities- as your gifts.
And when you age- you have experience, patience, money, network- as your gifts.
Each phase of life, comes with it’s own gifts.
I am writing this as a note to self, grab the gifts till it lasts.