@radacrider, thanks. You are kind.

@VeganBikeChick, all experiences are valid ways of exploring who we are. I don't believe that there is one "better" way to find out about our inner workings. To me, experiences are experiences. Yes the actual experiences or impetus for the self exploration may be different but the momentum of the discovery is there regardless. I think that choosing to move away from your comfort zone is a huge step in self discovery and I think that is a very brave thing. I did that on a very mini scale when I went overseas the first time to a place/culture that was different from mine and where I would obviously be an outsider. I wanted my comfort zone to be "stretched" so that's why I chose it.
Anyway thank you for what you said, but I don't think that anything in your post "paled" to mine. Just different, that's all.