6 OF THE BEST REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TO TRAVEL ALONE FOR AWHILE
One of the best reasons to travel alone is because it will completely change your life, curious to know how? Keep reading!
Lately, I’ve heard a lot of “You’re so brave!”, “I could never get out there and fend for myself like you do.”, or even this super popular one of “I hate being alone, how do you do it?”
Really and simply put, I’m the same as you in so many ways, I never thought I’d be out here riding solo for over two and a half years but here I am.
I had once even asked someone once, how they were able to be happy alone. I had never known any role models who were happy alone.
I’ve managed to move to an entirely new state all by myself while knowing nobody. As, well as living in a van by myself for months. Amongst also flying on an airplane by myself many times.
It sounds like I’ve never experienced fear or anxiety, right? Wrong! I’m one of the biggest worriers I know, but fear also keeps us in a comfort zone that limits our experiences.
One of the best quotes I’ve stumbled upon is “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” by Susan Jeffers.
Have you ever watched that movie Yes Man, with Jim Carrey in it? Whelp, he was sitting in his comfort zone, always saying no, but as soon as he started saying yes and got out of his comfort zone, his life’s forever changed.
It’s time to start saying yes for yourself, to travel alone and have solo experiences are just a couple of ways to start saying yes.
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1. TRUE DISCOVERY OF ONE’S SELF
Have you ever noticed yourself picking up habits or sayings from family or an old group of friends? Yeah, me too.
Well, let me say that when finally leaving the nest, getting out of a relationship, or just getting out of a situation and deciding to get out, you’ll find yourself!
Allow me to elaborate, you’ll be leaving behind a lot more than you’d think.
Firstly, you’ll be leaving behind influence, other people’s desires, their habits, and even their drama. You’ll just have yours now, and let me tell you that it’s a total wake-up call and a good time to stare in the mirror.
After moving to a new state, away from my family, and after a divorce, I found out so many things about myself.
I got to try things I had always wanted to, find new things I do like doing, and don’t like doing.
Truthfully, nobody can figure out what you do and don’t like for you. Have you ever heard people joking around, “Can you go to the bathroom for me too while you’re at it?” haha, unfortunately, neither of these things work.
One of my favorite reasons this is the best of all of them is because once you’re ready to shed that old layer of yourself, you can press restart and see a new side of you.
You’ll have to just get out there and find yourself, for you! I believe in you!
2. NO COMPROMISING
When traveling with other people, we also need to take into consideration their needs, what they would like to do, and what they want to see/experience.
However, when we go to travel alone, we just have our own desires, needs, and wants to consider.
This can also mean not having to go somewhere you don’t want, eating food you don’t like, and also avoiding miscommunications when finding a compromise.
Let’s take a deep breath there because I felt that too! It’s time to release that stress and revisit our bucket list! Yes, please!
3. INNER GROWTH AND REFLECTION
Yup, you’ve got that right, when going to travel alone, we hear our thoughts clearly without the other noises covering them up.
Taking the time to sit and process our thoughts is one of the most powerful aspects of life. If our thoughts are negative, then we will project negativity.
Just a reminder, our thoughts, and habits come with us no matter where we go. So, this is a great time to start reflecting and working on them. Yes, they will follow you to the beaches and tops of the mountains too!
Reflective questions:
Is this who I want to be?
Am I the best you can be, how can I be my best?
What do I love about myself?
What are my favorite qualities, and how can use my powers to impact this world in a good way?
What are my true desires, without the input of others?
How is my integrity?
What are my goals and dreams? Am I taking the steps to get there?
Anyway, you get the idea, you just have you and yourself to discover.
Please don’t forget to give yourself a kiss and tell yourself you love yourself too! Yes, self-given kisses are a thing, and they are adorable! Also, dates with yourself are a thing too!
Always be honest with yourself, but also kind and compassionate too.
4. CONFIDENCE BUILDING
Guess what?!! Being solo means you don’t have anyone else to rely on for answers or other people’s perspectives. So we immediately have to start trusting ourselves and developing our survival skills, responses, and building ourselves.
Confidence — A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities. From the Oxford Dictionary
Another great thing that comes out of building our confidence is finding our value.
Value — The regard that something’s held to deserve; the importance, worth, the usefulness of something. From the Oxford Dictionary
You’re going to become a warrior and one powerful being.
5. FREEDOM TO BE SPONTANEOUS
This one also closely follows not having to compromise, but with a twist.
After you’ve come to realize that you don’t have the constraints of someone else, then you’ve got the ability to plan more whimsically. You’ve just got to push through the barriers of the mind.
Oftentimes, we limit ourselves more often than anyone ever could, without anyone around, we are enlightened to see those barriers.
Try being spontaneous and just going somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, or do something you’ve always wanted to go. Guess what, you don’t have to ask someone else, just go!
Just go and get out of your comfort zone, don’t ask permission, don’t check your friend’s group, just go! Go see what you’re made of, and have fun!!
6. YOU CAN HEAL
It’s said that “You cannot heal where you’ve hurt”, and I’ve never forgotten that saying because it’s spoken so much truth in just a simple line.
Sometimes it’s best just to leave something behind and move on to a place of healing.
A space, relationship (of any kind), location, or situation can only take so much fixing, until its time to move on.
Finding new places, new spaces, and making more connections with new people can heal wounds and offer us some new perspectives.
So much heart and soul went into the article today, please let me know if you felt it!! Did you find value in the article?
Know someone who needs a boost to travel alone, or maybe someone freshly looking into solo travel? Share this with them to show them some support on their journey.
PS: Tripods make great companions and photographers!
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Valerie Tabbita
Thank you for the inspiration Serenity! I love all your photos, they’re so adorable.
I’m planning my first 2-3 week long solo roadtrip / backpacking / photography trip this summer and feeling a little nervous but excited about it.
#2 no compromising resonates with me the most!! As someone who has done a lot of travel but always with other folks, I am so freaking excited to just take my time and do my own thing and focus on my photography without feeling rushed or like I’m inconveniencing or annoying other people!!
Serenity
Valerie TabbitaAwwee thank you so much Valerie, I really appreciate your compliment!
Oh wow, that’s absolutely amazing! So proud of you for getting out there – Do you have the supplies you’d need for backpacking? I’ve actually been asked to create a backpacking packing article, would that also be something you’re interested in as well?
The best thing we can do to reduce our feelings of anxiety around these things is to be as prepared as we can be and know that once we get out there we’ve got to trust in ourselves to be able to figure it out because we can! We are so much more resilient than we give ourselves credit for!
Heck yes!! It’s almost a requirement or a much needed to just have our alone time and we often don’t realize it until we are just out there doing it! You’ll feel so alive! I look forward to hearing how it goes!
Best wishes,
Serenity