Just one Ticket, Please.
By Anne-Louise Jensen, 18
This is a story about conquering one of my biggest fears: being alone. Well, alone as in without my friends, family or anyone I actually know.
The story goes, that I was supposed to go see a play with my family back in June. Now, I live in Denmark, where you can never really count on the weather, and this play was outdoors, as it is a tradition for one of our amusement parks to arrange a play a year. It had been dry as a mothball outside for about a month, but of course it was heavily pouring on the day of the play, which was then rescheduled to a few days later. Unfortunately, my mom couldn’t go that day, and my brother had another arrangement, but I’d been too excited for the play to just let it go, and so in a moment of bravery I bought myself a first row ticket for the rescheduled date.
I am absolutely terrified of going anywhere alone, not because I have social anxiety or anything like that, I only feel safer with someone I know, and it makes me uncomfortable to be aware that I might be a subject of judgement.
Over the course of the next few days, I subconsciously kept debating with myself whether or not to go, but I ended up catching a train to the amusement park — and immediately regretting. I forced myself to not get off the train and walk into the amusement park being braver on the outside. I felt like everyone was judging me, but I rose above it and moved on. I finally got there, bought a prospectus — because, from my perspective, if you look like you’re in the middle of something, no one will bother you — and found my front row seat.
It was a play about the legend of Arthur and Merlin, the kind of stuff that I absolutely adore — I’m a fairly old-fashioned 18-year-old. I became absorbed in the play, allowing myself to fully enjoy every moment of it, and I am ecstatic that I did it. Stepping out of one’s comfort-zone can be horrifying, and sometimes you may even think that it’s a very bad idea, but it never really is. I am incredibly thankful that I was stubborn enough to force myself to go, and I surely would have missed the experience of a lifetime had I stayed home. I hope my story can help other people cope with flying solo once in awhile. Always ask yourself: what’ve I got to lose?
Submit your inspiring story here.
If you liked this, click the ❤ below so other people will see this here on Medium
