3 Big Reasons To Travel Solo At Least Once In Your Life
Why do we travel? Is there is something inside us that we can’t fulfill by just living in one place? Is there some feeling that we just can’t experience at home?
Every person has their own answer to this question. Some look for new experiences, some search for inspiration and knowledge, some just come along just because. And even it is a fantastic feeling to share the memories and experiences with others during the journey, more and more people choose to embark on it alone. For some, it can become a really life-changing experience and there are so many reasons to try and do it at least once in the lifetime, but I wanted to mention 3 that felt important for me personally.
For the first time I travelled alone 3 years ago and I can say now that it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Don’t get me wrong, I still travel with my friends now, but the occasional trips on my own do really give me a lot of quality time with myself and help to reflect on my life and just simply relax in my own way.
It was a rather hard time for me, because of the recent breakup, when I decided to go to Lanzarote. It spontaneous, I went with my intuition rather than with planning. I was arrogant and didn’t even know there was a time difference between Barcelona and Lanzarote. Anyways, I had a blast. I was lucky to choose a destination where I’ve been before and be in a safe country.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of freedom I had. I could go anywhere I wanted without making plans with my friends, I could take a bicycle and ride it for 50km (which I did!), I could stop anywhere at any time to have a beer, I could have dinner at 5 pm or at 11 pm. And it felt fantastic. The taste of freedom.
What would you do when you can do anything? Having a lot of options in your hands can feel overwhelming, making choices terrifying, but nothing compares to how refreshing it feels afterwards.
Travelling in your own rhythm gives a lot of opportunities to discover the place at your own pace. We are all humans and it is absolutely normal that we all have priorities while travelling and we learn about the World in our own ways. Being on your own frees you from the compromises and obligations that may appear between companions on the road and gives you a chance to enjoy the experience without feeling guilty or pushed.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust
Get to know real you.
During the solo journey, you get to spend a lot of time with yourself, not by yourself. It’s almost inevitable that you will meet new people and let’s be honest, that’s the part of the experience, but travelling is an amazing opportunity to get to know yourself in the first place, without being distracted by the outside noise.
We often underestimate the importance of learning about ourselves before diving into the lives of other people. You and only you are the most important person in your life — your best friend, your biggest support, your fiercest supporter. Looking inwards and noticing your own reaction to the new experiences helps to see the real you inside.
Step out of your comfort zone.
At first, it may seem scary and it is absolutely reasonable. Facing your fears little by little is the right way to start stretching your comfort zone, turning it into the learning zone, where new and unexpected things happen, where you explore and expand.
It doesn’t mean that the actual travelling has to be a challenge for you. We all have different comfort preferences and it’s good to be able to make your choice. For many, the real challenge may be being alone most of the time, but again that opens to door to the chance of meeting new people and creating unexpected long-lasting friendships.
In our society travelling solo is still being seen in a bit of a weird way, thought the number of solo travellers is growing every year and this idea gaining more popularity. Having dinner in a restaurant on your own is no longer something awkward and uncomfortable and a great number of countries are becoming more accommodating in this way.
Take responsibility for yourself.
You will learn to solve problems. Let’s face it, no matter how good of a planner you are, life can always get in the way. Being prepared and what most important being able to solve the problems and overcome the obstacles without other peoples help can be a real test when you are on your own.
You will learn to make choices for yourself. When there is no one to decide for you and take the responsibilities for the decision, you will discover what you really want and at what cost it may come, from the smallest things like choosing where to eat tonight to the big ones like meeting new people and choosing new destinations, that may in some way be life-changing turns on your way.
You will learn to face the consequences. No choice comes without repercussions and when you make one, you’ll learn to look ahead and be ready for what may come your way. It doesn’t make taking the responsibility for your life easier, but it makes you the master of your life and you no longer just live with the flow.
Travelling solo doesn’t mean that you need to embark on a pilgrimage for a few weeks across the country (which I am totally planning to do next month) or flying off to the remote parts of the continent that the few can access. You can start by taking a walk in the park nearby or taking a train to the nearby town and just spend an afternoon there. It is about enjoying experience after all. See, observe, reflect and notice how you react to the new view and experiences and just take it from there.
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Originally published at www.anashch.com.
