Reasons for Solo Travel
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. - St Augustine
I suffer from wanderlust and have a ceaseless desire to travel. I didn't realize travel was such a big part of my life until it was missing in my life. I also didn't realize how lucky I had been as a child traveling with my family and living abroad at a young age to cement my empathy for others, a natural curiosity for cultures not outside of my own and the thrill of complete self-reliance in a foreign place. There's something exhilarating about getting lost and fumbling through a language to find a way back to lodging or meet up with friends in an unfamiliar place. It's even more fabulous when getting lost helps us find out exactly who we are.
In my younger years I didn't question my travels alone. Solo travel to me was the norm because I just didn't have anyone in my life interested in traveling. I would see couples and groups of friends when I was out backpacking, staying in hostels, camping in national parks or taking dance or language lessons when I was by myself. Sometimes I would meet them and travel alongside them, but more often than not, it was the other solo travelers I bonded with. My first encounter in a Muslim country with women in the hijab was the most eye-opening experience I've had as an American and I'm grateful for the hugs, compliments and stories we shared. The first time I heard howler monkeys while sleeping solo in my tent in the middle of a jungle in Central America and thinking it was a jaguar is a story I get to tell with fondness the rest of my life.
Solo travel not only gives us an understanding of total self-reliance and helps us learn what we are capable of, but it also allows us to connect more deeply with other travelers in the same shoes, going it alone. I love having an adventure partner now, but I wouldn't trade my solo travels for anything. Here's a quick list for why EVERYONE should take at least one solo trip by themselves.
Empowerment: By striking it out on our own, whether it be on a cross country road trip or an around the world adventure, it is rewarding to recognize our abilities to go it alone. When we find out what we are capable of, whether it's staying alert with our favorite songs blasting on the radio for 12 hours along the interstate or trying to figure out how to find a hostel in the middle of the night in a language without an alphabet we can read, we become empowered. There's a little fear mixed with a self-assuredness that we can't get at home in our everyday of knowing. When we travel all the basic needs are a guessing game, even with reservations at a hotel. We can encounter all sorts of weather, bad directions, language barriers, hunger and sometimes just finding a place to pee can become a challenge. Suddenly, nothing is taken for granted and we are only able to depend on ourselves. We are always stronger, more resilient and way more resourceful than we think. Getting out of our comfort zone is really the only way to remind ourselves just how badass we really are.
Loneliness: We might think this is a bad reason to travel solo but I assure you it is not. Riding a bus across an unfamiliar country and sitting next to strangers for hours can feel daunting. Furthermore, if there's a language barrier, trying to talk if we aren't fluent can become exhausting. These feelings take us to a place where we can feel all alone, even in a crowded shopping center. But loneliness allows us to really get to know ourselves. It helps us to see what we love and don't love about ourselves. When we can be truly alone with our thoughts and feelings and love the company we keep, we experience tremendous growth that can't accessed by passing time texting friends or making small talk. In some situations it may be days before a familiar accent is heard and as scary as it sounds, those are the moments that will take our breath away most. It becomes a thrill to be fully present with one's self.
Friendship: As mentioned above, solo travel offers an ability to interact with others a little more easily than traveling with a group or partner. The friends we meet on the road will more often than not become our soul brothers and sisters for life. They are out there on the same path and it is not a coincidence we bumped into them. Savor it. I will never regret the pick-up basketball games I jumped into amongst ancient ruins and the endless beachside campfires and beers to learn about the lives and journeys of my fellow earthlings. Hearing stories from other travelers brings us closer to our global family and makes us realize we aren't as different as we may have been programmed to believe.
Agenda: You don't have to have one! This is by far the best part of traveling solo. There is no compromise on what time to leave or what the itinerary should be. As a solo traveler, we get to chart our own course and have the freedom to change it if we decide to do something different. If lounging on the beach is serving our minds and bodies well, then why not stay an extra day or two or ten. The point is, it's up to us how we choose to spend our time traveling and being accountable only to one's self is an incredible gift. As always, safety is the utmost importance so always be sure someone at home knows what the plans are. It's easy to stay in touch with wifi everywhere these days so if plans do shift, be sure to let someone know.
Travel: Duh, of course solo travel is about traveling. But seriously, a lot of times the destination isn't the reason to travel solo, it's the journey. When we decide to travel and not be a tourist, a richness in understanding unfolds that cruise ship stops and tour groups can't provide. Getting to know the locals, haggling over prices in markets and eating traditional dishes from street vendors is what makes travel priceless. Doing it alone allows us to be completely engaged in how we feel about the experience without an outside influence.
Coming Home: Whether you're single with a career, a stay-at-home parent, completely broke or rolling in cash, take a solo trip as soon as possible. My favorite part of travel is the moment I lay my head down on my pillow for the first time after being away, whether it be for several months or just a weekend. The joy of sharing stories of the adventures had and people met are lasting in our heart and fun to share. When we step out of our regular life and into the unfamiliar place that travel takes us, we become so much more grateful for the little things like clean water, ease of transportation and even a familiar place to set our keys. The problems we have in our lives don't seem as big or challenging when we come back and look at them from a new perspective. The big picture seems manageable and we are able to see where we fit in the world a little bit better and that's a good feeling.
My dad always told me that travel was the one thing I could spend money on that will always make me richer. If that's the case, solo travel just may make us all feel like a billionaire.