Overcoming Fear of Solo Travel
I chose the Hamptons, as my first foray into solo travel. As I sat alone on the beach, on a grey rainy morning, where the perfect sunrise shot was obscured by fog and drizzle; I realized I was enjoying myself, not despite being alone, but because I was alone (still hated the weather though). I had learned I could do what I want when I traveled alone. I didn’t need to consult anyone else on where they wanted to go or what would they like to eat.
Becoming a Better Self
For both my solo adventures and trips with friends, I have learned new languages, expanding my capacity to truly experience the local culture as traveler, rather than as a tourist. The hardest part for me was overcoming my embarrassment about my broken German/French/Japanese/Korean, to chat with the locals to find the little restaurants, cafes, waterfalls off the beaten path. I learned to forgive myself for imperfect conjugation of verbs and just enjoy being able to communicate and practice my new (very limited) language skills. Taking delight in learning more about cultures and viewpoints different from my own. Discovering a reservoir of calm to deal with emergencies, like a taxi engine suddenly being on fire and belching smoke, while you are in it on the highway from Marrakesh to the Atlas Mountains. Or spontaneously joining a midnight expedition to swim in a bioluminescent bay by moonlight because it felt right – something I would never do back home in NYC.
My solo adventures gave me space for self-reflection on where I am and where I want to be in life and to take some of the lessons learned from travelling to incorporate into the 9-5. My trips with friends let me learn more about how they and I deal with unexpected stressors on a trip and drawn us closer together.
I found that the best way to optimize your travel experience is to set an intention for travelling before you go. Your intention might be to relax with friends by the beach, immerse yourself in the local language and food, or maybe you want to challenge yourself mentally and physically. Whatever you chose for your intention, take the time to reflect on your adventure once you are home to help you find lessons learned and new perspectives on life at and incorporate those into the “best you”.
