Pillow Thought // Solo Travel & Solo Being

[I don’t know about you but the notes app on my phone is brimming, completely & disorganizedly overflowing with random thoughts that pop up. Hence, welcome to my “Pillow Thought” series as it seems many times this happens before I go to bed. Follow along & would love to hear your thoughts!]

When the idea of solo travel comes up, usual concerns sound like, “What about your safety? How will you get around? Won’t you be lonely?” And the list goes on...

Believe me, I’ve had my share of major self doubt and freak outs at times (my thoughts can run a bit wild - like hustling to and from a pit toilet to avoid any bears in the shadows). In those moments, you definitely have more space to freak the f out, but also even more space to realize how much of an amazing, capable human being you are. And while you may encounter some of those concerns listed and unlisted, the world near or far is too beautiful a place to hide from, and the experiences & people that you will garner and grow from far outweigh the fears.

A nice perk about traveling solo is you don’t need to answer to anyone but yourself. Sleep in? Sure! Wander around aimlessly? Why not! Make a new friend? Completely up to you. The itinerary or lack there of are completely yours to choose and yours to fully experience in ways you wouldn’t have otherwise in the comfort of your usual surroundings (people and places). This goes for the expectations in your head and the unavoidable unexpected scenarios.

Now don’t get me wrong. I definitely have my homesick moments when venturing out on my own. And I truly enjoy traveling with those I love –there are certain places and experiences that I save for such times. But there is also a beauty in trying things out on your own. In some cases, it may even be called for. There’s a reason why “me time” is such a hot item nowadays.

If there’s one thing I learned from my family experiences, it’s that at the end of the day you’ve only got yourself. I don’t mean this in a cynical way but rather from the perspective that life is precious and you never know how things may turn out. So cherish your relationships and moments with those around you but never forget to cherish yourself, to build who you are and what you are capable of being and doing. Because after all, you’ve only got this one life to show for. This one life to be at peace with.

So let go of whatever is holding you back and pick just one thing, the thing you’ve been hoping for and wanting for, and put it to action. Whether it be going on a trip for yourself or something completely different like switching careers or exposing your art to the public, this journey is your own and only you can make the tables truly turn and move for your life. If you don’t, who else will do it for you?

I remember going through moments of anxiety, excitement, fear, joy, fomo, and peace all within a few minutes leading up to booking this 2019 Asia trip. But hey, what is life if everything were “perfect” and planned out to the tee? Cheers to the possibilities and trusting in flow (and most importantly, yourself).