If you are thinking that it’s just another blog talking about solo travel benefits and urging you to pack your bags right away. Then yes, you are right about it. Though, I’ll try my best not to make it lacklustre. Solo travelling can be intimidating to many, given that you need to do it alone. For those who have a habit of travelling in groups or think they’d be bored and lonely while solo travel, all of it can be true. But solo travel is all about taking a leap of faith. It’s about challenging yourself and driving you away from your comfort zone.
I still remember when I took my first solo trip, it was a half-baked and spontaneous decision. Thus, it landed me in an almost disaster but also taught me to take a risk and think about it later. Whether it was a creepy guy trying to sweep in with the most graceless pickup line or a stranger who looked like a weirdo but was actually quick-witted and now a really good friend of mine. At the end of the day, every encounter was worth it.
Here is a jot down of what I experienced and learned while solo travelling. Now I don’t know if it’ll be inspiring enough to push you for your first solo. But I am sure, it’ll be a tickle on your mind to at least give a thought to the idea itself.
Solo Travel Makes You Carefree
I don’t know about others, but I am a person who can easily embarrass myself as soon as I step out in public. Which is why I was always too conscious about how I acted, spoke or even looked. My mind was always stuck on “What if I am looking like a female hobo?” Which I usually look like every other day. However, as I started travelling to new destinations alone, I realised, no one really know me there. These people around me are just like my distant relatives I never talk to and never really will. So, it’s all about how you see yourself and how confident you are in your company. Once you start thinking that way, the carefree attitude will kick in and you’ll be free of all the judgements while solo travelling.
Embracing Loneliness
Whether you are an accomplished person with the life of a party or a usual 9-5 personality who seeks happiness in their daily work and surroundings. Loneliness can come knocking on the door irrespective of the fact whether you are a happy or sad person. Though, when you travel solo, you are prepared to be lonely and plan accordingly. But here’s the trick, let yourself feel lonely for a while. Try and resist the urge to make that phone call to your friends, or miss your loved ones. Stay away from social media as posts and stories can always wait.
Rather live in the moment and embrace the time you have earned while travelling solo. Sit on a cliff, meditate for a while, pick a corner in a park and have your coleslaw sandwich or enter that cute rustic cafe, order a hot cuppa coffee and call it a date with yourself. I know it is easier said than done. But, I promise, once you start to travel slowly, you will fall in love with these small moments of yours. And that’s how Solo Travel takes you from sheer loneliness to pure solitude.
Friends For Life
If nothing more, Solo Travel gives you countless opportunities to meet the best people yet to come in your life. Before I travelled solo, I thought, I will never be able to make friends. Most importantly because I have plenty and I don’t really need more. But ofcourse, travel proved me wrong in the most absurd way. Well, I call it absurd because it proved me wrong.
Nevertheless, I encountered so many situations and people who came along with it with no warning whatsoever. Though, a pack of cigarettes and a cool book in my hand made me lucky enough to look quite approachable. But irrespective of this, you will always come across so many smart people who teach you so much you had no idea about. Countless interesting conversations and uncanny stories exchange always end up finding you like-minded people and friends for life!
Changed Perception
This is a cliche, ofcourse travel changes your perception of life and how to live it. But it also adds a new transition in life. As you move out of your home, you move out of a familiar zone. When you travel to a new destination, the journey itself is a completely different experience from your everyday routine. You come across so many new places, hidden paths, amazing eateries, helpful people, cross cultures and a whole new place.
I remember roaming around the small hilly town of Himachal, Bir taking a long walk. And I came across a group of local ladies dancing joyfully to the tune of a Himachali song. It made me think of enjoying the small moments in life. Whether you are living in a small town or a bustling city, happiness can be found anywhere.
Invokes Inner Artist
This is a proven fact that when you travel, you find your true self. When you leave your usual 9-5 routine and go out in the real world, you notice a difference. You can sense a shift in your personality and your thought process. Ofcourse sitting in an open area with the sun setting in front of you and paragliders swinging in the sky like a free bird will make you feel more motivated than the boring numbers on your laptop screen.
When you travel solo, you can be a writer, a painter, a singer or perhaps a photographer capturing the surrounding beauty. And the best part of it? There is no one to judge you and hamper your creativity.
“Hence proved” solo travel helps you recognise the hidden artist within you that you didn’t even know existed.
The world is a beautiful place
The world is a beautiful place filled with good people, mostly. You will never know how beautiful it is until you travel solo. Until you explore different places, meet people from different backgrounds, and be a part of local communities and culture. Whether it’s that small village you had never heard about, that local family who hosted you and served the most heartwarming meal, or a cab driver who helped you with the right directions to your hotel/hostel.
The world is a pot of wholesome experiences which makes it a better place to live in. However, there can be mixed experiences some, weird, some bad and some good. But that is a part of travelling and that’s how you learn to survive and gain confidence to move forward. So, go travel solo and take in all the experiences you can because life is short and the world is a huge escapade.
Parting Thoughts
Solo travel is a teacher you thought you never needed. It teaches you to be carefree yet cautious. Travelling solo will guide you on how to take charge of your decisions, your pace and your rhythm of how to explore. This not only entangles but brings you closer to your plagued thoughts.
