My Journey to Solo Travel
“You cannot live your life in fear”.
This is a lesson my parents taught me and my brothers from a young age. The world can be a scary place, but you cannot let it run your life. Always be aware and be kind, but live the life you want.
This lesson came back to haunt my parents when I told them at 21 years old that I wanted to backpack Europe by myself. While they raised me to spread my wings, I don’t think they ever thought I’d be flying solo. As a shy person with anxiety, many people were shocked by my decision to travel on my own. I was surprised too, but the COVID-19 pandemic shifted my fear of going alone to a fear of not going at all. I knew if I didn’t go just because someone wasn’t there to go with me, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I also knew that going with someone would hinder my experience because I would glue myself to them. Going alone would force me out of my comfort zone to interact with others and make new friends.
A two-week trip would not scratch this itch, so I started planning for a months-long journey with no end date. I followed solo female travelers on social media, read solo travel blogs, and bought a Europe travel guidebook. I even printed out articles about how to make friends while traveling.
By the time I left for my trip, I was very anxious but also very prepared. There were multiple times throughout my trip that I met people who said, “You thought of everything,” regarding the products I brought/plans I made. I am nothing if not a planner, but looking back on it, I did over-plan. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t want any crazy surprises, but booking my ferries for Greece while sitting on my couch in LA a month ahead of time was a bit overkill. I don’t regret it, though, because it is what I needed to feel secure in my plans. Traveling solo was already putting me way outside of my comfort zone, so I made plans to help me feel some control over the unknown that lay before me.
To me, not living your life in fear does not mean pretending like fear or anxiety doesn’t exist, but instead not letting it stop you from doing the things you want to do. I truly believe travel can take many forms. I met people who planned out their entire trip, and I met others who didn’t know where they were sleeping that night. It all comes down to personal preferences. I urge you to find what works for you. Travel is a privilege–I recognize that–but it is more within reach than most people realize as long as you make it a priority. I hope to share my travel experiences to inspire others to make travel a priority and find the form that works for them.