Solo travel can be daunting, scary, and for some people, really quite terrifying. But it’s also one of the most rewarding learning experiences a person can have. The nerves might get to you before you take off, but once you’re out exploring you’ll forget why you were ever scared in the first place. When you return, it will feel like it did when you first learned to ride a bike without training wheels. You did it, and you did it all by yourself. Read on to find out why traveling solo should be on your bucket list.
Why Traveling Solo Should Be on Your Bucket List
Solo travel redefines bravery.
Suddenly, bravery might not necessarily mean facing a life or death situation or making a risky business decision. Bravery can be walking into a café alone with no intention of meeting a lunch date. It’s wandering the city confidently and fearlessly. Since solo travel requires a different kind of courage, you’ll redefine what bravery means to you.
Solo travel sparks unlikely, but lasting friendships.
Even though you’re traveling alone, you probably won’t end up spending the whole time completely by yourself. Chances are, you’ll have to ask a stranger how to get somewhere, or you’ll strike up a conversation about restaurant recommendations with the man ringing you up at the convenience store. Or maybe you’ll just make small talk with the lady standing next to you on the train. Before you know it, you’ll end up swapping stories and realizing that you may have a lot in common with people you’ve never met before. These brief friendships are special because even though these interactions likely won’t last longer than a few minutes, the conversations will stick with you forever.
Solo travel will push you out of your comfort zone.
When traveling alone, you will automatically be knocked outside your comfort zone. Not only will you be in places and situations you’ve never been before, but you will also be in these places and situations alone. It’s a freeing feeling, but a little shocking at first. All of a sudden, everything is up to you, and only you. So embrace your own vulnerability. Don’t be afraid to do something you’ve never done before. You’ll gain a more authentic experience of the culture because of it.
Solo travel heightens your sense of awareness.
On your solo adventures, you will be spending a lot of time with yourself days on end. And by doing so, you will figure things out about yourself that you would have never found out had you not embarked on this solo journey. You’ll gain a strong sense of independence and an awareness of the world. This new attitude about yourself and your abilities will follow you back home when you return from your travels, so much so, that your solo travels may be more than just a journey to a different place. They may also serve as a personal journey to self-discovery.
So, next time you have the opportunity to travel by yourself, take the chance! It could potentially be the best trip of your life.
