1. You will learn more about yourself and what you’re capable of.
When you’ve only got yourself to rely on you are forced to handle tricky situations you would normally be scrambling to solve with the help of your friends and family (ie your comfort buddies). When these people are not readily available to help you’ll discover that you’re a helluva’ lot stronger, smarter, adaptable and resilient than you ever imagined.
Case in point: When I was in Austria, a barman accidentally set my face on fire*.
True story.
Now, while I thought I would freak out and loose my shiz over such a catastrophe, I actually reacted the opposite way – I remained cool, calm and collected (if not a little embarrassed).
If this had happened at home in Australia I would have been hysterically calling my mum and friends begging for their help. Instead, when faced with this dilemma – on my own, on the other side of the world – I handled the situation and continued on my way, discovering through this process that I was capable of great resilience and bravery.
The big days, the long nights and the silence in between moments will give you time to challenge your beliefs and your abilities beyond your wildest dreams. The lessons you will learn along the way are invaluable and cannot be bought or taught.
*Note: I don’t recommend you have your face set on fire just to prove this point. Just trust me on this one.
2. You don’t have to take responsibility for anyone but yourself.
Want to jump on a plane to Morocco with only a few hours’ notice?
Feel the desire to run with the bulls in Spain?
Do you have that yearning to hike through the wilderness of the Canadian Rocky Mountains with some cool new people you met on the train that morning?
Then. Just. Freakin’. Do. It.
If you’re travelling on your own you don’t have anyone else holding you back. No one else to consult, to convince, to compromise with.
It’s a beautiful gift to give yourself the sweet freedom to do whatever your heart desires, whenever you want. Just keep in mind that you are responsible for your own actions and reactions so you can’t blame anyone if things don’t go to plan.
Oh, and practice your selfie skills before you leave: you don’t want to miss out on capturing any of these awesome moments just because you may not have someone there to hold the camera. So get snappin’, peeps.
3. Go your own way, babe.
When you’re travelling solo you can be whoever you want to be. You can choose to escape your usual persona – your everyday role – and reinvent yourself as whatever you like.
Be the wild party girl, the sensitive hipster dude, the confident world traveller – it’s all up to you. Just do whatever feels most authentic to you at the time. If that means dancing on a bartop, or kissing a gorgeous stranger, or singing karaoke in a crowded bar in Florence (all of which I’ve had the personal pleasure of doing) then just go with it.
Whatever floats your boat, dude.
4. You’re more inclined to make new friends and take bigger risks.
When you are flying solo you tend to attract other single travellers and together you create incredible bonds that can last well past your passport’s expiry date.
You are more open to meeting new people, forging new friendships and building a whole new family out of the rag-tag bunch of wanderlusting wanderers who will cross your path. And believe me, you’ll be all the better for it.
Even today, two years on from my first solo adventure abroad, I’m still in touch with my travel sistas-from-other-mistas. We visit as much as we can, flying from state to state to spend time together celebrating each others’ milestones in life.
The journey may be over for the moment, but our friendship sure isn’t.
Likewise with risk taking: you’re more inclined to do some wild, crazy, holy-moly shiz when you’re on your own. As long as it doesn’t involve drugs, trafficking or anything illegal I say go for it.
Remember: no one remembers the nights that they went to bed early!
5. The self-validation of knowing you did it on your own…and had damn fun doing it.
This, above all reasons, is quite possibly the most satisfying one of all. There’s an indescribable feeling you get when you achieve something as grand as travelling on your own. It changes you. It opens you up. Shakes you to your core. It’s an experience that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your days.
The self-assured confidence. That deep desire for adventure. The endless craving to see more of the world. The knowledge that no matter what may come your way you can handle it like a boss.
Featured image by erules123
