When you are on your own for any length of time, change happens. Many people are against traveling alone because of potential dangers and pitfalls involved. Still, for those who are courageous enough to take the plunge into seeing the world alone, there will be times when solo adventure is daunting. But every breath becomes a nourishing, life-altering lesson that will teach more than you ever planned.
1. You learn that you can take care of yourself
A lot of people refrain from traveling independently because of the fear that they cannot sustain themselves or bear the thought of being alone at night. When you are solo, everything you do and everything you choose to react to, is your responsibility alone. You learn how to stand up for yourself in unfair situations, how to forge ahead when directions are unclear, and how to budget, plan, and strategise.
Not having someone to lean on is terrifying. But the liberation of social constraints is insanely satisfying. No one can define you now that you are alone. All this “you time” gives you the freedom to reinvent yourself as a confident, assertive individual.
2. Appreciation of the simple things
When you take up traveling the world alone, it is usually funded by selling your car, moving out of your apartment, and taking up a nomadic lifestyle that allows you to make a living as you move from point to point. If you are sustaining yourself with minimal funds, you start to restrict transactions to what is adequate for survival. You stop worrying about which souvenir to buy and more about the experiences of dining with locals, sleeping under the stars, and waking up in time to watch the sunrise.
The memories, laughter, and lasting relationships you create with other travellers that cross your path are worth more than any luxury.
3. Compassion
Many people are completely unaware of their connection with those around them. As you travel alone, you lose the blinders that kept you from noticing the surroundings and others sharing the space with you. The barriers separating you from another’s life begin to crumble. You start to understand emotions, body language, and tone of voice better and use that to weave your way through a country. Even if you cannot speak the language, you can show understanding and acceptance of the people and their culture. Moreover, you are more compassionate with yourself. You realise when you need to rest, eat, and drink. You learn tolerance, and that is a beautiful thing.
4. Street smarts
You need to think on your feet when you travel alone. At any moment, circumstances can get flipped upside down. If you lose your way, you have to find your way again. If you are low on money, you need to budget. When you run low on supplies, you figure out how to ration. You learn how to get by without a properly working phone, computer, or public transportation.
Just remember that for every challenge you face, there is an infinite number of solutions. You can overcome anything.
5. Open mind and open heart
As street smarts and compassion develops, so too does your capacity for delving into the unknown. For those who fear what they do not understand, traveling alone in uncharted territory is unthinkable. The longer you travel alone, the less daunting the idea of going off the map becomes. You push the boundaries of your own mind and body to get to the top of the mountain—both real and metaphysical.
6. You are never truly alone
Though you are a single person handling almost everything by yourself, you begin to pick up on the kindness and altruism of complete strangers. When you find yourself lost on a street corner, you are more likely to strike up conversation with someone passing by. In the hostel, you begin to talk to those sharing the bunks. Even at the local café, you begin to ask where recommended stores, sights, and lesser known hidden treasures are. When you are alone, seeing the best in those around you becomes so much easier, and you realise that others are taking similar journeys every single day.
Traveling solo is one of the best things you can do to illustrate the story of your life. Everything you learn adds depth for you character. You become stronger, both mentally and physically, and you gain a worldly sense that allows you to connect with people and places throughout the world. That confidence is something that will last you a lifetime.
Support Our Campaign
We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
