I believe, “When traveling solo at least one person is happy!”
I relish solo time on the road…I can sleep in or get up early, go to bed or stay up late, explore on a whim and shop till I drop, siesta in the afternoon, eat when and what I want, be frugal or frivolous, swim naked or fully clothed, hike to the peak or turn around on a hairpin curve, laugh gregariously or be meditative, or simply be outrageous or quietly demure.
No compromising or spending time or money on things I have no interest in. And I can stop and smell every flower along the route if I choose.
There is an anonymous sense of freedom going solo.
Being on my own means that I have to reach out more to the locals and other travelers – an opportunity to go deeper into the local culture and lifestyle.
Make new friends
One is forced to make new friends especially if you want to have a conversation. Mastering solo travel does not make one more antisocial.
To the contrary, you become better able to connect and meet more people than if you are traveling with others.
The iconic painter, Agnes Martin, reflected in her final years. “Oh comforting solitude, how favorable thou art to original thought!”
I often find my most creative moments and the best writing is done when traveling solo.
Additional rewards reaped during alone time include a deeper sense of consciousness as you learn about pieces of yourself that you have not yet explored…or didn’t realize existed, spending time with your inner landscape.
More freedom
I have found there is a profound connection to nature and an increased sense of freedom. You learn to honor the art of being alone.
And there is an art to traveling solo. You find your own pace and rhythm to each day, accepting and exploring the new space you are in.
However, let me be clear – if you don’t decide for yourself what you want to get out of life, someone else will decide for you. You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.
So however you chose to travel in life – define yourself, cut loose, step out of bounds, leap off the cliff, strip down, be outrageous, take risks, just say yes or take that solo journey… start living life today…to the max.
OK – I confess, traveling solo isn’t all roses. This is some of the GOOD about traveling solo.
In my next blog, I’ll dive into the BAD and everything in between…stay tuned!
Are you a fellow solo traveler? We want to hear about your experiences.
by: Gwen Hyatt
