January 19, 2012. This was the day I took the first flight of my life, and it was an international one. I was 24 years old at that time. When I told people it was my first flight in my whole life they normally said: “What? Have you ever taken a flight before?” They got really surprised someone in that age and social conditions have never done it before. To be honest, me too. In the end, it was a life changing flight towards to my first long travel experience! This first trip had such a positive impact in my life that I became crazy about travels. A part of my life began to turn into searching destinations, creating itineraries, looking at airline tickets and finally making my travels real.
The point I want to reach here is: we have to begin at some point. The beginning point is decisive in any field we follow: business travels, at our job, etc. It doesn’t matter the area, we have to start somewhere.
A lot of people talk to me about my adventures and they always say I’m brave. I’m not sure about it. Like any other human being, I try to face my fears and overcome it. Travel solo makes me feel more confident? Yes. But I’m still human and I have a lot of fears hidden. The point is: I don’t let my fears conquer me. I’m trying, step by step, conquer then instead. What I most hear from my friends when I decide to go to another country by myself is that they don’t have the courage but they wish they had. And I say back: well, I hate to break this to you but it all depends on you. If you have a wish, a desire and have the material means to make it happens, there is no one in the world able to stop you.
Following, I made some points about the importance of travelling. Keep reading!
The fear that leads to courage
Be out of our comfort zone is definitely challenging. When we see ourselves in a different environment, immerse in a completely different culture, the first thought probably would be: “What the hack am I doing here?”. We see ourselves challenged and more capable of doing everything!
Normally, I get scared when I travel to a new place and I’m not ashamed to say that. There is no shame in feelings. It is normal to feel this – it is a different environment, you will meet completely distinct people than the ones you are used to, immersed in cultures you probably heard a very little about; you gonna eat and taste tones of different flavours. But isn’t that the beauty of being travelling? It’s energy flowing constantly! Life challenges being accepted and overcame.
Trust yourself!
One of the wonderful things that happens to me during a trip and I bet happens with most of the women travelling solo is that we get more confident about ourselves. Travel solo means that I am completely responsible of whatever choice I decide to make – for good and for bad. I’m responsible to book all my stuff, pay bills, go to the grocery, make new friends, cooking. If I can do it when I’m jumping from place to place, I can definitely do it anywhere I decide to settle down. Most of the people already do all that stuff when are not travelling, I get it. The point is, when a person is out of hometown, immerse in a different culture, language, people, all this basic stuff can become challenging. And that’s the point here: being out of the comfort zone makes us face challenges and overcome it in the best possible way, and most of the time there is basically no one to have your back.
Creativity flow
It is not random that when we travel we get more creative. When we are relaxed we give a break to our brain and all that creativity and positivity that was hidden somewhere feels freer to flow. Besides, we can think better out of the hard situations we may be into.
With a clearer mind, you will realise that it is completely possible to find a way to do what you like most in your life – turn that hobbie into a job; write a book; write a blog; etc. It is easier to see more ways out of painful/struggling situations because we see many people through the same difficulties as you and still finding purpose to keep living a meaningful life.
Even if you don’t have a purpose at all and you don’t like to do anything, there is a high chance for you to find yourself a new one.
Finding inner self
When I travelled for a mid-long time, whether in an exchange or a long trip, the impression I had is that I can be more myself. And it is not only me: from talking with my friends from the road they all feel more connected with their inner selves then when they are stuck in a routine. We can find ourselves in numerous activities that in our hometown we most likely would never think or do.
Long-term travel is important because of it. That’s why I believe everyone should do at least once in a lifetime. There is a mental and energy change that is hard to even explain. It is like shake the brain and realizes that the world is much bigger than we grow up believing.
The gratitude
Of all the trips I’ve made so far, there is not even one that I didn’t return feeling mote gratitude than when I went. I was able to see in simple situations multiple moments of great happiness and encounter with myself.
Be grateful for my life and everything I have been experiencing all these years changed my way of looking at all events that happens to me. I have a more careful look about my decisions, trying not to judge myself all the time, trusting myself more in a way to make the best of it.
It is not always & only perfect and beautiful moments we are going to find on the road and it is not even them that will make us grow. In the contrary: it is sometimes the bad and challenging experiences that will do it; is the solitude that sometimes we may come to feel that will turn our sight in a different direction, one we haven’t seen yet, just waiting for us to open our eyes.
Save the money, grab your backpack, put your fears aside, and go. Life is short and we, as human beings, have too much to accomplish.
Published by Lorena M.
A great passion: travelling. A desire: happiness. Just a simple woman in my late-20s. As all human beings on earth, I’m still trying to figure out my purpose in this world and find true happiness – and I have the grit to do it. I’m a travel lover, positive thinker, who love life. I’m very thankful for all the experiences I have been having in my life, mainly the people I have met on my way. In each travel I find myself growing. There is always something new to learn.
Originally published at atlasmundi.wordpress.com