How I First Started to Travel Alone
All I heard for the months leading up to my first official solo world trip was: “You are traveling alone?”, “As a girl?”, “Wow, you are so brave.”. Well, bless me, baby Jesus, two years later and *spoiler* I am still alive!
Courage
Have you ever been trying to decide what to order for dinner with a friend or partner? Nothing sounds good and anytime one of you has an idea, the other shoots it down? Slowly but surely, this small decision feels like the most important one you will make all day? Welcome to backpacking! Living a travel life means that your dinner decision probably is a vital one! The nomadic life, while fun and often carefree, is made up of one decision after another. This gets tiring and you need to be patient, adaptable, and easy-going. I have traveled many times with other people and it is so hard to find the coveted, the rare, the ultimate travel partner. If you are blessed to find the perfect partner, they may not be able to go away at the same time you are or have the budget to do what you want. Because of this, traveling alone can sometimes be the only option. In 2018, I felt like I was always waiting for someone that didn’t appear. After years of hesitation, I finally got the courage to become a solo traveler…and I’ve never looked back! Having the independence to decide everything you want to do (and eat!) is the best feeling in the world. Everywhere I step foot in, lay my head, and take a bite of, comes from a decision I made completely alone. Lacking a travel partner doesn’t scare me, although it did take me a few years and growing up to get here.
Timing
In 2018, I felt lost. 22, living in a city I didn’t like, not close to any friends, and just bored with my life. I didn’t want to go back to school yet and even though I thought about looking for another job…nothing seemed right. I needed a complete change, you shouldn’t be bored with your life so soon! Over Christmas that year, I house-sat for my parents, my mind a mix of turbulent thoughts. My brother came over and we talked for hours where he laughed at my fantasy of traveling to Asia. “You’ll never do it”, he said mockingly. Well, I guess I owe my thanks to my Brother, because it turns out that is all my competitive brain needed to make the decision to upturn my life and begin backpacking!
Buying that one way plane ticket to Taiwan was the most excited, scared, and proud I have ever been. I was finally excited about my life again, looking forward to wake up in the morning and see what the next day held. For me all it took was good timing and a little courage to finally start living a happy life.
xoxo, T
