I don’t think I fully appreciated the joys of traveling on my own until one early morning in Costa Rica when I realized,
I just ate cookies before breakfast. Me, a responsible wife, mom, and exhorter of nutritional standards, had just eaten packaged cookies at 6 a.m. and asked for more. What got into me?
I had been nervous before leaving for my trip; I wasn’t used to going away without my family. I was to fly alone, then join a
Costa Rica Expeditions tour group. Though glad to have the rest of the week planned for me, I was anxious about spending it with strangers. Little did I know it would turn out to be the experience of a lifetime.
In the event you have a solo trip coming up or are trying to build up the courage to book one, here is a list of benefits I discovered to traveling alone:
- Meeting new people—When you travel with a companion you’re less likely to open up to new people. My seatmate on the plane, also traveling alone, simply asked why I was headed to Costa Rica. Long flight + uninterrupted conversation = fast friends. We are still in touch today.
- Getting to know yourself—Without worrying what the kids will eat, whether your friend is enjoying the outing, or what anyone else back home might think, the focus can really be on what you want. For example, I just went on an exhilarating sunrise walk to see baby turtles make their way to the sea. Do I want to eat cookies now? Why, yes, I do!
- Trying new things—We’re used to being seen in the roles we play: employee/boss, wife/husband, parent/child, or friend. When we travel with people we know, we take that familiar role with us. Mommy doesn’t do that, my kids might say—end of story. But when on your own or with a group of strangers, there are no expectations. Thus liberated, giddy even, I went rafting despite my fear of rivers. The smile in the picture says it all.
- Being fully present—All your senses are heightened when everything feels new. The colors, smells, tastes, temperature, and sounds of the rainforest are among the most vivid memories I have, and the “strangers” experiencing it together became the best of friends.
If you have a fear of traveling alone, don’t wait for the fear to go away to book the tickets. Book the tickets. The courage will come once you start moving.
Fear gravitates to those who feel incapable of venturing forth on their own. But once you’re actually venturing forth—packing bags, boarding flights, meeting new people, trying new things, getting to know yourself, and enjoying your surroundings in the process—there’s no space left for fear. You’ll be too busy laughing. And eating cookies.
Patty Chang Anker is the author of SOME NERVE: Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave
, an excerpt of which ran in the October issue of Spirit
magazine. Join the #SomeNerve Challenge and share what fears you’ve faced.
I don’t think I fully appreciated the joys of traveling on my own until one early morning in Costa Rica when I realized, I just ate cookies before breakfast. Me, a responsible wife, mom, and exhorter of nutritional standards, had just eaten packaged cookies at 6 a.m. and asked for more. What got into me?
I had been nervous before leaving for my trip; I wasn’t used to going away without my family. I was to fly alone, then join a Costa Rica Expeditions tour group. Though glad to have the rest of the week planned for me, I was anxious about spending it with strangers. Little did I know it would turn out to be the experience of a lifetime.
In the event you have a solo trip coming up or are trying to build up the courage to book one, here is a list of benefits I discovered to traveling alone: