“Aren’t you scared going alone?”
A common question asked when I make a plan to travel by myself.
Most recently, after seeing a great ticket deal for Mexico, I bought the ticket and reserved a room with a hostel I had stayed a few years before with my sister.
Solo traveling as a woman always raises familiar insecurities with friends and family mostly around the where and definitely the why.
Why do I travel alone? To be frank, I hate waiting for people. I would love if a friend of mine would text me and ask “Do you want to go (fill in with a journey)?” I would say Hell yes!
This does not happen and I understand. Many friends my age are busy with children, jobs, etc and can not just pause their lives for a few days to explore.
I on the other hand, am able to and so I do.
If I had allowed fear to be my guide in life…well what kind of life would that be?
Sure the palms get sweaty and shoulders little tense when navigating alone and yes loneliness can knock on the door and barge in, uninvited.
Will I let this prevent me from climbing slippery hills in Cambodia with elephants or explore the busy streets of Mexico City?
The answer is No, Never ever. If fear had been my lifelong companion, I would not be who I am today. The scars of life would be few and not as deep, and the stories would not keep me driven to explore more of this beautiful world.
Do not allow fear to be the unwanted weight on your back as you walk the paths of life. That burden is not your friend. Life is.
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