“My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”
Diane Arbus
At first, family and friends thought I was a little reckless to go on “daring” adventures and collect passport stamps by myself.
But it got to a point where, despite other’s opinions and reservations, I wanted to be brave, independent and daring. I figure those were good qualities to have, especially in adulthood, and there was no other way to get those traits other than to take the plunge.
But honestly, I was incredibly scared when I hit “book” on my round trip tickets to Costa Rica. Terrified actually. When the confirmation arrived, I felt so much anxiety, I felt overwhelmed, and I kind of felt like throwing up. And I stared at the 24-hour cancellation policy for quite a bit and wondered if I made a mistake.
Despite looking at that cancellation button, I didn’t want to press that button, to backtrack and to regress. Here was a big opportunity not to wimp out, and to do something that could only bring good to my life: to go where I’ve never been. It was time.
For the longest time, “I want to travel the world,” was a sentence I never said. I kind of thought people who said that were repeating some whimsical fantasy about what they thought they should say. I thought it was a silly declaration.
I also never understood it when people talked about backpacking across Europe and Asia, or other countries, alone. Although, many, many friends — men and women — embarked on these adventures, during summers or gap years, without a hitch. So traveling alone, really, isn’t THAT unique. But it sure is a feel-good accomplishment.
Many of my guy friends and girlfriends made those treks and called it “life-changing.” I also thought, what a repetitive cliché. Looking back on it, I judged too soon.
I didn’t get a chance to study abroad, missing out on the opportunity because I wanted to save tuition money and graduate early. There are still parts of me that regrets not taking that financial hit while I was younger, and didn’t have to map out vacation time for an adventure.
And finally, nothing about “Eat, Pray, Love” written by Liz
Although, after a couple of solo travel trips, years after those books were published, my best friend did buy me a keepsake. An inspiring copy for me to write my own story.
But let me also admit this.
In the few months leading up to my first foreign solo travel trip to Costa Rica, I kind of enjoyed telling people I was about to jet off to the unknown and uncharted by myself.
I came across as fierce, empowered, and.. well… pretty Badass, if I do say so. Many had not done a trip like this before (but, WHY NOT), and the foreign part of foreign travel excited me. It felt like I was making a declaration to go on the road not taken.
In reality, I wasn’t the first female millennial to travel alone, but I liked the idea of joining some female-
I thought if I could do this on my own, perhaps it would inspire other girls and women to do the same. That’s actually a big reason why I created this blog. Not only to share my adventures but to also show you, I’m not quite some out-of-this-world Wonder Woman (I mean, maybe some days I like to think I am. Haha!) But if I can do it, why couldn’t you? There isn’t THAT much of a difference between me and other women, except, maybe I just give myself enough pep talks to finally have the willingness to be brave and just go for it. And anyone can too.
I think the Oohh’s & Aahh’s from co-workers, friends, and family were quite entertaining to hear. I kind of liked how my decision to travel alone got people thinking.
In a way sharing my plans with friends and co-workers, kept me more motivated and somewhat more accountable because everyone exclaimed for a bit, whether in awe or in shock.
Research says the anticipation before traveling is actually a good thing. It allows you to experience something before the trip, and looking back on the photos, journal entries and memories after the trip, allows you the experience the exhilation it another time, even long after the luggage bags are unpacked.
In this new series for Adventures with Crystal, “How to tackle the fears keeping you from traveling solo,” I’ll address the five most common fears many travelers have when thinking about traveling solo.
You’re not alone if you feel anxiety or nervousness about your first big solo foreign travel. But let me tell you this. It is so rewarding to convert that feeling of nervousness into feelings of excitement. So, first step, focus on that.
The posts are not meant to make you feel more afraid about traveling solo or to add more ideas to your, perhaps, growing list of fears.
I want you to feel empowered when you’re following along with my solo adventures, and to understand if I can do it, why couldn’t you? You can go to Rhode Island, New York City. You can go to Costa Rica and Bermuda.
Hell, you can go anywhere you want. And, by yourself.
When they say the sky’s the limit, I think they meant traveling.
Here are the fears and anxieties I’ll cover in the next few weeks as part of the 5 part series to address what’s holding you back.
And there will be plenty of suggestions and answers on how you can get rid of your fears, and finally, TRAVEL SOLO:
- The fear of being alone (posted!)
- The fear of danger or safety (posted!)
- The fear of not knowing and uncertainty (posted!)
- The fear of getting lost
- The fear of not understanding
Despite never really having aspirations to see the world (silly me), traveling solo quickly became my passion once I realized I didn’t have to be afraid. Writing this post already has my mind racing on when I can go again. And by myself.
So when people asked questions about how I handled traveling by myself with anxiety, I sat down and read through some of my journal entries before I left for Costa Rica to figure out why exactly it was I wasted all these years being afraid. And I discovered what was it that finally changed and allowed me to just jump.
This blog was created in hopes that you finally get on that plane and just go.
And so, the five-part series begins!
The adventure continues,
Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog below to get the latest update as these stories, tips, and adventures continue from the series! Tackle your fears of traveling alone. And away we go.
