I have never taken a leisure solo trip. I have traveled for work, but I do not recall traveling on my own for pleasure. Usually when I travel with a significant other, friends, or family, I rarely venture out on my own to explore. The reason being that I have a gnawing fear of losing my way or bearings in an unknown city. Surprisingly, while vacationing with two of my dear friends over the last two weeks, I finally took the step towards discovering and touring on my own. In this week’s blog, I share how I challenged my limiting beliefs and the shroud of incompetence I have carried for a long time. I hope these anecdotes remind you that a little bit of courage, mixed with faith, and the right people can help you reach your destination – literally.
Both of my friends have an independent and adventurous streak where there is minimal hesitation, if any, when it comes to discovering unfamiliar places. One of the twosomes is overly prepared and the other goes where the wind takes him. I have neither trait, but their confidence with travel has always inspired me. I also have immense respect for their ability to seek solutions instead of succumbing to frustrations and fear when globetrotting.
As I aspired to imbibe the above qualities, I finally got the push I needed to be a solo tourist for a day. Ironically, it happened on a day when I felt under the weather. All three of us were supposed to go on a tour, and I waffled on whether to go or skip it. I was beginning to feel anxious and depressed as well, so I decided to join my friends and hope for the best.
While having breakfast, I realized that we were scheduled to depart from our current location in a day. This plan meant that if I went on the day tour, I would miss all that the city had to offer. Without a doubt, the tour was enticing but not having the chance to witness the beauty and culture of the city we were in was unacceptable to me. I made the difficult decision to give the tour a miss and explore the city on my own. Honestly, I was probably going to chicken out and rest in the room. In reality, I was scared to be on my own in a foreign country.
Fortunately, I was in constant touch with a close friend from back home who helped me realize that I was skilled and strong enough to be out and about on my own if my health permitted. He reminded me that asking for help is always an option; people are in fact kind enough to assist in one’s hour of need. With that pep talk, I looked at the map on my phone, bought the ticket to one of the places of interest, bundled up, and left. I purchased the ticket in advance to hold myself accountable and not back down.
That day, I walked and wandered for hours. I went on not one but three excursions. I sat next to a stranger while lunching. When I got lost, which I did, I sent an SOS to the universe and, miraculously, spotted the city’s Visitor’s Bureau. To my sheer surprise, I was headed in the right direction. That gave me the confidence to trust my instincts because I was not as clueless as I had made myself out to be.
I missed my travel buddies, but I also had a blast on my own. I branched out in a whole new way that day. It was the part of me that I had chosen to bury under doubt, concerns, and negative perceptions. The entire process was liberating and unbelievably enjoyable.
There were many moments during that day where self-doubt and worry crept in; however, that was when I recalled that I was a champ at overcoming difficulties. Compared to those trying situations, being a tourist on my own was a cakewalk. I had faith in myself, humanity, and the universe. I held on to that faith as if it was my lifeline. When adversity of any amount strikes, faith is the ultimate resource that holds us together and sees us through to the other side.
Sadly, my health went for a toss that night, but my friends were right there to nurse me and regale me with stories from their tour. Not only am I eternally grateful for my friend from home who gave me the nudge I needed, but I am so thankful for my friends traveling with me. They never imposed and nor did they make me feel guilty for spending the day on my own. On the contrary, I believe they were glad to know I had a memorable day.
My friends and I spent plenty of time with each other for the rest of the trip; however, there were a couple of times when we went on our own individual discoveries. On those occasions, I was no longer apprehensive; instead, I cherished the time with myself.
I enjoyed my own company during lunch. I joyously handled the random downpour. I lost my way and looped around my hotel when looking for the train station before eventually finding it. To top it all, I called out a store manager for being a racist prick. Overall, every moment spent with and without my fantastic friends is one I will revere for the rest of my life.
If you are at a crossroads in life and wondering whether you should take that next step, this week’s blog is your reminder to go for it. The pieces will fall into place as they are meant to, but, more importantly, through the process, you will peel off another worthless layer that is holding you back.
We tend to make things harder than they need to be, which is why even the smallest acts of courage add up to reveal major life changes. Ultimately, who you are and who you become depends heavily on those small steps. So, buckle up and keep on wandering, exploring, and discovering what resides inside and outside of you.
As always, I am here to support you all the way, my brave soul. I hope you keep in touch with your stories, thoughts, and feedback. If you wish to learn more, please stop by www.imperfectbodies.com. Lastly, if you enjoyed this information, then please share it with others.
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All the best,
Chaitni