Travelling alone and the whys…

    Our life is a one-time journey, and a person can't walk backward in life's path but only forward. So, I taught myself to travel alone because I believed it would teach me something significant thru experiencing a different realm. A small thought of "I'M CURIOUS", surprisingly challenged me during my 20’s to do it alone. Never have I imagined that I'd realized it one day and has since become one of the many rewarding moments in my life.

   Despite it all, the truth is, travelling can’t be the sole reason for my happiness; BUT I am the happiest when I go places. It’s a privilege that I take to heart. I can travel now, see the world, and still feel downhearted somewhere, sometime in my life. But that’s just the cycle of life, isn’t it? Instead, I chose to go forward. I refused to be consumed by the affairs of life and don’t want to limit my opportunity to explore and learn new things, so I ventured out to rekindle a kinder relationship with myself, reignite my spiritual journey, mentally slow down, and gain experiences I can call my own. Travelling alone fired up my courage.

   As I dreamed of expanding my horizons, I can only do it by my means. Unlike most people, I’m just a simple person, that maybe for some, dreamed too big of going places. Each flight I take is like my prized procession and I feel like flying for the first time every time. My curiosity then led me to open roads and possibilities I thought I couldn’t experience because I felt limited. When I think about it, it takes me to a humbling place of gratitude.

  Getting out of my comfort zone by doing a solo travel may have felt overwhelming, but truly, there's so much space for adventure in this world that awaits. Connections with wonderful people, gorgeous nature and landscapes - God's awe-inspiring creations, were all waiting for me to be discovered. Travelling gave me the time to pause and reflect that there's so much to appreciate in life despite how it can be so challenging sometimes. It lifted up a little weight of distress and anxiousness. Then I thought that people do get by and so is life. 

   Solo travel experiences are not an everyday thing. I have experienced heart-warming and out-of-the-blue moments, even those upsetting ones (like delayed flights that wasted an entire day of my trip, a broken train that disrupted my journey for several hours, or a malfunctioned gas pump that consumed my money yet gave me no fuel, not even a drop), and all those whimsical moments that made my adventure more uniquely mine. Yet, travelling alone led me to realizations where I've learned to appreciate more what I already have. It gave my eyes a greater lens of perspective about many things and widened my horizon and understanding about the world, especially people. For short periods, I saw a snippet of their daily way of life, gained cultural knowledge and beliefs, observed how they relate to strangers, and even tasted their traditional food; still, it was the kindness, openness, and humility of those people I've encountered that inspired me. They all belonged to my story, my own journey. 

  Adapting to different environments, learning from experiences, and conquering the fear of not being able to are at the forefront of my every chance to travel. Having those moments and encounters also humbles me to think that they are partly a beautiful remembrance of my youth, stories I can look back to until my old age.

   Travel if you have the chance to do so, because in a world of solo travellers, you will definitely meet interesting like-minded individuals along the road. See, learn, and immerse in the lives of other people; hear their stories, and share your smile with them. You might never know how connections and moments can change you and you might never know how you can also inspire other people. Sometimes it may not go according to your plans and expectations, but don’t be discouraged. Instead, learn from those moments and realize what it's teaching you internally. Savor each travel as if you are feeding your mind with healthy thoughts and aspirations. Be magical, discover more of yourself, and above all, always be grateful.

Buen Viaje! And stay safe! :)