I'm Flying Solo

I used to think that traveling alone indicated your deep dislike for others or your lack of friends. Such a lonely state of affairs. But recently, I have done so much traveling alone that my mindset has shifted.

While traveling in a group is fun, taking a solo adventure could lead to a deeper appreciation of others, a realization of your dependence, and even creates opportunities to grow in ways you never thought were possible.

As I stepped into the airport for my first solo flight, I never realized just how much trust I had put in others until I had to do it alone. I had always stepped into the shadows and allowed others to make decisions on my behalf. I admit, I did shake as I stepped into line to check in my luggage, but as soon as I waved goodbye to my friends and made it through to the other side it hit me that I was doing it! I was an independent woman! I felt like a kid being released by their parents as they ride their bike for the first time alone.

I could do this! The ball was in my court as I had to figure out where my flight was, what food was available and what to do with all my free time. By the time my flight was delayed for the third time, I had gotten comfortable with the steady flow of airport life.

Walking out of the airport in Siem Reap, after two days of traveling, was truly a highlight for me— as I had just proven to myself that I could make decisions on my own. That yes, I had dependence for others, but I was creating a space for independence and this was a good thing. No longer was I afraid but excited for the next big thing.

Get out and experience whats around you! Of course you can do this with a group but there is something about having the independence to get things done alone, to make decisions not based off of what everyone else desires but on what you are longing to experience. The world is such a big place and if we are waiting for someone to come with, we will miss out on amazing opportunities! So through dependency to the wind and come on the adventure of a lifetime!

These days, I am getting used to the hot Cambodian sun, but I am also learning how to navigate my way through Battambang, the second largest city in Cambodia. I’m realizing that exploring on my own allows me to hear my thoughts, it forces me out of the shadows, and it is proving to me daily that I am not a homebody but rather a wandering with the desire for adventure.

So whether it is flying by myself or biking through the streets surrounded by unknown sights and sounds, I am learning to take it day by day, adventure by adventure despite whether I’m in a group or flying solo.