- Freedom: I’ve learned to make my own choices and take accountability for them. Since I’m the one booking and paying for everything on my trips, the only one I have to blame for booking a cheap, noisy hostel, or congratulate for getting tickets for the Ghibli museums is me. But I also try not to be too hard on myself; some choices you won’t know if they’re good or bad until you go through them.
I learned a lot about managing my resources in ways that make me feel happy and content. From designing a flawless itinerary and becoming very experienced in time management to budgeting. These two skills have greatly helped me as a young adult.
- I’ve become solution-oriented and independent: People have always said that I’ve been overprotected, and in a certain way, I think that is true. I’m the youngest of two, and with an older brother, there’s always been someone around to help me solve stuff. So, going through the experience of leaving behind the people who’ve always been around, your country, and language, has been an opportunity to prove to myself that I’m capable of preventing issues and solving problems.
But! I thought independence meant that everything was on me. From the moment I scanned my ticket and passport to go through security, I felt that from that moment on, I was alone. But independence taught me community, knowing that I can ask for help and voice my concerns, fears, and doubts to people around me was a huge step. I’m surprised by how kind and helpful people have been with me, so even though I travel alone, I’m not lonely, and I know I can always ask for help.
- Emotional awareness: I’ve learned about time and energy management. I’m a person who can easily get hangry, but I’ve learned the poor people around me don’t have to pay for my lack of self-care. So I make sure to always carry snacks and have a stop on my itinerary to eat properly. Besides, this gives me an excellent opportunity to investigate the local gastronomy! I’m not a foodie, but after making this change, my trips have become much more enriching.
When I did my first solo trip, I was just 19, so walking all day round with only a simple breakfast from the hostel was easy peasy, but now, as a 30+ solo female traveller, I don’t have the same energy, and taking care of my body and mental health has become a priority.
- Communication skills: Linked to what I just wrote before, I’m learning to set boundaries and kindly, sincerely, and clearly express my needs (not always, but more frequently than before 😅). My dad has always taught me to take care of how I express myself. The way I say things matters. Honesty without tact is just being mean. When you act and talk from honesty and respect, there’s a higher probability that people will listen. In consequence, my confidence has grown, and so have my communication skills.
As an introvert, people pleaser, and conflict avoidant, I’m still learning (I’m still learning all the points listed here), but this one has been especially challenging for me. I have good and bad days – as anyone does – but on a bad day, asking for a simple direction makes my heart pump heavily, my breath get short, I run out of words, and I get sweaty hands. It is a process, and I’ve made huge progress! But I’m aware I still have a long way to go.
- Set boundaries: When I was younger, I was the type of girl who would give up easily to pressure, and did things that made me uncomfortable and not true to myself. Now, with more wisdom, I care much less about what people think about me and more about what makes me feel happy and aligned with my values.
Bonus lesson: No amount of travel will help me escape things that I should work on in therapy. Yes, a new surrounding often helps, but other things we carry with us and replicate them in each new country and city we land in.
In summary, travelling has been one of life’s greatest teachers. Now, I can notice sooner the signs that there’s something bothering me or making me feel unsafe. Also, without anyone’s expectations to fill, I can hear my inner voice louder and clearer than in my daily, busy life back home.