Traveling alone might sound dull, sitting alone at a beach bar looking at couples making out left and right, but don’t be fooled, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ve ever treated yourself to.
Here are five reasons you should pack your bags, jump on the next plane and travel when life allows it.
1. You get to operate on your own time
First and foremost, if you’re going to spend your entire life waiting for someone to travel with, there’s a good chance you might not go anywhere at all.
When you travel alone, you don’t run on anyone’s time but your own. Shit, you can wake up at 8 pm one day and at 10 am the next day and go straight to the tequila bar and have a shot for breakfast.
The best part is there’s no one there to judge you except the bartender — and even then he doesn’t care as long as you pay the bill.
2. You’re able to silence the world and hone in on your thoughts
When you travel alone, you can spend time self-reflecting and trying to figure out what’s going on in that mind of yours instead of obsessing over your social media following or that guy/girl who isn’t that into you.
3. It forces you outside of your shell
Whether you’re a shy individual or a social butterfly, traveling alone will put you on a new level by making you more inclined to communicate and connect with others even once you leave paradise.
4. You begin to appreciate the things you have
When you travel, you see how other people live and how they find happiness in all the little things.
Some people aren’t able to indulge in the same luxuries as you are, or I am, yet their happiness is unwavering. Their smile and warmth despite their situation becomes a reminder that even though you may not have it all, you are truly privileged.
5. You get an entirely new perspective
Nature provides perspective. It makes you realize how much of a fragile, useless, little speckle you are, which, in turn, puts you in your place.
If you thought you were tough, step out into the ocean and rise up against a powerful wave or try a 12-mile hike; maybe you’ll realize how precious your life is and just how powerful the earth is.
