Traveling Solo
Solo travel offers singular pleasures that I appreciate more as I get older. My brain has to work harder when I’m forced to navigate new cities and sites on my own. It’s like doing balance poses to stay agile, or like playing Sudoku or solitaire to challenge yourself.
Hiking Thumb Butte in Prescott, AZ
It does wonders for my mindset too. I tend to complain less when there are no companions to vent with me, and I look for positive aspects in most situations rather than focusing on negative things. Instead of getting anxious, I’m in my better self when I have to find solutions to dilemmas that pop up. I worry less in general when I don’t have a partner or children traveling with me.
One still needs to be hyper-alert when traveling on her own; aware of my environs and careful about staying safe. Women traveling alone have always had to be more cautious than men. We were raised on stories about bad things that might happen to girls and women when they’re on their own. I had several unpleasant incidents with flashers when I used to run in remote settings; and I was robbed at gunpoint when I was alone in a parking lot one night. But I kept my head and was able to convince the assailant to let me keep my wallet after giving him money. Such experiences made me more cautious about where and when I’ll walk on my own. But they didn’t stop me from walking or traveling alone.
A chance encounter in Sedona
With a companion around, I tend to function on autopilot and let others figure out where to go and how to get there. Conversely, I’m more attuned to the external world and to intuition when on my own. My senses become more acute as I tune into the surroundings; to the sounds of birds or rushing water or deep silence, and to the array of colors in the landscapes around me.
My husband likes to go hiking and snowshoeing in the mountains on his own because it’s the closest he can get to a spiritual experience; to be part of nature and a larger essence that takes him out of himself. It’s also the best way for me to work things out if I’m in a funk or something has disturbed me.
When on my own, I tend to be more open and willing to talk to people who cross my path; to locals and other travelers who can offer unique perspectives or tips on what to do and see. They can also warn of dangers—like the time I encountered two backpackers on a hike who told me they’d seen a bear on the trail. It spurred me to sing out loud as I forged ahead, which must have scared the bear off since I never saw it.
Hiking in Switzerland
I find myself composing thoughts and sentences and allowing my unconscious to vent when no one’s talking to me. This is particularly helpful when I’m trying to write something, and certain thoughts or phrases elude me. Walking alone gives me the space to work things out and allows my subconscious to surprise me.
It’s fun and meaningful to share sights and experiences with a companion of course. Yet at the end of a solo journey, I appreciate getting to my destination safely all the more and feel a greater sense of achievement.