Planting the seed

“What does freedom feel like?” Someone recently asked me this. It’s harder to answer than it seems. 

The first thing that came to mind was a road trip. More specifically, a solo road trip. The space, time and highway make me feel limitless.

For over a decade I’ve made it a priority to take solo adventures. I remember exactly how it started. 

I was 29 years old and talking with a friend who was several years older than me. I always admired her independence and how she did whatever she wanted. I was telling her how I wanted to make my upcoming 30th birthday a memorable one. She shared a story with me about a birthday trip she took by herself to Mexico. 

At that point in my life, I hadn’t thought much about taking trips by myself, other than a three-hour drive to spend a weekend with friends. And the thought of traveling internationally alone blew my mind. Why hadn’t I considered that before? 

The seed was planted. 

My friend casually told me she went to Mexico to be alone on the beach and fill her days solely with things she wanted to do. And just like that, I started imagining it for myself. It sounded brave. It sounded scary. It sounded like the perfect way to commemorate turning 30. 

And so it began. Each week I borrowed a stack of travel books from the library and sat on the floor of my one-bedroom apartment poring over them and narrowing my options. 

Imagining myself exploring the places I saw in my books made me nervous and excited. That combination of feelings never steers me wrong. It was my sign to do it.

Listen, I could write an entire book about my wild, solo, 30th-birthday adventure in Europe. It’s not hyperbole to say it was life-changing. But that’s not the point of me writing this blog.

The point is, I never thought about taking a two-week trip overseas alone until someone planted the seed. 

Without realizing it, we’re planting seeds all the time. What we think is a normal, everyday thing, might actually be the inspiration someone else needs.

When I talk to women about my solo trips, there are always a few who say, “Wow, I’d love to do that sometime.” And I say, “What’s stopping you?”

Just like how the seed was planted for me, I’m committed to returning the favor. 

On my solo trips I’ve had the biggest epiphanies. I’ve processed my most difficult decisions. I’ve met lifelong friends. I’ve learned powerful lessons about myself, and constantly discover new edges to my courage. I honestly can’t imagine a world where I don’t take time to travel alone.

I wish this for everyone. But I totally get if being alone is not your thing. And I understand the immense privilege I have in being able to do this, and to feel (mostly) safe doing it. 

But if you’re reading this and the seed has been planted, I hope it unfurls and blossoms into something life-changing for you, too.

(Also…I’ve got ideas on planning a solo adventure if you want to brainstorm!)