Lets Get Started, Shall We?

The hardest thing about getting started, is getting started. ~ Guy Kawasaki

No truer words have ever been spoken. That always seems like the hardest part, the start! I’ll admit I even struggled to get started with a post to this section. My original idea for this blog entry was vastly different from what it is today. However, with the state of the world I had to think long and hard about how I NOW want to approach this topic, and it wasn’t easy. So, let’s make a deal. You are new to solo travel. I am new to blogging. We are going to get through this together, I promise. Besides, we all must start somewhere, right?

Let’s bring it in with “Teamwork” on three…

One

Two

Three…TEAMWORK!

Ok! Now that we are on the same team. Let’s start with some groundwork. We first must state the obvious. Currently, travel is at an all-time low. The world is in a pandemic. It is strongly advised if not mandated that people stay home, do not travel abroad, and don’t go anywhere unless it is essential. With that reality it seems like there is no point in starting to even think about solo travel. Some may attest that should be the last thing on people’s mind. I totally respect that. However, if taking a solo trip is something that you have always dreamt of doing, or perhaps considering your current circumstance would now like to do in the future, please accept the present-day situation as a consequence of your dream being deferred; Not denied!

This too shall pass.

While we are currently living in a world of stillness, which may be encouraging us to delve deeper within ourselves, this is the perfect moment to plant the seeds of solo travel. Conceivably, it may be a bit premature to get started physically, but there is no time like the present to prepare your harvest where it matters most - Mentally and spiritually!

When are you most comfortable?

As you can see, I have been comfortable being by myself for a very long time. I wrote that entry in my memory book at 18 years old during my senior year of high school. Anti-social? Nah, I wouldn’t say that. Introvert? Eh, most of the time! Do I love my extroverts? Of course! If they give me time to recharge, unapologetically, then we are forever friends! Do I admire anyone now? Well, yes, but we will save that for another post! Nevertheless, if you seriously want solo travel to become your testimony, I strongly advise you to get comfortable with one important thing: YOURSELF!

Do you enjoy your own company? If not, go within and try to understand those limitations. Journal those feeling of discomfort and reflect on why you are unsettled with self. How do you occupy your mind and time when there is no one else around to share in your joy? Do you engage in activities for the betterment of you, or do you always seem to go along with what someone else wants to do? If you haven’t thought about these things before, then I encourage you to use this time of isolation to answer some tough questions to prepare for your solo journey.

How can you mentally prepare?

Start by focusing on this opportunity of stillness as an escape. Mentally think about activities that you like to do, but when you are with your friends, no one seems to want to. Get excited about making a list of things you want to accomplish on your voyage while being rid of anyone else’s agenda. Most importantly, think about the freedom spiritually. There is nothing that we can appreciate more right now, in this moment, than freedom. Doing what you want, when you want, where you want. All on your own time, and on your own dime.

And ESPECIALLY after being quarantine….

LET FREEDOM RING!!!

Thoughts become words; words become deeds. So, team as you can see, there is no better place to start solo travel, than spiritually and mentally! Plant the seed in your mind, start slow, and overtime you watch your solo journey harvest grow. There is absolutely no rush. Please take your time. When all of this is over, I guarantee there will still be a whole wide world for you to see.

Everything else is mind over matter.

#andthatstheanomaly