http://www.vagablogging.net/going-solo-for-the-first-time.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.vagablogging.net/going-solo-for-the-first-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-25271 Ryan Brandle Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:24:09 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=5735#comment-25271 I think that everybody feels something similar the first time they step out of their comfort zone. It's human nature. When people ask me why I am not scared to head off to the middle east or backpack the "dangerous" country of Colombia, I try to explain it like this... People are naturally afraid of the unknown. Example, have you ever been scuba diving? I was pretty terrified of jumping into deep dark water for the first time, but once I did and ended up at the bottom of the ocean... it was magical. From the top looking down you can't see anything, allowing your mind to dwindle on all the horrible man eating creatures looking up at you. But when you're on the bottom looking up, the watery realm around is completely illuminated. You can see everything and you wonder... what the hell was I so afraid of? The fact is you can not truly understand this until you do it yourself. That's how you gain the confidence and experience needed to become a great independent traveler. People who question if what you're doing is crazy... well most of them simply haven't been exposed to solo travel. Their fear holds them back and their perceptions of what the world out there is like will remain molded by others instead of their own eyes. Good for you Katie! I think that everybody feels something similar the first time they step out of their comfort zone. It’s human nature. When people ask me why I am not scared to head off to the middle east or backpack the “dangerous” country of Colombia, I try to explain it like this… People are naturally afraid of the unknown. Example, have you ever been scuba diving? I was pretty terrified of jumping into deep dark water for the first time, but once I did and ended up at the bottom of the ocean… it was magical. From the top looking down you can’t see anything, allowing your mind to dwindle on all the horrible man eating creatures looking up at you. But when you’re on the bottom looking up, the watery realm around is completely illuminated. You can see everything and you wonder… what the hell was I so afraid of? The fact is you can not truly understand this until you do it yourself. That’s how you gain the confidence and experience needed to become a great independent traveler. People who question if what you’re doing is crazy… well most of them simply haven’t been exposed to solo travel. Their fear holds them back and their perceptions of what the world out there is like will remain molded by others instead of their own eyes. Good for you Katie!

]]> http://www.vagablogging.net/going-solo-for-the-first-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-25152 Travel-Writers-Exchange.com Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:34:31 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=5735#comment-25152 Traveling solo can be exhilarating. It can be scary the first time you travel by yourself, but it's very freeing. There's no one to check with when you leave the hotel to wander the streets. You get to do whatever you want without all of the "drama" that could come with traveling with a partner, spouse, or friend. Plus, solo travel teaches you about true independence. And, it's a great test of the psyche. What fears show up? How will you handle them? Are they true? Solo travel can take you places you never dreamed of going! Traveling solo can be exhilarating. It can be scary the first time you travel by yourself, but it’s very freeing. There’s no one to check with when you leave the hotel to wander the streets. You get to do whatever you want without all of the “drama” that could come with traveling with a partner, spouse, or friend. Plus, solo travel teaches you about true independence. And, it’s a great test of the psyche. What fears show up? How will you handle them? Are they true? Solo travel can take you places you never dreamed of going!

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