5 Ways Solo Adventure Will Make Your Life Better

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

With Covid restrictions on the wane in America, and the summer season right on the doorstep, now is the perfect time to come out of the darkness and confinement of the past year, and emerge as a better version of the person you were before the pandemic. One way to further develop that better version of – you – is to boldly get yourself back out there with a solo adventure!

Although I’m happily married and have a family, I’ve made an intentional point the past 10 years of my life to regularly go on adventurous experiences alone. I am planning my next that is coming up in just a few weeks. To be sure, it requires discipline, trust within your relationships, and personal integrity to do that successfully. There must be valid reasons and benefits to solo travel. So what might some of those be? Here are 5 Ways Solo Adventure Will Make Your Life Better…

GROW YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

A common fear amongst us humans is to feel alone and isolated. Yet, if we intentionally put ourselves in that situation we are forced to face that fear and learn to overcome. Solo travel is a most excellent way to grow your self-confidence if you embrace the opportunity. For instance, no one likes to eat alone in a restaurant. However, it’s very liberating to do so, and the satisfaction of actually having a good time with yourself enjoying a meal is super rewarding. Hint: Be selective in where you choose to eat. Don’t go to romantic/date night restaurant. Pick the diners/drive in’s/dives type places. They are welcoming and always have an “everyone is family” atmosphere. Face that fear and be proud of yourself!

INSTILLS VALUABLE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

When we travel with others that means we also travel with all their ideas and plans. But when a person travels alone every detail is left to them to organize. This can be daunting, especially for those that are used to having someone else taking care of all the organizing. Over the years I have become quite skilled at adventure planning, and I learned every bit of it from the experiences of my solo trips. Site locations, transportation, lodging, meals, what to do, costs…all that goes into a well-planned event, was left to me. Guess what? Those skills have spilled over into my real life, too, and this once fly by the seat of my pants artist type became a highly organized and efficient master of getting the most out of my days. There is no way I would’ve ever learned to lose over 50 pounds and walk 6 miles a day, and do everything else I do with success, before I learned how to maximize time with organization. What a fun way to learn a highly useful life skill!

DEEPER AWARENESS OF PERSONAL LIKES/DISLIKES

To find our tribe as they say, or our spouse, or pick a career, where we want to live, and all that goes into whether we like and enjoy our lives, or we are miserable, we had better be highly tuned into our own personal likes and dislikes. Most people are not. Solo adventuring will develop your awareness of what actually makes you tick. For me, I have very particular types of activities that make me extremely happy, like hiking an uncrowded trail, or sitting up at 6000 feet elevation feeling like I’m in heaven with God. Other people are much more joyful in a city landscape, shopping unique stores, and bar-hopping. It’s all good, but you need to learn what makes you sincerely happy, and that will help you make better life decisions across the board when you expand that type of thinking.

ENHANCES SELF-RELIANCE

Everyone should be able to stand on their own two feet, which is a figure of speech of course, but is important imagery. Life is hard and we can’t always be reliant on others to carry us along. We must learn to do for ourselves. We learned from Covid that life can change in an instant, so we had better be adaptable and capable to deal with life that can turn on a dime. When we get ourselves out of our comfort zones and get out into unfamiliar territory all by ourselves, the need to be self-reliant is magnified on high and that skill will be greatly enhanced by each experience.

SOLO TRAVEL HEIGHTENS AND HONES ALL THE SENSES

We are created with an array of senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. For some that practice heightening and honing the senses, we learn that our capabilities can expand beyond the normal application of those things. When I’m walking in nature I will train my ears to hear sounds and activity that are normally just white noise in my daily life. I can hear the birds and animals, the wind darting and cutting. It’s beautiful. Traveling solo affords a person the opportunity and gift to be without distraction, and to earnestly seek to heighten and hone their individual senses. The taste of something exquisite can linger in your mouth and be examined without the talking of someone across from you. Sights can be truly admired and their awe can fill your soul. The smells of nature and landscapes can shock you and inspire you. And the touch of a leaf gently grazing against the back of your neck as you walk by can feel like the hand of an angel wishing you well.

It is important and natural that we spend time alone so that we can grow into everything God has created us to be. The most fun way to do that? Solo Adventures! So get out there and have yourself a wonderful summer 🙂

Gary