Happy Saturday, friends. I must say, yesterday’s solo travel post gave me some interesting insight into what other people think about my choices! Some people commented (on Reddit, not here), that it’s sad that I don’t like to travel without my husband, when I never said anything of the sort. We travel together, and we love spending time together!
That being said, solo travel isn’t all butterflies and rainbows. Of course I get lonely– one day in Seattle was a low mood, missing Andy kind of day, and I was depressed for a good portion of my last trip abroad.
I love this excerpt from A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe, in a story entitled “The Longest Short Drive”. Writer Pramila Jayapal discusses her take on a solo journey after a break-up, and the feelings she describes are ones I can identify with a lot:
I realize now that travel is not just about the physically going somewhere, but about conscious exploration. The physicality of aloneness pushes some people toward this conscious exploration of their surroundings and themselves. Being alone physically- not having someone to share your adventures with as they unfold, having to make every decision, big and little, being able to relax only yourself or with strangers and never with a trusted friend or lover, waking up by yourself- does make you understand aloneness, the freedom and the pain associated with it.
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This post is J for Pramila Jayapal, part of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. I’m publishing a post every day of the month except for Sundays, all with a loose travel theme. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone, and see you back here on Monday for K!
Stunning photograph!
Anabel recently posted…Gallus Glasgow J: Jordanhill
Thank you, Anabel! The Hudson River tends to produce some pretty nice sunset scenes!
Alone can be a very different feeling depending on whether you are choosing to be alone or that choice is out of your hands.
Absolutely. I’ve been on post-breakup trips like the one this author talks about, and they have their own level of intensity, that’s for sure.
I used to travel alone for work, and I enjoyed it much of the time. The loneliness made me appreciate my husband even more when I came home.
Yes, the coming home is one of the best parts for us! 🙂
To be honest, I actually like spending time alone quite often. It makes me hear what my heart and my brain are telling me. That comment you received was odd. Probably assumed a totally different thing or what not. But what can we do? People always have something to say in this world and it’s good that you took it gracefully!
Exactly. My husband and my friends understand that I need alone time. Some people don’t need or want that, so they thought my post was pretty weird or sad! Oh well. Everybody’s different! Thanks, Rea 🙂