Boldly Go Solo

Virtually everyone who travels alone feels apprehension before a trip. The difference between the solo traveler and the dreamer who never gets out the door? The ability to push past the fear.

Even veteran travelers admit to experiencing that dread. The following question appeared recently on a listserv for travel writers:

"Every single time I get on a plane to jet somewhere new (or familiar) I’m nervous and nearly back out. Regardless of how well prepared I am. Any other travel vets feel this way," asked Brigitte.

No. Absolutely not. We veterans have steely nerves. Why, sometimes we even bellow our way through airport terminals, laughing uproariously at all the tense and anxious people. Ha, ha, ha.

Interestingly, Brigitte has been to more than 70 countries and mostly travels on her own. She’s done this. Over and over. But the fear still crackles and pops.

Continued…

Her post unleashed a stream of confessions from other travel writers:

"Yup…I always feel gloomy on the day I leave. But as soon as I am actually on the road, I am fine. It’s those 30 minutes before leaving that get me every single time!"

"I get stressed getting everything ready to go. Then as soon as I shut the door on the cab and am on my way to the airport I am focused. A brief flutter trying to get an overweight camera bag through check in, but from that point, it is Zen all the way."

"I’m paranoid about getting there on time/missing my flight or train, and I dread sitting near the inevitable screaming child on the plane. But once out of the airport at the other end, I’m happy as a pig in muck."

"Yeah, a feeling of dread before every trip. At least I always know it’s coming and am a little prepared to deal with it now. Oh, the paradox…"

It IS a paradox. These are travel writers, for goodness sake. They travel because they love it. And still, the beforehand still scares them.

So…for the non-veterans:
Maybe you need to stop paying so much attention to the racing of your heart and the twittering of your nerves. Exchange them for a triggering of the senses. On the ground. Somewhere you’ve never been. Someplace you’ve been dreaming about…

Photo: Ellen Perlman. Man studying street map, in front of mural, Buenos Aires, Argentina.