velvet escape’s ‘Lone Traveller’ series (2)

2009 March 4

by velvet

Things to do when you’re travelling alone: Reflect
This is one of the best reasons to travel alone. You’ll finally have all the time to yourself and what better way to use this time than to reflect! See it as a kind of ‘getting to know me’ exercise, a worthy investment in yourself. After all, getting to know yourself better and identifying your talents, strengths and flaws will allow you to apply your talents and strengths more effectively in any situation and help you work on your flaws. Reflect on the past: how you reacted in various situations and why, if your ego has ever clouded your judgement, your relationships with your family, friends and loved ones and how these relationships have evolved and what were the catalysts for change… just to name a few. Reflect on the present and the future: where am I today, how did I get here and where am I heading? What has made me the person I am today? What baggage am I carrying with me and of what use will it be for me tomorrow? Am I passionate about what I do now? Ask yourself some of the following questions: what makes me happy? What makes me angry? What makes me feel secure/insecure? What are my strengths and weaknesses, why are they my strengths and weaknesses, and in which situations do my strengths and weaknesses come into play? What makes me laugh/cry? I’m sure you’ll be able to think up many more interesting questions.

It’ll probably take several months or perhaps even longer to go through the entire list and it may be difficult to find an answer to some of the questions but it really is worth the effort. Take your time but open your mind to your thoughts and be honest with yourself. Oh, and don’t forget to socialise during your trip. Talking to strangers is a fantastic way to reflect… but I’ll save that for another ‘Lone Traveller’ post.