When I was in college in the early 2000s my mom worked for Alaska Airlines. One of the big perks of the job was that family could fly standby practically free. So I’d fly places for a couple days, sometimes longer during summer break, solo. I really enjoyed those experiences: traveling, exploring, wandering, and eating by myself.
Last September I got an invitation to an event in NYC and I realized that all the travel I had done since those college days had been with other people. I had not traveled anywhere by myself like that in 20 years.
Despite my excitement for the solo NYC trip I also felt really nervous and found myself coming up with reasons not to go. At first I figured that this discomfort was just part of “being” a quiet, introverted person. I would rather stay home. This is who I am.
But then I realized that I was having a real self-indulgent “This is Hard for Me” moment. Being out in the world by myself isn’t hard for me because of who I am. It’s hard for me because I don’t do it often. Like any other skill, traveling solo just takes practice.
I’m heading back to NYC this week for 3 days for another event and really leaning in to the spirit of practice.
To start, I’m going to take the AirTrain from the airport instead of a cab so I can figure out how that works, and then the subway from Penn Station to my hotel…
AirTran and LIRR is the way to go.
Cheering you on, always!