Why I believe everyone should try solo travel at least once in their life

Travel solo you say? Heck no...

This was my response to when the idea was first floated by me. I couldn't think of anything worse. I mean what if I can't find the right place to check in? What if I can't navigate around the airport? What if people look at me and think what a loser, especially if I have to dare I say it....eat alone at a restaurant? Or more than likely thanks to my baby face what if someone asks me where are your parents?

What if? What if? What if?

Do you know what helped put all my worries at ease? It was when someone turned round to me and said, so despite having already booked a week off and having saved up all your money to do this once in a lifetime trip your debating NOT going on this trip just because you will be alone? Think of all the positives that come with being alone, you get to make sure you do exactly what you want to do and when. For instance if you want to wake up at the crack of dawn to maximise your day or eat at that restaurant you read up about online you can do, as there is no one else to factor in or have to compromise with. A week of pleasing yourself how could this ever be bad?

This was a game changer for me. 

Without two very special supporters who I shall name and praise now (Amelie my Disney roomie and Laura my Disney arrival group buddy) I wouldn't have gone through with this trip and would have regretted this for the rest of my life. So thanks girls you saved me from making a really bad decision!!!

So what was this trip I so feared doing solo?

Flying from Orlando to LA to visit DISNEYLAND in Anaheim which was celebrating its Diamond Anniversary and go and see the sights that was on offer in Hollywood, visit the Warner Bros Studio Lot and Walt Disney Studios where some of my all time favourite films were conceptualised and created AND where flipping Walt Disney the man who I worship so much walked around and worked. How could I ever think of not doing this is beyond me now. 

What top ten things did I learn whilst travelling solo?

1) I'm far more capable than I ever give myself credit for.

2) I can function independently and don't need anyone else.

3) Having some alone time is actually really healthy and perfectly okay.

4) You can actually make friends far easier being alone than if you were with someone. Some of the friends I made on my trip I ended up learning so much from and going on spontaneous adventures with which will always stay with me.


5) It gave me confidence, something I have struggled my whole life with.


6) People may look and wonder what I was doing alone but either I was having too much fun to care or they would approach and strike up a nice friendly conversation. (Don't worry stranger danger is something I always think about so my guard was a little bit up on some of these encounters haha)


7) Doing what you want, when you want, free from judgement of others is quite liberating. Deciding to head out to iHop for dinner at like 10pm...why not? Live your life and do what makes you happy I say.


8) It's okay if you experience moments where you think what the heck am I doing out here all alone? Help! But these moments soon pass - thank goodness.


9) To paraphrase Pocahontas; you could learn things you never knew you never knew!


10) I ended up having the best time of my life and having what some may call a Party In The USA ;). And if this was possible then where would be my next Party? Hmmm...perhaps Canada (Blog post coming shortly on this, keep your eyes peeled!).

My first ever solo adventure was a success!

And for now that is all from me...peace out!

Thank you to those who have been keeping up with this blog so far and managing to read through my really random rambles....you are all the best!

Life Crisis or Quarter Life Crisis?

So for those who are close to me such as family and friends, you will all know recently I received quite the shock and was thrown a massive curve ball. I won't state on here what it was but let's just say when you are going down what looks to be a very nice clear path but along the way you stumble along dodging the various obstacles but everything is fine - you are still standing (If not a little worse for wear) but you begin to get very tired and worn out. However, just when you start to see the light at the end of the path, and pick yourself back up you then come across a massive road block and no matter how hard you try to challenge this road block to let you pass, you are denied. 

Not one to give up you then seek some friends to see if maybe more than one person can challenge this road block but alas the answer you keep getting is no - turn around and find another path. Arghhhh frustrating hey? 

But you know what those friends who offered their help have helped make you or in this case me feel supported and encouraged me to not let this defeat get to me but to see it as an opportunity to try another path and see where this takes me.

However, this has got me thinking and talking to friends of my age. Is it okay to keep trying new paths? Is there any real harm in this? You are always lead to believe from early on that it is good to know the path you want to follow and all you need to do is just ensure that you pass all the necessary steps to get you on this desired pathway and you will be rewarded with a life of happiness and success. So what happens when people don't know what path to take but try out different ones like a buffet of paths if you like?

The problem I struggled with is that I felt I had already sampled a couple of different ones and just found a path that I could see set me up for life. It was a path with challenges and opportunities that would stretch me, keep me on my toes and allow me to grow as a person. So when this path was abruptly stopped I panicked and immediately started to self-analyse, what did I do wrong? Maybe I was never meant for this path? What if I try a similar path? Will I equally face a road block? Is this a sign that I'm destined to not succeed? On and on my mind goes....it's exhausting!

So when I got talking to a friend about this situation that happened to me recently and how I was now fearing the unknown, (as the future has become something I'm fearful of rather than it excite me) I explained how I'm not sure what I need to do right now to create a life that will ultimately make me as happy as can be (I mean I'm realistic enough to know life is not always a walk in the park). It was then reassuring to hear this friend state that they too, although settled and happy on their path, have also begun to question if this is the right path for them. This friend also informed me that other friends of theirs have also had this discussion with them and all are of a similar age.

So it got me thinking...is this just a normal thing to start fretting over as a 24 year old? or does age not come into this and everyone at some point will face a version or type of life crisis and start to question everything they are doing or want to do?

I just don't know.