By: Ana Raab
Like many fellow solo travelers, the initial inspiration for my journey was partially driven by the desire to find myself along the way. And there were indeed plenty of moments of self-discovery, followed by bouts of loneliness crammed in next to flashes of pure euphoria and joy. A proverbial emotional roller coaster, if you will. Surprisingly, many of the low moments ultimately led to the high points.
A bird’s eye view of Reykjavík, the sleepy yet charming capital city of Iceland.
During one especially low point, in which I awoke to welts across my arms only to discover my accommodations were infested with bed bugs and what was I to do in a foreign country with not a soul to rely on? Well, you know what you do? You rely on yourself. And let me tell you, that soul of yours deep down knows exactly what you need and when you need it. (In case you’re wondering, I did manage to survive #bedbugnightmare without bringing any along for the ride in my bag!).
The leafy labyrinthl also known as Tiergarden park, is located in the center of Berlin (Germany 2016).
And while I may not have found myself per se, ready to return home a changed woman with all the answers to life’s questions, I did return with answers of the more subtle variety: an imperceptible shift in perspective, a newfound comfort with uncertainty, an openness to the unexpected — the full effects of which won’t be realized until years from now. But I think that’s the beauty of it.
We are here to explore, dig deep and learn to love ourselves in the process. Not only learn to love, but trust ourselves too. Ultimately, the ability to trust yourself is its own kind of answer, is it not? Life is messy and occasionally fraught with bed bugs. And that’s what makes it beautiful. So get out there. And keep asking questions, my friends.
Ana’s Berlin apartment building lit by evening sunset. (Germany 2016)
Ana is a photographer and creative producer based in Seattle, but eager to travel the world. She is at her happiest when pausing to observe the quiet beauty of the natural world, forging deep connections with the people around her, and in the midst of a good belly laugh. She embarked on her very first solo trip abroad in summer 2016, traveling through Scandinavia, Germany and Iceland to explore a piece of her Swedish family’s heritage (including a visit to long-lost relatives!), do her best to pronounce words like “Siglufjorour” and in the process discover a piece of herself along the way.
Interested in contributing to S.O.L.O.?
SHE ONLY LIVES ONCE or S.O.L.O. is a movement empowering women of all ages to venture off on their own and fall in love with the world around them. This part of the blog hopes to spark curiosity and inspire self-discovery among fellow female travelers by sharing our adventures, mishaps, and most memorable moments. Interested in contributing a short story or photo? Please contact the Trishlist and/or hashtag #trishlist, #solo, or #sheonlylivesonces for a chance to contribute to the blog.