“‘ Hope ’ is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —”
— Emily Dickinson
I knew that I wanted a connection , a relationship , again someday , but my abrupt , traumatic break up also reminded me of the truth that everyone is , in the end , an individual . A separate entity . Responsible for their own happiness . I knew I wanted to embrace it and find a baseline contentment through self-reliance . After a while , I developed more mettle and selfassurance when responding to people ’ s concerns .
I won ’ t say it was always easy to ferret out public transportation , foreign languages , hostels , and even a convent with a 30-pound pack on my back in 98-degree heat , but it was thrilling , challenging , and a real confidence booster that I could . Aside from these practical navigational discomforts , I was able to successfully use maps and websites to sightsee , dine , and return safely to my residence each night . Moreover , I swam in grottos off the Island of Capri , savored a didactic wine tour in Tuscany , beached in Palermo , and took myself out to heavenly al dente pasta dinners with crisp , sweet wine . I felt happier and more alive than on any trip I had ever been on . I also
met other single travelers , sang karaoke with them at 1 am , and elected to travel to Sicily with three of them . At the helm of my own adventure , I was able to be spontaneous , brave , and even indulgent , which is not something women tend to allow themselves . It was empowering . The next summer , I flew to Spain for three weeks . Something I love about travel is its ability to make me feel small . Smaller compared to the magnified lens through which I tend to view myself and my worries . Among dense buildings , crowds of strangers , and enormous oceans , I ’ m only a speck , and in a way , it ’ s comforting . It ’ s reassuring to know that not every little thing I do , wear , or say matters . Knowing that I have the power to do great , impactful things , but that a lot of my daily worries and self-criticisms are trite and only get in my way is liberating .
Traveling alone was challenging . At times during my travels I felt overwhelmed , lonely , and lost . I made mistakes , but from those mistakes , I learned how to regain my balance and have confidence in
54 INSPIRING LIVES WINTER 2017