Traveling solo is one of the few things which gets a lot of marketing on social media and among young adults. It is projected as this ultimate soul searching tool, one which can be liberating and empowering. Maybe it is for some or at some time in one’s life. But if you are unable to travel solo, are you really missing out? Is it a must do? That’s complicated.

I never felt the need to travel solo, or even travel in fact. If you mention that you don’t like traveling, its assumed that you are not serious about your growth. But is travel the only way to grow and expand your world view?

So it was quite unlike me when I decided to go on a solo trip recently. I had quite some trepidation and inertia on should I even travel anywhere on my vacation days! But Internet seemed to advice that best way to spend your off days is to have a change of scenery and go as far as possible from your current environment!

Solo travel does have its moments. I had a few interesting conversations. I got to travel at my own pace, customize the itinerary entirely without having to worry about anyone else’s needs. It was peaceful and fulfilling.

Is solo travel the salve for everything? Is it really meant to give you something radical which you can’t figure out in the comfort of your own house? Maybe not. At least that’s not my experience.

Travel, solo or with family or friends has its place in one’s life. It can be entertaining, relaxing, enlightening, humbling, any/all of these. But it can also be lonely, disorienting, tiring, uninspiring. Even a successful trip will be interspersed with these low points.

So if you wanted to travel solo, go ahead! Maybe traveling the world solo is something you always wanted to do. But in no way is traveling the only way to become a better human. Definitely you don’t need to travel solo for it.

We need to trust our intuition and follow its light for any activity in life.

Always remember how much any activity can help us. As always, you can do too much of even a good thing.