Exiting the Comfort Zone

As this week comes to an end, I am nearing the halfway point of my first solo travel trip. Taking this journey has been the most remarkable and fulfilling experience of my life, although many things haven’t gone as planned. 

When I was preparing for my trip I tried to think of the many things that could go wrong and plan accordingly. But, you never truly know what can happen until you experience it firsthand.

When I first arrived in Bali, it was such a different feeling than I assumed. I expected to be ready to explore and see the whole island, but instead, I felt lonely, intimidated, and hesitant to go out on my own. 

I have never been so far away from home, all by myself, in my entire life. I had no idea where to go, what to do, or even how to get there. But when I look back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Being at home is so easy. I can stick to a routine and if I don’t try, I can stay in that same routine for weeks, never doing anything new. This creates an endless cycle of living comfortably. And that’s exactly what it is… comfortable.

However, solo traveling to a new country at 19 years old is the exact opposite of comfortable. Each day I find myself in situations where I’m forced to make a decision to stay at ease, or go out of my comfort zone and say yes to adventure. I would be lying if I said I chose the adventure every time, but I can say that the spontaneous moments I took a chance on have been the most rewarding experiences of my life.

So, over the past three weeks, I have truly learned about the importance of going out of your comfort zone. Although it’s been a short amount of time, I have grown so much as an individual; with my self-confidence and problem-solving skills being at the top of that list. I know many look at what I am doing at my age as potentially dangerous or not smart (and I don’t blame them), but I am unbelievably grateful to be on this journey. 

I am so proud of how far I’ve come and the person it has shaped me into. Through many trials such as a stolen wallet, injury, sickness, loneliness, and fear, has come self-assurance, rewarding achievements, life-long friends, and values that have shaped me into a person I am proud to be.

I can’t wait to step into the next three weeks and see what the world has in store for me. I urge every one of you to take a chance on life and say yes to adventure. I can assure you won’t regret it.