In my growing up years, I used to be the timid, inconfident and jittered types. Though being a tomboy at heart - I always wanted to break free of the mental/traditional boundaries around me to discover the person within.
But for some reason or the other - It never happened until I was out of college.
There was this deep longing to once set out - try my spirit, know where I stand on my own and have the literally on-my-own kind of feeling.
It started with my passion for travelling. In the beginning, it was just an interest - which while I was on my third trip, I knew - was my passion. It was a birthday gift I asked my parents few years back; the permission to solo travel. Ofcourse they weren't too convinced about me venturing alone, especially considering my dependent state at that time.. but my Dad supported me and I can never ever be enough thankful to him for that. Today when he's not there to listen to my stories, to see the person I've moulded by the experiences I've had, I miss him the way that cannot be expressed and I hope he's happy when he sees me from up above.
I started out with a small weekend trip and today, it does not matter the number of days I go on a trip, I know I can handle it.
The first time is always the exciting, nervous, difficult yet easy in the end. Its also the most memorable. The first solo train ride, flight ride, the first hotel check-in..everything which we never give a thought to when in a group, becomes a responsibility. Also it taught me a great lot about human psychology. The weird questions, the approving/unapproving comments all became my teachers in some way or the other.
This one step, apart from giving me a sense of self - gave me so many things that I hadn't even anticipated.
The confidence, the sense of belief, the sense of discipline, the responsibility of the self, the environment and the world we live in. The recognition of our place in this huge world, the ability to meet new people/cultures and learn from them or be thankful for my environment, depending on the place of visit, the feeling of empowerment and so many things more. There's just so much for which I now express gratitude for.
Today, its been more than 5 years I've been travelling on my own and I recommend it to every person who asks me about it, especially females. Reason being, it reiterates the feeling of self-dependency and breaks a lot of mental shackles Indian females have been raised to believe in.
I took the first step and it changed my life. Life's good! :)
© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.
But for some reason or the other - It never happened until I was out of college.
There was this deep longing to once set out - try my spirit, know where I stand on my own and have the literally on-my-own kind of feeling.
It started with my passion for travelling. In the beginning, it was just an interest - which while I was on my third trip, I knew - was my passion. It was a birthday gift I asked my parents few years back; the permission to solo travel. Ofcourse they weren't too convinced about me venturing alone, especially considering my dependent state at that time.. but my Dad supported me and I can never ever be enough thankful to him for that. Today when he's not there to listen to my stories, to see the person I've moulded by the experiences I've had, I miss him the way that cannot be expressed and I hope he's happy when he sees me from up above.
I started out with a small weekend trip and today, it does not matter the number of days I go on a trip, I know I can handle it.
The first time is always the exciting, nervous, difficult yet easy in the end. Its also the most memorable. The first solo train ride, flight ride, the first hotel check-in..everything which we never give a thought to when in a group, becomes a responsibility. Also it taught me a great lot about human psychology. The weird questions, the approving/unapproving comments all became my teachers in some way or the other.
This one step, apart from giving me a sense of self - gave me so many things that I hadn't even anticipated.
The confidence, the sense of belief, the sense of discipline, the responsibility of the self, the environment and the world we live in. The recognition of our place in this huge world, the ability to meet new people/cultures and learn from them or be thankful for my environment, depending on the place of visit, the feeling of empowerment and so many things more. There's just so much for which I now express gratitude for.
Today, its been more than 5 years I've been travelling on my own and I recommend it to every person who asks me about it, especially females. Reason being, it reiterates the feeling of self-dependency and breaks a lot of mental shackles Indian females have been raised to believe in.
I took the first step and it changed my life. Life's good! :)
© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.
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