My 10 Long Term Solo Travel Fears

Yes I’m excited & yes I’m scared shitless. I’m currently experiencing every emotion I think a person can experience and it feels freaking GREAT! You know that little feeling of excitement you get when you’ve been planning a vacation for months and you’re finally on your way to the airport, bags packed, passport in hand? Imagine that feeling X100! Now, you know that anxiety you get when you land in a foreign country ALONE, you know no one, you don’t speak the language and you don’t know what taxi driver you can trust?! Yea, I don’t really know what that feels like…yet. Yes I’m excited, but the reality is I’m also scared and there’s no shame in sharing these fears with you. I’ll admit some fears are silly, but some are legit. Here are my long term solo travel fears:

1. I’m afraid of being lonely

Yes, this is one of my biggest fears. I’ve never been afraid of doing things alone. I even prefer to do some things alone. I go to the mall alone, I eat out alone all the time, I even go to the movies alone. But traveling alone for months? I guess I’ll have to conquer the world on my own terms!

 2. I’m afraid of running out of money

My mother can’t ask me enough “What happens when you run out of money!?” Well, Mami, I’m praying to the money gods that this blog works out & someone will pay me to eat, travel & write. I don’t know honestly. I don’t have an answer to this one. I can confidently say though that when you follow your heart God has a way of providing.

3. I’m afraid of getting home sick

This fear is inevitable. Of course I will miss home & everything about it. I will miss my family & friends dearly. I will be sad on Mother’s Day, birthdays & probably after every skype session. But hey, maybe they’ll come visit me!

4. I’m afraid of not having health insurance

But how can one live without the security of health & dental insurance? I know, sounds silly, but when you grew up in a society that places this benefit on a pedestal it’s hard to imagine a life without it.

5. I’m afraid for my eyebrows

This one sounds ridiculous, but all of my Miami girls who are just as obsessed with their eyebrows would totally understand! Find the perfect eyebrow lady & you’ve struck gold. Like seriously, what am I going to do about my eyebrows!?

6. I’m afraid I will be alone forever

My girlfriends are rolling their eyes as they read this one. I’m a sucker for love. I love being in love, I love being loved, I just love love! But I’m also a free spirit & apparently that’s a conflict. Will I ever meet that dream man that can love me yet lets me run wild, better yet, runs with me? Yes, I will have my cake & eat it too, dammit!

7. I’m afraid of getting lost

I have the absolute worst sense of direction. I’ve lived in Miami my whole life and I still use a GPS to get around. And please don’t ask me how I differentiate my left from my right. It’s inevitable that I will get lost somewhere I don’t understand the language. Do I need to carry a compass & a map with me? And can someone show me how to use these things!?

8. I’m afraid of a life without Whole Foods

But seriously though, what will I do without my cold pressed juices & kale chips?! For those who know me, I am addicted to the highest level of addiction to Whole Foods Market. Does this mean I have to learn how to cook?!

9. I’m afraid of being a solo female traveler

“You’re going ALONE?! No one is going with you? As in you are a GIRL traveling alone?” Yes, yes & yes. If you don’t think I’ve thought every scenario through, then you’re really just fooling yourself. Trust me, if there is anyone more concerned than my parents, it’s ME. Of course I have the common fears a solo female traveler would have, but I’ve got a couple of things I’m betting on to keep me safe; my faith & my gut.

10. I’m afraid of not doing this

And I end this list with my biggest fear of all...not going through with this. Not taking the risk, not facing these fears & not living this exciting, scary, unconventional life that’s meant for me!

“Faith & fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose.” – Bob Proctor