Why Every Woman Should Travel Alone At Least Once In Her Life
Whether going international or just to another state, traveling alone can feel a bit intimidating at first.
While my solo traveling journey was a bit unexpected, those of us who have taken this venture even once, know that it's super easy to become addicted to traveling solo. It's real easy to be on some Dr. Seuss oh the places you'll go type ish. Even though I'm definitely here for the couples and crews across my Instagram feed who take trips together, there's something about being an independent woman who can go at it alone unapologetically.
Whether she's married, single, or in a situationship, going on any #eatpraylove journey via traveling can renew so much within us and make us discover and find things about ourselves we never knew were there. If you still need a little convincing, check out a few reasons every woman needs to travel the road at least once.
That Freedom Though
You know those vacations that make you feel like you need another vacation by the time you get home? I think one of the things that brings us into that state of mind is traveling with other people. Going with a group of people, you most likely have to stick to a schedule, and have to accommodate other people who might want to go sightseeing and take in all that the area has to offer, while you're perfectly fine having a staycation in the hotel room. In the end, you realize that you didn't get close to the amount of rest you really needed that made you book the vacay in the first place. Even if you just go on a solo trip just once, there's nothing like experiencing the freedom of having your own schedule in a new place you can discover at your own pace.
You Can Make New Friends
Even though one of the benefits of traveling by yourself is being able to clear your space and mind without the interference or interruption from other people, you also have a better chance of meeting other people you might not have if you were on vacation with your clique. When we travel with friends, it's typical that we don't get that far outside of the comfort zone of familiar faces. But traveling solo almost forces you to start up a conversation with someone at breakfast or get to know the story and life of someone at the swim up bar in the pool. Even if you're a proud introvert like me, you can still get comfortable talking with people you don't know, because you know good and well if it goes bad, you won't see them again anyway. But if it goes better than expected, you have a new friend to experience unique adventures with.
Clear Out Your Mental Space
When you're traveling solo, it's easier to set aside a day, or two, or ten, to just intentionally free your mind and empty your mental space. You're not bogged down by the opinions of other people, but instead can take as much time as you need to really regroup. You can seriously do whatever you need to indulge in as much self-care as possible before you head back to the realities of life. While this can easily be done at home with an amazing staycation in place, doing it in a brand new area can cause for your mental space to not only be cleared, but for that space to be filled with a refreshed and exciting lease on life.
Discover Who You Really Are
There's nothing like a good uninterrupted moment of self-reflection on the beach. Let's be clear, I live for a good girls' trip or even couples vacation, but when I travel by myself, I really find time to go on this self-proclaimed #eatpraylove journey that forces me to find out things about myself that I never realized. And honey, some of these things could've been kept covered in cobwebs. But the bonus is that it doesn't have to be all serious stuff. It could be trying a new type of food or getting all the way out of character and sparking up a conversation with a complete stranger. Being alone on a trip gives you a rare chance to find out what you love about you and encourage you to take action with the things you want to improve on.
You’ll Feel Empowered & Confident
It's a little difficult to explain but doing any adventurous journey alone can be so fulfilling. There's this feeling of independence that while it's absolutely amazing to have friends and family to see the world with, sometimes you just need to do it alone. It might seem like everything from getting on the plane to checking in to the hotel room is something small, but it's a really big deal. It takes bravery to experience something brand new and by yourself, especially when you're used to doing it with your girls or your man. While it can be scary when you think about all of the seemingly endless things that could happen to you, when you do your research and are careful of your surroundings, the sky's the limit, and you'll want to do it again as you realize the freedom in being comfortable in your skin and unafraid to see the world through your eyes and your eyes alone.
You’ll Appreciate Your Home Life
Even when you're in the most beautiful place in the world, eventually, you'll be ready to go home. But you won't have the same outlook on your reality as you did when you left. You'll come back stronger, braver, and with the realization of your strength and power. Of course, you'll miss your days taking a walk through the most popular area, or enjoying the quiet sounds of the nature around you, but when it's time for you to go back home, you'll be ready. And it won't take you long to start planning your next adventure.
Related Stories:
10 Best Female Solo Travel Destinations – Read More
The 30 Best Group Travel Trips You Can Join In 2018 – Read More
I Downsized To Travel the World & Live My Dream Life – Read More
5 Ways To Travel Solo Like A Boss – Read More
- Throw It In the Bag: 7 Summer Beauty Products Every Girl Should Be ... ›
- 5 Ways To Travel Solo Like A Boss - xoNecole ›
- Traveling While Black: I Took A Solo Trip To Jordan ›
- 10 Places Every Female Solo Traveler Needs To Add To Their ... ›
- Top 5 Reasons Why Every Woman Should Travel Solo – Homegirl ... ›
- Top 5 Reasons Why Every Woman Should Travel Solo – Homegirl ... ›
- Cheap Solo Travel: Why Women Don't Need To Break The Bank To ... ›
- Women Traveling Alone - Best Places To Travel Solo ›
- 25 Solo Vacations For Women - Best Solo Vacations ›
- On the road: Why every woman should get into solo travel ›
- Why Every Woman Should Travel Alone at Least Once ... ›
- Solo Travel: Why Women Should Travel Alone | Time ›
- Why All Women Should Travel Solo • The Blonde Abroad ›
- Why Every Woman Should Travel Solo At Least Once In Her Life ›
- 4 reasons every woman should travel solo | Well+Good ›
Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
When discussing the topic of raising children, discipline is often the first thing that comes to mind. Children need discipline. Full stop. But what is discipline? And how do we draw the line between discipline and revenge?
The origin of the word "discipline" can be traced back to the Latin word "disciplina," which means "instruction" or "teaching." Over time, however, discipline has come to be synonymous with punishment, with parents relying on shame, fear, and/or physical pain to curb undesirable behavior.
Teaching takes time, so nipping it in the bud in whatever fashion parents deem necessary (within reason) has become the norm. But is this what’s best for children? And when does it become less about curbing undesirable behavior and more about getting our licks back for offenses we feel our children should know better to do?
In my work as a parenting coach, I’ve often heard parents say, “I asked him nicely three times before spanking him. He didn’t stop doing it until I did, so clearly talking doesn’t work.”
And the parent isn’t wrong. Talking often doesn’t work the first, the third, or the even the 10th time. And the reason is directly tied to brain development.
Children cannot and do not process information the way an adult can. Auditory processing is not fully developed until a child is 14 or 15 years old. And even then, if a child has auditory processing delays or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), they may always struggle with processing auditory commands. According to Susie S. Loraine, MA, CCC-SLP, the term auditory processing refers to how the brain perceives and interprets sound information. Several skills determine auditory processing ability—or listening success. They develop in a general four-step hierarchy, but all work together and are essential for daily listening.
Without this understanding, discipline can easily become revenge because parents will then view their child’s misdeeds as a personal slight. Instead of teaching them to do better, parents now want to show them the consequences of not doing better. This is why it's imperative for parents to discern between discipline and revenge to maintain healthy relationships with their children.
5 WAYS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND RETALIATION:
Understanding The Intent
Discipline is rooted in love and concern for the child's well-being. It focuses on teaching lessons and helping children understand the consequences of their actions. Conversely, revenge-driven actions stem from a desire to inflict pain or punishment as payback for perceived slights or disobedience. Parents should reflect on their motives before taking disciplinary actions. Ask yourself whether your intention is to help your child learn or to make them suffer for upsetting you.
Example: If a child accidentally breaks a valuable item, a disciplinary response would involve discussing the importance of being careful and working with the child to come up with a way to replace or fix what they’ve broken. On the other hand, a vengeful reaction might involve yelling, harsh punishment, or bringing up past mistakes to intensify guilt.
Maintaining Emotional Regulation
Effective discipline requires parents to remain calm and composed, even in challenging situations. It's natural to feel upset or frustrated when children misbehave, but responding with anger or resentment can escalate the situation and blur the line between discipline and revenge. Before addressing the issue, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts.
Example: If a child cannot follow instructions, a disciplined response would involve calmly explaining why their cooperation is necessary in working with the child to accomplish the goal. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve shouting, name-calling, or resorting to physical punishment out of anger.
Promoting Growth and Learning
Discipline should always aim to promote growth and learning. It involves guiding children toward making better choices and understanding the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Effective discipline strategies include positive reinforcement, setting clear expectations, and providing opportunities for reflection and growth.
Example: If a child repeatedly forgets to complete their chores, a disciplinary approach would involve discussing the importance of responsibility and finding solutions together, such as creating a chore chart or setting reminders with Siri or Alexa. In contrast, a revenge-driven response might involve imposing overly harsh punishments or belittling the child, which can undermine their self-esteem and hinder their ability to learn from their mistakes.
Momo Productions/Getty
Building Trust and Communication
Trust and open communication are essential components of a healthy parent-child relationship. Discipline should strengthen this bond by fostering trust and encouraging children to confide in their parents without fear of judgment or retaliation. When children feel safe and supported, they're more likely to accept discipline as a form of guidance rather than punishment.
Example: If a child admits to breaking a rule or making a mistake, a disciplined response would involve listening to their perspective, discussing the consequences of their actions, and working together to find a solution. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve accusations, blame, or shutting down communication, which can erode trust and damage the parent-child relationship.
Seeking Professional Guidance
Parenting is a learning journey, and, disciplining children is a delicate balance between guiding them toward responsible behavior and nurturing their growth. By understanding the intent behind our actions, maintaining emotional regulation, promoting growth and learning, building trust and communication, and seeking professional guidance when needed, as parents we can help our children built on love, respect, and understanding.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Courtney Hale/Getty Images