“Being strict with oneself and lenient with others” pretty much sums up my personality. Often, things don’t go as expected around me, and many of them can’t be resolved right away. If something goes wrong because of someone else’s carelessness, I can understand, but if the issue stems from my own oversight—even something very minor—I’ll still get angry at myself, even a bit irritable.
About three years ago, when I started traveling solo, every time something went wrong, I’d blame myself along the way, reacting with negative emotions, like “Stupid, took the wrong turn again,” “Why queue up to eat something bad?” “It’s raining nonstop, should’ve known better than to come,” “Forgot to bring a long-sleeve jacket, might as well freeze,” “This attraction is so boring.” Although all these sound like trivial matters—things many travelers encounter and that generally don’t affect the overall trip—I still felt dissatisfied, upset by sudden emotional swings.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been traveling solo for so long, spending more quiet time alone, that I realized some of my attitudes toward life had changed without me even noticing. The negative emotions gradually faded with each journey, replaced by a more positive way of thinking. Even though I still forget things, do less research, or don’t think things through before trips, the experience has become more relaxed and enjoyable compared to before. “Hey, this road isn’t bad either,” “This food is awful, I’ll have to tell my readers,” “The rain actually adds to the atmosphere,” “Quick, run to 7-11 for some hot cocoa to warm up,” “Find a spot to sit and do nothing—so refreshing.”
So whether you’re facing mishaps on a solo trip abroad or having an argument with friends while traveling, try changing your usual mindset and look at things from a more positive angle. Who knows, your trip might become even more memorable just by shifting your attitude.
p.s. In my 86-day solo travel log, I’ll only write about the day’s itinerary. For detailed accounts, please wait until I’m back in Hong Kong and I’ll try my best to fill you in then.
Itinerary:
The Roman Baths
Bath abbey
The Circus
Royal crescent
River Avon
My Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/travelwithstella
An 86-Day European Solo Journey:
Day 1 Boarding. A journey that begins with tears
Day 2 Edinburgh. A freezing first impression
Day 3 Edinburgh. The terrifying aftermath of jet lag
Day 4 Edinburgh. Artistic explorations at city museums
Day 5 Glasgow. Park stroll without a sunset
Day 6 Glasgow. What does solo female travel even mean?
Day 7 Highlands. A trip to zero-degree Highlands
Day 8 Stirling. The fool who trusted the wrong map
Day 9 Manchester. An industrial city with morning rain and afternoon sun
Day 10 Manchester. So what if I’m short?
Day 11 Manchester. Still defeated by the cold virus
Day 12 Manchester. Romance isn’t supposed to happen like this
Day 13 Galway. An exhausting overnight journey
Day 14 Galway. Don’t use cultural differences as an excuse
Day 15 Dublin. Ireland’s green capital
Day 16 Dublin. Giant deer everywhere
Day 17 Dublin. A trip where I forgot the date
Day 18 Lake District. Hiking with fellow Hongkongers abroad
Day 19 Lake District. Endless hikes
Day 20 Lake District. Cherishing moments with locals
Day21 Leeds. The quirky girl who turned the battlefield into a marketplace
Day22 York. Fulfilling a promise from four years ago
Day23 Liverpool. Have you ever been confused?
Day24 Liverpool. A different kind of rainy-day culture
Day25 Liverpool. Experience it with the most peaceful heart
Day26 Birmingham. Falling in love with a new attitude to slow travel
Day27 Birmingham. Language communication between travelers
Day28 Bristol. Challenging the world’s hardest language
Day29 Bristol. The traveler with perfectionism
Day30 Bath. Embracing a travel filled with positive energy