If you knew me a few years ago I was the type of woman who would bring two overpacked suitcases on a two week trip to Spain. Clothes, electronics and shoes was my happiness and I had lots of it. As I moved abroad I got a new perspective in life I decided that I didn't want to be the type of person who relies on materialistic happiness.
Now you must understand, the decision I decided to take next was not only because I wanted to be a more minimalistic person. I took this decision because I wanted to get out my comfort zone as much as possible, I wanted to live my dreams before it was too late and I wanted to grow as a person. I wanted to be able to walk up to strangers and start new relationships and not be afraid of rejection. I wanted to face my fears and experience the world. Iw anted to meet brilliant, crazy and like minded people. In my mind, the right thing to do was to travel the world with almost nothing and see how long I could be happy. I completely trusted that whatever I would need I would manifest it in some kind of way.
I packed my little backpack and the thought I had in my mind was that I could bring everything I needed to survive for only 2 days in a hot and sunny country. (see picture)
A book, my sketch book, diary, my headphones, sunglasses - for clothes I brought one bikini, workout clothes, one pair of sneakers and I would buy sandals wherever I went. For toiletries I only needed toothbrush, deodorant and coconut oil plus sunscreen and moisturizer. The rest I brought I was wearing. I didn't need a towel cause I could always use a t-shirt or a sarong. Life was so simple!聽I also brought my speakers but I had to pawn them in Australia cause my credit card didn't work and I never got them back.
This was all the stuff I needed for 13 months and I've never been happier. Looking back at it it's hard to believe how happy I was with so little and life was so rich. My things had more value and I appreciated simple stuff more than I did in my everyday life. I found ways of getting creative with very little and honestly it made me a better person. The best of it all was that I could travel anywhere I wanted cause I had basically nothing so it was easy to pack, carry and go! I was almost always the first one through check in and the customs. I weighed my bag at the airport and it only weighed about 7kg (15 lbs)
Living with almost nothing didn't only make me more grateful of stuff and life, it also made me a better person. Let me rephrase that - traveling alone made me a better person. You would think that traveling alone would be the loneliest thing in the world, and in theory it can be if you're a shy person and not willing to face rejection. You have to put yourself out there and walk up to strangers and basically make new friends. Making friends is not always easy, you have to be a good person and have a descent personality. Luckily for you if you're living in backpacker hostels like I did you will meet many nice people who wants to make friends and I wasn't alone a single day through those 13 months. I made new friends, new travel companions, fell in love and lost love and many of the people I've met will always have a place in my heart.
Pic taken in Paihia, New Zealand with a group of people I randomly met because the tour guide offered us a free kayak trip around the islands in New Zealand. We picked our own oysters right under the kayak and boiled them at the beach. We got to pick our own shells and the locals made them into necklaces on the beach blessed us with an ancient Maori song.
Traveling alone also helps you develop more of your authentic personality. Let me elaborate and read this with an open mind: When you grow up around people who's known you your whole life, your personality automatically conforms to the role you have with the different people. You're different with your parents than you're with your best friends. (this is human behavior which I'm not an expert in so if you're interested you can do your own research on this) When you travel alone you're free to be the person YOU are. You're free to choose where you want to go, who you want to hang with and how long you want to stay. It's an amazing journey of self discovery and you can be surprised and proud of yourself for how much you can accomplish on your own.