007. Solo Travel for Women equals Self-Care

Episode 007 is where I discuss Oneika the Traveler’s solo travel article, titled “Why a solo vacation is the best self-care a woman can give herself”.

Many women have attempted to write such an article and many have succeeded but Oneika’s blog post touched my soul. She is an excellent writer and you should follow her on all social media channels.

Anyway, on my travel agency website, I wrote that "Solo Travel is the highest form of self-indulgence. It allows a person the opportunity to enjoy a destination on their own - no compromises, no schedule, no drama."

Truly “no noise from others” is the only way to de-stress and recharge. Solo Travel is empowering and essential.

And Oneika's post is basically encouraging all women to be selfish. At least every once in a while.

Webster’s Dictionary definition of Selfish says: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself; seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.

Pleasure, well-being… Selfish is not a bad word to me. That’s why I named my travel agency, SelfishMe Travel.

Women have always been the nurturers and caretakers from before time began. You've raised your children (maybe even your grandchildren) or you've taken care of your spouse, significant other, lover, parents, in-laws, neighbors, friends, or coworkers... everyone except yourself.

Okay, maybe being an only child gives me the advantage to think like that but... one of my lifelong goals has been to influence female family members and friends to finally think of themselves first, to be selfish, to feel good about wanting to be alone for a window of time, and that solo travel is safe.

I'm also going to use this podcast as a tool to encourage you towards solo travel, going beyond your comfort zone, and stepping out on faith.

The Slow Traveling Soul Sister podcast is sponsored and hosted by SelfishMe Travel. 

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or join my travel agency email list. You can also email me at [e-mail] and/or check out my website.

Episode Transcript

Danielle (00:14):
Hey, this is Danny Lou coming at you with the slow
traveling soul sister party.
Travel nourishes the soul andbroadens the mind, but solo
travel, frees our imaginationand builds our confidence.
Hashtag go see to do the.
And this episode I discussed,Onika the Traveler's solo travel

(00:38):
article titled why a solovacation is the best self care a
woman can give herself writtenin January, 2017.
I'll have the link in the shownotes.

(01:26):
oh, Nico's article begins likethis.
Why do I think solo travel is agreat form of self care for
women unless you've lived undera rock for the last couple of
years.
At some point you've heard oreven used the term self.
If you're not familiar with it,here's one of the better
definitions I was able to findon the internet.

(01:46):
Self care is a very active andpowerful choice to engage in the
activities that are required togain or maintain an optimal
level of over all health.
And in this case, overall healthincludes not just the physical,
but the psychological, emotionalsocial.

(02:09):
And spiritual components of anindividual's wellbeing.
She goes on to say, in theory,self care is simple.
It's about taking care ofyourself and being intentional
about ensuring your wellbeing.
However, it's not nearly aseasy.
To put into practice, especiallyfor women as members of the fair

(02:34):
sex, get the short end of thesticks on so many levels.
We work more than men.
You get paid less.
We're constantly judged for ourlooks, marital status and
reproductive choices.
And even when we're moreeducated and capable than our
male counterpoints, we stilllose elections.

(02:55):
We lose face.
And we are scrutinized unfairly.
We're expected to be nurturersand provide emotional support
often at the expense of our ownmental and emotional health.
And while most of us arebecoming breadwinners within our
families, many of us are stillexpected to, well, bake the

(03:16):
bread, buy the groceries andburp the baby once we get home.
But while it's difficult topractice, self-care when you're
consumed by.
Cattle by societal expectationsand expected to care for others.
I think it's necessary andsomething we should implement on
a regular basis.
Moreover, while nourishing yourwellbeing can be as simple as

(03:39):
treating yourself to a bubblebath or a long uninterrupted
session with your favoritenovel.
I want to share why I think asolo vacation is the best self
care a woman can admit.
I was going to stop here, but Ithink I'll continue.
It's a quick read.
And while I'm reading it overthis podcast, I really think you

(04:01):
should go back and enjoy thearticle and her pictures.
Number one is all about you.
One of the reasons I love anadvocate, female solo travel is
that it gives us the ability tobe self.
So often we are expected to beselfless and are defined by our
statuses of sister, wife,mother, daughter.

(04:24):
We take care of everyone exceptourselves, but when you travel
solo, there's nobody to answerto.
But you, the beauty of a solovacation lies in the ability to
structure your days.
As you see.
There are no quibbles aboutwhere to go to eight in the
evening, or objections aboutvisiting that obscure museum.

(04:45):
You've had your eye on.
Since your arrival, you are freeto experience your destination
as you like.
And without having to cater tosomeone else's wants and
desires, you make the decisionsyou call the shots.
It's empowering.
Number two, you can rechargeyour batteries without
interruption.

(05:06):
Whether you're a 12 hour flightor a 30 minute bus ride from
home separation from your dailyroutine, and those who quote
unquote need, you can give youspace to relax and recharge.
You'd be surprised how littlepeople actually need you when
you consciously make yourselfunavailable and put yourself
first problems get solvedwithout your input and disasters

(05:31):
that normally require yourassistance.
Suddenly aren't nearly ascatastrophic.
This leaves you with the mental,emotional, and physical energy
to discover your surroundings atyour leisure without extra noise
or baggage, you can relinquishthe job of nurturer and take on
the job of Explorer, fullyengaging in activities like

(05:52):
yoga, hikes, et cetera, thatgive you pleasure and bring you
back to center.
Number three, you can be who youwant to be.
I enjoy traveling on my own, notbeing.
I do what I want to do when Iwant to, but also because I'm
not limited or hampered by theopinions or expectations of

(06:14):
friends, family, or colleagueswho purport to know me.
So often as women conform tocertain expectations or
stereotypes in our social andprofessional circles for fear of
coming off too strong amongstother things.
And short, we have to play thegame to be accepted and it's

(06:37):
ridiculous and exhausting.
When I traveled so low, I can bewho I want to be.
Whether that's the wackyextroverted dare devil, who
dances on tables at the bar orthe introvert who retreats to
her hotel room with a good bookafter a long day of.
Sightseeing my point is that wecan change identities.

(07:01):
Like we change our t-shirts asolo vacation away from the
watchful eyes of friends andacquaintances gives us the
chance to explore aspects ofourselves.
We wouldn't explore back homefor fear of being judged as our
overall health hinges on ourmental and emotional wellbeing.
The ability to figure out who weare and, or reinvent ourselves.

(07:24):
Isn't.
In summary solo travel equalsgreat self care for women.
No matter your age, incomelevel, marital status or
reproductive status, a solo tripis something that every woman
should do at some point.
It's the ultimate form of selfcare.
A fantastic way to refocus onour unique needs and desires.

(07:48):
A great way to build.
Independence and resilience andnecessary to shaping who we are
as individuals.
What are your thoughts?
On the matter on nigga has morethan a hundred comments on this
blog post, and again, it's worthreading and she is worth
following on all her socialmedia channels.

(08:10):
Many women have attempted towrite such an article and many
have succeeded, but on Nika is ablog.
Post touched my soul.
She is an excellent writer.
Anyway on my travel agencywebsite, I wrote that solo
travel is the highest form ofself-indulgence.
It allows a person theopportunity to enjoy a

(08:31):
destination on their own.
No compromises, no schedule, nodrama, truly no noise from
others is the only way tode-stress and recharge.
Solo travel is empowering andessential.
And Onica is basicallyencouraging all women to be

(08:54):
selfish.
At least every once in awhile.
Webster's dictionary definitionof selfish says concerned
excessively or exclusively withone self seeking or
concentrating on one's ownadvantage, pleasure or wellbeing
without regard for others play.

(09:15):
Well being, yeah, selfish is nota bad word to me.
That's why I named my travelagency.
Selfish travel women have alwaysbeen the nurturers and
caretakers from before timebegan.
You've raised your children,maybe even your grandchildren or
you've taken care of yourspouse.

(09:37):
Significant other lover,parents, in-laws neighbors,
friends, and cohorts.
Everyone except yourself.
Okay.
Maybe being the only child givesme the advantage to think like
that.
But one of my lifelong goals hasbeen to influence female family
members and friends to finallythink of themselves first to be

(10:01):
selfish, to feel good and notguilty about wanting to be alone
for a window of time.
And that solo travel is safe.
I'm also going to use thispodcast as a tool to encourage
you towards solo travel, goingbeyond your comfort zone and
stepping out on faith.

(10:23):
You can't call yourself a queenif you've never ruled.
And that means making yourselfthe priority.
Queens are rollers of kingdoms,especially ancient Queens from
black and brown county.
They have been rulers of greatnations, led armies strategists

(10:45):
and architects of uprisings andtakeovers, even while satisfying
lovers and constituents andbirthing babies at the same
time.
But then those days gone bythose Queens were also pampered
to the max bathe from head totoe painted powdered print

(11:06):
carried on barges, wherever theywanted to go.
Be dazzled with Jules, fromadmirers, et cetera, et cetera,
et cetera.
Be that queen don't settle forless.
Try solo travel.
At least once in your life, youwon't regret it.