There comes a time in a young adult's life that he or she will be without friends or family for one reason or another. It may be just for a few hours, a couple of days or maybe even months at a time. Maybe a best friend is busy planning her wedding and can't meet for a hipster burger at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. Or maybe an old college roommate who moved across the country can't make the opening of an art exhibit in Chelsea. After the 20th "I'm sorry" text, only two options become available… stay in and sulk or go to these places alone.
The choice seems easy right? So, what are people still afraid of? Exploring alone is the new "group hang". Yes, I said it. Has anyone realized that our culture is completely on board with this as well? Don't believe me? Well, let me point out a little trend that has basically taken over the world (both social media and physical). That's right, the #selfie.
And what is a #selfie? A picture a person takes of him/herself somewhere… alone. It says it right in the name, "selfie". It's not "groupie" (well that is already taken but you get my drift). Today's culture is not only acknowledging the lone traveler, it is encouraging these solo adventures! Armed with our iPhones, society is demanding we get out there and document our every move with our front-facing camera.
If you're only in New York for a short time, make sure you venture out in your hometown. No matter how small a city, there is always something to do, somewhere to see. And if you're from NYC, take your explorations to the next level. Get out of the city. In fact, get out of America all together and try traveling abroad. I spent a week by myself in England, exploring London, shopping at local flea markets, and dining on multicultural cuisine. It was a trip I will never forget and still think of fondly today. Was it terrifying? Not at all. The anticipation was the worst part. Once I arrived, I realized how liberating it was to travel solo, with (figuratively) no baggage. Time was all mine and I saw what I wanted to see and went where you wanted to go. Buzzfeed posted a great video on tips and ideas for traveling alone. I posted it below:
Traveling alone or exploring a city alone is not always the ideal situation. There are times when it can be somewhat depressing (especially at meal time). An image or moment may spark an interesting thought yet there is no one to share it with. Silences at a long stretch can be a bit boring; however, that makes it all the more important to converse with other people. Being forced to communicate with strangers actually boosts a person's social skills. That is one of the many added benefits to being alone. Below I have listed some other benefits that I believe are achieved by traveling solo:
- Independence: Completely relying on yourself for everything from directions to decision making can really help you become independent. When traveling alone, there is no one else to count on. You decide where to go, what to do and when to return. It is not always glamorous being the leader but, when there is no one else in front (or in back) of you, there is no other choice.
- Confidence: Being a leader and successfully navigating a city can really boost your confidence. Although it may seem scary at first, by the end of the day you will feel like you can accomplish anything.
- Navigation Skills: Familiarizing yourself with any city can only help when trying to navigate through unfamiliar cities. In many cases, major cities are set up similarly. Therefore, the more experience you have, the better.
- Story Time: As I mentioned in a previous post, traveling alone often leads to overhearing or witnessing some great moments. Stories you can later share with all your friends and family. "How worldly," they'll say. "Always telling us such interesting stories." The only way to experience the world is to get out there and experience it. No one wants to hear about how you sat on the couch all day and watched Netflix.
- The Unexpected: You never know what you'll come across in NYC. You may plan on one destination and end up somewhere completely different. This city is filled with wonderful pit stops along the way that always keep things unexpected.
Speaking of unexpected, on Sunday I visited the Museum of Moving Images in Long Island City for a screening of Chinatown. On my walk over, I stumbled upon LIC Flea, an outdoor merchant and food market. Not only was I able to take in a film but beforehand I enjoyed some local fare and vintage shopping, which made for a great afternoon.
- iPhone to take a good #selfie
- A good book to read on the subway, train, plane, etc.
- Headphones and music player to block out all the noise
- Cash is important because little shops or local markets are all over major cities
- Light snack (almonds, granola bar, etc.) and a bottle of water for obvious reasons
Throughout my almost 30 posts, I have continuously stressed the importance of exploring NYC this summer. (A simple Google search with result in thousands of options for great NYC activities to partake in.) And although it is important to experience all New York has to offer, I think it is just as important for a person to spend time alone. Time alone is a great way to learn a lot about yourself, reflect and de-stress.
Even though almost all my posts encourage immediate activity, I am the first to understand that sometimes you don't feel like going out and facing the world. Well, luckily your couch has been waiting this the whole time, feeling neglected. But don't feel too bad taking a day/night off every now and then. The best part about being an independent adult in NYC is pouring yourself a glass of wine and ordering sushi for one.
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