I love travelling. I get to witness breath-taking sights and immerse myself in new cultures all the time, while following my passion and showing the world that plus-size people can, and do, enjoy travel. But an unexpected benefit of my time hopping from country to country is what I have learned about myself – either during times of real introspection or completely by accident as a new situation presents itself to me. Here are five lessons I learned about myself from travelling. 

I am comfortable with my own company

When you’re taking long flights across the pond, even if you are travelling with a companion you will spend a lot of time sitting quietly, listening to music, or trying to snooze as the room buzzes around you. I think learning to be content in your own company is such a useful skill that can help you in so many situations, and there is no better time to learn than when you are in the middle of nowhere and simply enjoying the moment.

I do not need as much as I think I need

Every time I get back from a trip, I am surprised by how much I have got sitting in my wardrobe at home; somehow I manage to live from a small carry-on when I’m travelling, yet I have drawers full of clothes that I never get around to wearing at home. Travel has really validated my urge to declutter, and I have been able to pack up so many cardboard boxes of things I definitely felt like I needed before I travelled, but have had second thoughts about once I’ve got back. It feels so cleansing to be able to declutter and minimize the things that you feel responsible for in life – whether that’s to sell them and make some extra pennies for your next adventure, or to keep memories boxed up in storage somewhere for a time you are ready to look back.

I am ready to deal with life’s ebbs and flows

It sounds like a total cliche, but travelling really allows you to throw away the rulebook and do things that you might not give yourself permission to do at home. Want to go skinny dipping in a nice, hot ocean? Go for it! And with the good, comes the bad – I feel equipped to deal with any problem that might arise on my adventures because I have this overwhelming sense of confidence when I am travelling. Which brings me to my next lesson…

I cannot plan everything

Trust me when I say that it would be so easy to pore over every little detail of a trip before I take it – and I often do! – but realistically things rarely ever go exactly to plan, and I feel really confident that I am able to cope with anything that comes my way while I am travelling. The idea of having no control used to scare me, but honestly, it can be quite freeing – whatever is going to happen, is going to happen, so I might as well enjoy myself! 

I can adapt to all kinds of situations

I never knew how equipped I was to make quick decisions and make the best out of things going wrong, but travelling really brings that out in you. There are so many possible things that can go wrong when you travel, from missing flights to losing a passport and anything in between. I feel really secure that I am able to cope with anything that life throws at me when I travel, and that is a really cool feeling to have.

Do you love to travel? What life lessons have you learned about yourself while you’ve been travelling?