Welcome And Recent Themes

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hi, and welcome to the Z. Michelson Travel Podcast. This podcast is where we explore the travel industry through the lens of the independent traveler, through travel vendors, and travelers just like you. This episode is about women and confidence and how solo travel changes you. Sometimes you're gonna like the way the change goes. I'm your host, Z Michelson, and I hope you have been enjoying these short podcasts on solo travel. And I hope you are really getting excited about getting out there and traveling on your own. But right now, up to this point, what have we talked about? Well, if you've been listening, and I hope you have, we have been talking about safety. We were talking about destinations. Only a few. I'll be talking about more destinations in the future. And we were also talking about budgeting and how you should look at your budget. However, in today's episode, it's going to be a little bit different. Today we're looking at women in confidence. Because today we're talking all about what solo travel really changes. And I'm not talking about it changes your passport or it changes your itinerary. I'm talking about how it changes you as a person. And you're probably saying, how could that possibly be? I'm me. I'm always me. How could it change me? Well, you don't leave to become someone else, that's for sure. However, you leave to remember who you are when no one else is directing the story. What do you think about that? So now, let's take a look at some of these things. A lot of women say, I'll travel solo once I feel more confident. Have you said that? I know I said that in the past. But confidence doesn't come before solo travel. It comes from solo travel. Confidence is built when you navigate a new city all by yourself, when you solve a problem alone, or and this is a biggie, when you trust your judgment and it works, you can trust yourself. These moments are quiet, they don't look dramatic, but they change how you see yourself. Here's where the confidence starts building. So why does solo travel affect women so differently? Let's think about that. Women are often socialized to some of these things. Like they ask permission. Or women always want to accommodate others. And again, women put comfort ahead of curiosity. How many times have you just wanted to explore something? But you wanted to be more comfortable. Think about that. Solo travel gently removes all of these expectations. There's no one to defer to, and there's no one to negotiate with, and no one to shrink for. Every decision becomes yours. You're making the decisions. Ain't that great? And you're making the decision on where you're solo traveling. You from the very beginning of thinking about solo travel, you're making your own decisions. And with that comes a subtle but very powerful realization. I can trust myself. Yeah. You can trust yourself. These are confidence moments that women will remember forever. Ask a woman about their solo trips. Go ahead. Ask one. You know, if you know somebody that went on a solo trip, ask them about the trip. And you know something? They will rarely talk about the landmarks, but they will talk about the moments. That's what makes it exciting for them. Finding their way after getting lost? Oh. Many a time I've gotten lost. And then I had to find my way. That's a big boost of confidence. That's a big boost of confidence. Can't tell you how much. Well what about sitting alone at dinner? How many people never ever sat alone in a restaurant and enjoyed a meal by themselves? Well, sitting alone at dinner and truly enjoying it. Of course you enjoy going with your friends out to dinner or your family out to dinner, but every now and then when I go out to have a meal by myself, I order what I want. I relax. I sit down, eat slowly, I watch the people around me and what's going past. I'm enjoying the ambiance, the music in the background. But you're sitting alone at dinner and truly enjoying it. Here's a biggie. What about saying no without guilt? How many times have you gone on trips with other people and you really, really didn't want to do something? And you didn't want to say no, you didn't want to do it, felt guilty about it. Well, it's only you now, so you can say no without guilt. No, I don't want to see that. I want to go here instead of there. You can change your plans without explaining. Got nobody to explain to but yourself. These moments don't just stay in the trip. That's right, they don't just stay in the trip. They show up later in your life, in your relationships, in your careers, and in the boundaries that you may have set on yourself. Solo travel doesn't make you fearless, it makes you self-reliant. That's right. You're relying on yourself. What a way to travel. Enjoying it. Confidence through solo travel doesn't have an age requirement. I know a lot of people say, well, when I was in my 20s, I would have done it, but now I'm in my 60s and eh, I'm not going to do it. I'm a little scared, I'm a little skeptical, I don't know how it works. Well, women in their 30s find their independence. Women in their 40s, they reclaim themselves. Now, women in their 50s and 60s, they redefine their freedom. Why is that? Well, maybe they've got divorced. Or maybe they have become a widow. And after years of putting others first, they're reclaiming themselves. They're redefining themselves. They're finding their own independence again. Solo travel becomes a quiet declaration. What's that declaration? Say it with me. I still choose myself. That's right. You choose yourself. How many times have I heard the expression, if you can't love yourself, how can you love somebody else? Kind of the same thing. Now, solo travel, you don't come back the same. What do I mean? Well, after solo travel, women don't walk differently, but they move differently. They hesitate less. They apologize less. They trust their instincts more. It's great to trust your instincts. Sometimes they're right on spot. And that's not accidental. That's earned. Yeah, you earned it. You went out there on your own, you traveled by yourself, you got lost going down that street and found your way back. You sat at a restaurant all by yourself, drinking a cup of coffee and having a beignet, and enjoying the people that walk past, or having conversations with some of the local people, and you enjoyed it. There's no reason you can't. And you were all by yourself. You earned that confidence. Solo travel isn't about escape. Yeah, sometimes you just want to get away from it all, you want to escape, but solo travel really isn't about escape. It's about expansion. Expansion. How many people can say that? So like I said, you don't leave to become someone else. That's not what this is about. You leave to remember who you are when no one else is directing the story. How many married women they've been married for years? You know, their husband might still be alive, but they don't like to travel. And the wife likes to travel. So they agree he's gonna stay home and feed the dog or be with the cat. You're gonna go visit Egypt. You're gonna travel by yourself. So when you leave, you remember who you are. When no one else is directing the story. That's what I mean by that. But if this episode resonated with you, you can feel free to subscribe. My subscription is free, and the podcast name, of course, is Z, Michelson Travel, and Z is spelt Z-E-E. Feel free to leave me a review. You can share it with the women, other women in your life, who needs this to remind them that it's not bad to travel by yourself. Now, in the coming weeks, I'm going to be speaking with travel vendors who will be talking about what they are doing for the solo traveler. And you know something? These vendors are really, really starting to cater to the solo traveler. So you don't have to worry about that. And I'm also going to be talking to some of the solo travelers themselves to find out more about their experiences. If they had any problems, if they didn't have any problems, what they did to prepare themselves, how they enjoyed traveling alone. I'm going to be doing all of that in the coming weeks. And you know something else? If you're getting the travel bug, feel free to contact a travel agent, let them know that you're a solo traveler, tell them what you want. And I must have said this a million times. Travel advisors and travel agents are not mind readers. You have to let them know exactly what you want so they can help you find the right trip to go on. And they can help you. You'll think it's great. Now, until next time, remember this. You are capable. You are ready. And the world will meet you there. Go out and see that world. It's time. Thank you for listening to me today. This is Zee Michelson. And remember what I always say reach for those stars. And if you only get to the moon, at least you made the trip. Have a great day, and have a fabulous time traveling.