My Solo Adventure in Self-Discovery

Life, as they say, throws you curveballs. In the past few years, mine felt more like a full-on pitching practice. A series of deep losses left a gaping hole in my heart. I lost my Dad, my protector, my person. Subsequently, the once vibrant tapestry of my relationship began to unravel, leaving behind loose threads and faded colors. To top it all off, the echoing silence in the house, once filled with the sweet but (seriously) chaotic frenzy of children, became a constant reminder of my empty nest. I had lost so much in such a short period of time. The loss reverberated in everything I did.

Faced with this emotional debris, I could have easily crumbled, and I did for a bit. But somewhere beneath the grief, the self-doubt, and the lingering imposter syndrome, a spark flickered – a spark of defiance, a flicker of a forgotten dream.

For years, the “what ifs” haunted me. What if I’d pursued that career in television? What if I’d traveled the world, solo and free? Fear, that insidious monster, had held me back for far too long. Newly acquired (albeit renewed from years prior…but that’s a story for another day) low self-worth whispered that I wasn’t good enough, not brave enough. But this time, the whispers were drowned out by the roar of a new reality.

It was time. Time to stop living for others and start living for myself. So, with a deep breath and a heart full of trepidation, I left my job, sold my house and nearly everything I owned, packed what was left into a 10×10 storage unit and the rest into a suitcase in the backseat of my car (filled more with dreams than clothes!), and began an adventure that I could not have even dreamed possible.

The journey has had its ups and downs, another failed relationship, several states, new jobs, new faces, many hellos and more goodbyes, now all woven into the patchwork of my soul. It hasn’t always been easy. There are moments of loneliness, of missing familiar faces. But with every sunrise, with every new face I meet on the mountain tops and winding roads, I feel a piece of myself coming back together. I’m learning to navigate the world on my own, to learn who I truly am. 

This isn’t just about my incredible adventures, the breathtaking scenery or the fascinating experiences. It’s about rediscovering the woman I buried beneath the roles of partner, mother, and people-pleaser. It’s about learning to love the quiet company of myself, to trust my instincts, and to finally believe in my own capabilities.

This solo adventure is a love letter to myself, a reclamation of the dreams I once abandoned. It’s a testament to the fact that even when life throws its worst, there’s always the power to rewrite the narrative. 

So, to all the fellow empty nesters, the heartbroken, the lost souls out there – it’s never too late. Take a chance on yourself. Dust off those dreams and chase them with reckless abandon. You might just surprise yourself with the strength and resilience you discover along the way.

This is not the end of my story, I’ve only just begun. And it’s time for yours too. The adventure awaits.