There is an Eleanor Roosevelt quote about remembering to think of life as an adventure and to choose challenge over competence. To me, my greatest adventure is to live life and travel. Where am I going? Where can I go next? I have traveled to over 70 countries and lived as an expat for many years. This was one of my most direct paths to challenge and growth.

When we travel, we feel exhilaration and excitement. Our senses are awakened and we learn so much about our world, life and most importantly, ourselves. I think this is what I love so much about travel – the opportunity to learn more about what I like, what I am capable of and how I want to see myself.

I particularly enjoy traveling solo. This is the ultimate opportunity to develop greater independence and a deeper relationship with oneself. So many women focus on what the challenges might be if they are alone and on what they might be missing, but for me, I think about what I would miss out on when I’m not alone – the freedom, the resiliency, the empowerment. There is no greater feeling to know that you are creating your destiny when you choose where you want to go, when you want to and to do what you appeals to you.

Traveling solo or moving abroad and living as an expat takes courage. It takes resilience. It does not mean removing all fear, but feeling the fear and doing it anyway. We build up the strength and fortitude needed to make our way on our own and figure things out as we go. We become stronger with each decision and each trip.

I was very scared when I first started traveling solo and first moved abroad. The fear is very normal. It is our brain’s way of protecting us and keeping us safe. However, we need to know that that fear is not always necessary and that managing our thoughts and emotions are key to moving us forward and growing towards living the life of our dreams.

Live life and travel.

If living abroad and traveling solo are your thing, like they are mine, the world is your oyster. I want to encourage as many women to share in these type of experiences as I can. My list of places I want to go and things I want to do grows daily. I can’t wait to get back out there!