Solo

So over the last year or so I finally started doing things by myself.  I have pretty much always been fine doing stuff alone, but never did it.  I’d miss out on things simply because I couldn’t find anyone else to join me or what I like wasn’t what others were into.  So I finally changed that!  My first big solo thing was my trip to Sedona last year.  I was nervous because it was a retreat as well but I just faced it all.  Being alone on a trip as well as therapies twice a day was way outside my comfort zone.  I’ve learned the most growth happens when we are outside our comfort zones so I keep trying to push that little by little.

After Sedona I did a long weekend trip to Mount Shasta and then a week in Peru.  This past January I went to Bali, Vietnam, and Thailand all solo!  It gets lonely at times, but it also motivates you to be social and try to meet people, or enjoy the time alone if that’s what you prefer.  I like a mix of the two so travelling solo works for me.

Besides travelling I have also been going to shows alone.  I went to Jack Johnson at the Greek theater last summer.  I sat on the lawn all by my lonesome and just people watched and listened to him play and engage the crowd, it was awesome.  To think that I missed out on so many great experiences simply because I didn’t want to look weird by being alone.  Who cares?

Last night I went to Brett Dennen alone. VIP packages were $99 which I think is a steal.  He had a meet & greet and played a couple songs acoustic.  My favorite part about artists is getting to know how their brain works a little and you just don’t get to see that while they are performing, at least not as intimately as acoustic with a guitar.  It was so cool to see how he is in his normal state and get to know him more as a person rather than just a performer.  Other times I would have asked everyone I know to go with me and ended up not going because no one would join.  I never hesitated for a second about going, I bought my ticket immediately and looked for people to join but knew if no one wanted to that I’d still go.  I didn’t expect to have as good of a time as I did last night but I had more fun than I probably would’ve had someone joined me.  I got to do my thing and ended up meeting both artists that performed as well as a local couple that I ended up hanging out with pretty much the whole show. It was their first Brett show so it was fun to see how excited they were and also share in the experience with true fans!

When you are open to experiences, they just seem to happen.  Face your fears, get outside your comfort zone.  I promise good things will happen! I still love to do things with my friends and family, don’t get me wrong, but there is something really freeing about braving the world and different experiences all by your lonesome.