This isn’t really about solo travel because I haven’t been anywhere in a long while.
Tracee Ellis Ross has a show on Roku about her solo travel adventures. Initially, I had no plans to watch it because I didn’t want to tempt myself with content that would make me feel discontent with my own life. But after waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep, I figured… why not?
And I loved it.
She has great fashion that I admire. She has that awkward Black girl energy at times, and it’s not cringey. Her version of solo travel also has a nice ebb and flow. In some places she’s out doing activities and seeing the sights, but she also shows the reality of getting food poisoning, rainy weather, and plans that don’t always work out
But here’s what stuck with my heart while watching the episodes.
Sometimes I feel like my life isn’t where I want it to be yet. My finances aren’t great because, well, I work in public education. Duh. This isn’t exactly a get-rich-quick career, which means I’m not traveling as often as I’d like. As Tommy Pickles would say, “I’ve got sponserbileries!”
But despite this and all the tiny violin things I could complain about, I don’t have a bad life.
I have had some great opportunities through my work in my 20s to travel. I’ve traveled to two countries in Europe. I’ve been to countries in Central and South America. I finished out a school year in Thailand, a country that had been on my vision board for years. I even visited the same olive oil store that Tracee went to in Marbella, Spain. I watched that episode and thought, Wow… that’s cool. I should’ve bought more olive oil.
I have lived.
As a kid my mummy worked as a travel agent for a time so travel and exposure were things that she expressed the importance of. When I got opportunities to travel and see the world, it felt like I was living her dream through my eyes.
Maybe I don’t need another passport stamp to remind myself that my life has been full.
Maybe I just need to remember it.
A Note to Self
Go through the photos on your phone or scroll back through your Facebook memories. Let yourself remember the places you’ve been and the version of yourself that experienced them. Dare I say, print a few of them.
And dress up a little more the next time you run out to do errands.
I’m not done living.
Life of Neu 