When I travel on my own, I tend to hear things such as “Wow, you’re so brave,” or “Aren’t you scared?” My response is usually along the lines of “Hell, yeah, I’m scared!” The truth is, travel is intimidating, whether alone or with others. Yet the alternative is only existing in one place and if you ask me, that is even scarier. I refuse to miss out on adventures because of my anxiety.

“The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving…” – Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

 

Your Anxiety is Wrong

Nine out of ten times you are not even worrying about the right things. I’ve found that what I usually stress over are the outcomes and situations that don’t transpire. It’s more common that something else takes place: like getting kicked in the ass by an actual ass (a donkey). Although that was startling at the moment, I could laugh about it afterward. Things not going as planned almost always result in the best stories. The mishaps that I’ve experienced time and time again are what inspired me to create this blog. Now I have the opportunity to share my misadventures so that others can make their own, and be better equipped to not repeat mine (but also, to be unafraid if you do!)

Preparation

There aren’t many things in this world that we can control. What we can do is prepare so that we may create a feeling of security within ourselves. This does not mean anticipating every possible outcome and obsessing over every single thing, no matter how simple, that could go wrong. It just means covering your basics and knowing that you’re doing the best you can. Welcome to The Anxious Wanderer, where I invite you to explore all of the adventures and mishaps the world has to offer, with a backpack full of tips to embrace all of it, especially the unexpected, and create memories to last a lifetime.

I created The Anxious Wanderer to help others prepare for their travels, and provide tips and tools for getting through travel anxiety. I will talk about how to safely navigate the world through different types of transportation, things to pack, what eases my anxiety, and more. There is life to be lived and sometimes it is scary but it is almost always worth the risk.