Have you ever wished you could get away from your life? Take a vacation from the day to day and just be with your thoughts, feelings, and experiences? Go on a trip on your own, and you are bound to find this bliss.

Traveling solo gives you all the benefits you would expect and then some. All the stories people tell and write about become real -- finding (more of) yourself and leaving behind parts that no longer fit in your life. If you pay attention, you’ll also find yourself learning, discovering, exploring, appreciating, and loving in a whole new way. It IS that rewarding.

Plan a trip on your own, with your independence, and with your freedom, right now because there is no time like the present.

Yes, I understand there are financial restraints and enough fear to make you want to hide in your closet. I am not saying go to Timbuktu or wherever the furthest point from where you are is, but go somewhere, by yourself, and take a moment to see another pocket of the world.

Likely, you will make friends along the way. Probably, you will find something you love and something you hate. Rest assured, you will be able to focus and gain clarity like you never have before or haven't in a very long time.

When you are marching to the beat of your own drum on your trip, vacation, journey, odyssey, or what have you, you do not speed up to match the pace of work or a friend nor do you slow down to match the pace of a parent or pet, you come to equilibrium.

I recently took a 10-day trip by myself to see Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Along the way, I saw comedy shows, hiked and got lost, walked barefoot in the sand (my favorite thing to do), ate well, laughed with strangers, and reaped the benefits of listening and connecting with other people for the sole purpose of socializing.

Most of the time, people approached me, but towards the end of my travels, I would strike up a conversation just by asking how someone’s day is going. It was definitely no easy feat to make sure I was seeing everything I wanted to see, managing money, keeping myself sane and making sure everyone who needed to know, knew I was alive and well, but I did it! I highly recommend it.

I came away from my trip with stories, new goals and ideas, more open-mindedness, plenty of pictures, and a sense of joy, belonging, and strength. When you are ready, you should do it too. Things may not go according to plan, but that is all a part of the fun and discovery.

If you already take trips on your own, keep at it.

If you haven't gone out on your own, go for it!