Sometimes, it isn’t part of the grand plan. What first feels like a problem can actually turn into an opportunity. And when you take that leap of faith — even if it’s unexpected — it just might become one of the best things you ever do.
Today, I’m sharing the stories of two people I met while travelling — both of them took a leap of faith… alone.
Let me ask you something: Have you ever had tickets with someone — maybe for a concert, a movie, a theatre show, or even a holiday — and at the last minute, they cancelled?
Maybe they had to work, maybe they got sick, or maybe things weren’t going so well between you? What did you do?
Did you try to find someone else to go with?
Did you miss out completely?
Or, did you go anyway, solo?
How did that make you feel afterward?
Frustrated, disappointed, maybe even angry that your plans changed? you missed out?
Or — were you surprised to find yourself happy, proud, even elated that you went alone?
Rebecca
I met Rebecca on a four-island day tour from Ao Nang in Krabi, Thailand. She was in her mid-to-late twenties, and like me that day, she was travelling solo. We were the only two solo travellers, so naturally we connected and struck up conversation.
Rebecca had been travelling for a couple of months with a friend, – through Vietnam, Cambodia, then Thailand to Chang Mai and Bangkok, but now her friend had to head back home to London, unexpectedly earlier than planned.
Rebecca had a choice: go back with her friend, or keep travelling alone.
She told me wasn’t ready to go back to cold, grey London just yet – so she took a leap of faith. She decided to stay in Thailand, travel down to Krabi, and see how she’d go on her own.
Rebecca had never travelled on her own before, solo. But, she made a decision, and took a leap of faith… took action, travelled to Krabi for a couple of weeks on her own.
It was her first time ever travelling solo — and she was loving it. Rebecca was elated, so very happy. She was telling me how good it is to be able to do exactly what she wanted each day, she loved her friend, but was enjoying her own time.
She was so excited telling me how freeing it was for her, how she could do what ever she wanted, no compromises. No rushing for someone else. No missing out, or doing things she didn’t enjoy.
Rebecca told me, “I never thought about travelling solo before… but now — this is the way. From now on, I’m doing it solo.”
Darren
A few months later, standing in a long queue at Denpasar Airport in Bali, I met Darren — another solo traveller, about my age, mid-fifties.
We got chatting as we waited for the check-in counters to open. Darren told me this was his first solo trip .
He’d actually planned the trip to Bali with his girlfriend — their first holiday together. But shortly before the departure date, the relationship ended.
Darren decided to go anyway. He said, “I wasn’t going to miss out on Bali , and I had got the time off work”. He had spent four weeks exploring, relaxing, doing exactly what he wanted – and he loved it.
Darren said he had never considered travelling solo before, but now, loves it.
I smiled, understanding the awesomeness of not missing out, and doing what you want, for you… as I listened to Darren tell me of his freedom and adventures.
He did have one complication though, when he arrived at the Denpasar airport to leave Bali with his booked ticket one week ago. Darren discovered that his ex had cancelled his ticket. Oh well, Darren got to stay and enjoy Bali for another week before he could get another flight home to Brisbane. No worries.
Moral of the story
Sometimes, like Rebecca and Darren, it’s not about a long-held dream — it’s about seizing the opportunity that’s right in front of you.
Taking that leap of faith might feel scary, but you never know where it might lead. It could turn out to be one of the best decisions you ever make.
So next time someone cancels on you, or your plans fall apart – don’t give up on the experience.
Take the dinner reservation for yourself.
Go to the concert.
See the movie.
Take the trip.
Go anyway… solo.
Because once you give it a go, you might just find — you love it.
Inspired by Mel Robbins “let them” theory: let them cancel, and let me take myself, go anyways, for me #letthem
You’ve got this. Go solo. Enjoy the journey. – Linda
Linda Marie Travel 