I spent months traveling solo around Asia. A trip with a friend showed me how much I'd changed.
After being laid off, Macie Strum booked a one-way flight to Asia. Solo travel taught her to trust herself and enjoy her own company.
Macie Strum has been traveling solo for eight years, finding solo travel less stressful compared to traveling with friends. During a recent trip to Japan, she realized that traveling with a friend was more stressful than being on her own. After spending two months traveling alone in Thailand and Vietnam, Strum went to Japan to meet a friend, only to find that every decision required involving another person.
After months of solo travel, she admits she became terrible at compromising. This change happened after she lost her job, which pushed her to spend months traveling around Asia. Strum's newfound confidence from solo travel has helped her manage anxiety and make decisions quickly. Despite enjoying traveling with others, Strum feels that traveling alone has provided her with unexpected confidence and comfort.
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