Travel Thoughts: The Other Side of Fear

“Aren’t you scared?”

Those are often the first words I hear when I tell people that I travel. And you know what? My answer is “yes”. But not because I travel solo, or even because I’m a woman (though those are of course factors) – but because travel is inherently scary. It’s putting yourself into situations outside of what you know. It’s pushing the edges of your comfort zone. It’s making yourself vulnerable and without the protection of home or your social networks. And it’s doing that over and over again.

Each time I leave Canada. Each time I cross a border. Each time I leave one city for another or catch a bus to the next town. There is almost always a voice in my head telling me to play it safe and stick to what I know.

I am often scared travelling, and that’s why I know it doesn’t take feats of bravery to become a traveller.

Instead, travelling means believing that you can and will get through the moments of fear. Those moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. And the more times you put yourself out there, the fewer times you’ll come to listen to that fear. Because it’s so often not the thing itself that is most frightening – but the unknown that comes right before it. And you'll quickly learn just how resilient to change you are.

Now, with years of travelling behind me, I still get butterflies every time I board a new bus. But it’s a familiar fear.

It’s a fear I know is only temporary and is quickly replaced by the awe and excitement and honour of being able to explore a new space.

Am I scared of travelling?

Yes.

But I'm in love with what I find on the other side.