Solo travel + the pitfall of loneliness

Iconography in all its ornate beauty as found in the Greek Orthodox Church in Athens, Greece | in the Plaka neighborhood | Agia Aikaterini (Saint Catherine) Church

Greetings, friends, from sunny Greece!

I’m back from the Greek islands and spending my last two weeks here in Athens, and in the process am learning so much about life, creative pursuits and passions, and the world.

The first week of the trip I was in Spetses, Greece, for a 3k open water competition. My friend Julie from back home in Houston came with me, and it was fantastic to have her company and fun energy. In fact, we laughed so much and I believe bonded for life on that trip!

Julie and I “threw down” in Spetses, Greece and toured the entire island in one of those fun ATV, golf cart type vehicles. There’s a funny, funny story behind that golf cart, and Julie and I may share it with you separately via video interview. Haha!

The remaining time here, though, I’ve been alone. Solo travel is kind of my specialty and I do enjoy the way it enables me to focus exclusively on the objectives of learning as much as I can about a destination to later share with you.

Solo travel is an intense, hyper focused way for me to do my work and do it well. I don’t get sidetracked and can accomplish more research and cultural immersion. It’s my preferred method of travel for professional purposes.

You know I’m a fairly transparent person, so here’s the part where I share some struggles! My personal life and mental state do take a beating on these extended solo trips I take. I begin to feel homesick and miss my children terribly. The feeling of isolation begins to creep in, as does panic at being across the world and unable to reach family easily in case of an emergency,

For the cost of 1.5 euros, I took a little 5-minute water taxi from Poros to mainland Galatas, Greece to have supper. I’ve grown very accustomed to requesting a TABLE FOR ONE at restaurants, tavernas and the like.

A gnawing and persistent loneliness begins to seep into my bones at around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. each evening. I have to be very intentional about recognizing the signs and proactively combat the blues. It’s not all bad, though, and I’ve learned to simply sit with the emotions, let them flow through me, and then observe and learn from them. This has taken decades of practice quite frankly.

What does loneliness do for us as humans?

1. It forces us to look within and evaluate our lives, priorities, and habits.

There is nothing, my friends, like being all alone in a foreign country to make you question a LOT about your life, almost EVERYTHING as a matter of fact. My loneliness has accompanied me at times since childhood, so I’m no stranger to it. As an adult, though, who loves traveling the world, I use the time to evaluate my priorities and values, and to ensure that I’m in alignment with God’s will and purpose for my life.

2. We are faced with our emotions and have no escape and no one readily available to us in person. Sitting with one’s emotions is both frightening and cathartic.

When it’s just you and you alone, you have nowhere to escape. You cannot outrun yourself, and this is both powerful and scary. Use this opportunity to honestly experience your emotions and trace their origins. It’s a healing practice. Feelings and emotions are temporary, and tomorrow is a new day. Always remember that!

3. Loneliness provides an opportunity for us to reevaluate our relationships with family and close friends.

Family and close friends are my greatest treasures on this earth, and in times of loneliness I particularly miss their companionship. Lonely days abroad are put to good use as I assess the quality of my relationships, how I personally can bring my best self to all of them, and what daily habits I’m engaged in that either reinforce or weaken these close bonds.

I seek solace in the Lord’s house, any of His houses (churches), during times of loneliness. It is in these moments and places that I find myself again. Δόξα το Θεό Athens, Greece | St. Catherine’s Orthodox Byzantine Church

4. Loneliness removes distractions of our every day life back home. With it can come clarity and peace. Sitting in our quietude is a beneficial act as I’ve learned time and time again.

I do some of my best creative and entrepreneurial work when I am distanced from the quotidian (everyday) life in Houston, Texas. My thoughts become very focused and many new ideas rise to the forefront. I usually return to the States with renewed perspective and a certain peace I might not have achieved at home in Houston.

5. Pushing through loneliness is essentially self-empowerment as we prove to ourselves that we are strong on our own when we need to be.

I say self-empowerment in reference to the strength of the human spirit and our determination to prevail during tough moments. We only know the magnitude of our strength when we are put in these emotionally vulnerable situations.

I experienced my most profound loneliness to date on the small island of Poros, Greece, in this beautifully colorful and comforting suite at Niki’s Village. The room itself was so cozy and the staff so welcoming that I was able to ultimately enjoy the time there!

If you’ve read this far into my blog post, then I thank you. It’s not intended as a measure to garner pity from you, or as a documentation of my feeling sorry for myself, nor it is a complaint of any kind. It’s a privilege and honor for me to have such freedom to travel the world, and I don’t take a second of that for granted.

There is a side to solo travel that can feel isolating, though, and you may face it one day yourselves if you decide to venture out alone. My intention is to be emotionally open and share insights with you from my heart. How do I combat loneliness you may ask?

The sun setting at the port of Poros, Greece on my final evening felt reassuring and somehow distinct.

Listening to music, dancing (yes, I love to dance even at home!), praying, writing in my journal, drawing or just doodling, reading my Bible, calling a family member or friend, going for a walk to explore somewhere new, learning 1-2 new words in my destination language, and taking 10 deep breaths are some of my practices for the healthy management of loneliness. Lastly, I keep tokens of sentiment with me when I travel. In my wallet are photos of my three children, my recently deceased mother, along with photos of two other dear family members who have since passed.

Solo water taxi travels from the island of Poros, Greece to the Peloponnese mainland area of Galatas, Greece

Colorful friends, I know no other way to write than to do so from a sincere, pure, transparent place in my heart. I hope that this post has resonated with some of you, and that it will prove useful if you are ever traveling and happen to experience pangs of loneliness. Know that you are NEVER truly, truly alone.

Your friend in colorful adventures,

Lauren Battistini