BREACH THE COMFORT ZONE N GO BEYOND

The excitement of the unknown began to enthral me when solo traveling and commencing a new life from scratch. This is why I have become such a big advocate for doing more than you think you can because the reward is uncanny to anything else. So what does traveling out for your comfort zone do for you?

The benefit of solo traveling or moving abroad to start a fresh life alone gives you no fall-back option. There’s no room for relying on other people. The advantage to this is it allows you to truly understand and find yourself. I was that kid in high school that couldn’t walk to the toilet without someone coming with me, I never thought I would be able to navigate a foreign country, ask questions to strangers on the street and stay in room with 10 random people. Asking locals about trainlines and navigating language barriers taught patience you can’t learn in school.

I developed confidence to introduce myself to strangers and start up any conversation to make lifelong friends.  As the days went on, I found myself stress-free and wanting these random interactions with people. It felt rewarding to do something that felt, at first, uncomfortable every day.

I learnt resilience from being ditched by close friend, being by myself every day, finding things to do and learn about this new home without direction. Specially, in my first few days alone in a huge city, I found another Australian in Facebook attending my university, I reached out to her and met up with her a couple days later. Knowing we were in the same situation as me we got along quickly with many factors to relate to and now they are some of my closest friends to date.

Ok now what did going abroad do for me? I left Curtin University, Perth, in August 2023 to attend City, University of London. I landed in London and was greeted by unknown family, I felt so small in such big world. But it’s the little things in life you don’t notice in your day-to-day life until you leave that struck me. Lots of green shrub rather than dirt drylands, mph speed signs rather than kms, different branded milk or even small colloquial terms people said.

I then ventured off into the wide world of Europe to solo travel. My plans unfolded as I moved, I met some of the most gorgeous girls, we travelled down the south coast of France into northern Italy. I’ve never felt more independent with full control over my life.

In London I found a group of friends that became family, and I gained the confidence to perform live music, found myself an internship and a casual job.

These aspects, as daunting as they seemed have curated me into the strongest person, I ever thought I could be. You don’t only get this newfound version of yourself, but you also lose nothing and have everything to gain. Whether its new favourite city, new favourite food, friends that become family or a home you will treasure forever. I will forever have my new home London and a family of friends scattered around the world.

So go on n get out!                                                                

Misti xx