From Family-Focused to Fearless: Women's Guide to Rediscovering Interests Through Solo Travel

Who Are You (Really)? Rediscovering Yourself Through Solo Travel

Hello beautiful soul—Joy here, your solo travel coach and guide to living fully, freely, and fearlessly.

Today, I want to ask you a powerful question: Who are you?

No, really.
Not who you are to someone else.
Not your roles. Not your job title. Not your to-do list.
But you.

Too often, we answer that question by attaching ourselves to others:
“I’m a wife.”
“I’m a mother.”
“I’m someone’s daughter, sister, employee, caretaker…”

And while those relationships and responsibilities matter, they are not the whole of you.

Because at the core, there is a woman who existed before she carried the weight of everyone else’s needs. There’s a woman with her own dreams, her own passions, and her own curiosity about the world.

That’s the woman I want to speak to today.
That’s the woman I want to help uncover.

Remember Her?

When I coach women through their first (or next!) solo trip, we don’t start with logistics. A travel advisor would say, “Where do you want to go & when?  What’s your budget?”  In your travel coaching session, we start with you.

Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?

Think back.
What did you love to do just for the joy of it?
What fascinated you?
What did you want to explore?
What lit you up inside?

Maybe you loved to play the piano, to paint, to hike, to study ancient cultures, to dance. But somewhere along the way, life got busy, noisy, complicated—and those joys got buried under responsibility.

Let me gently say: it’s not too late. You can still uncover you. And you're so worthy of feeling joy from pursuing your passions.

This Is Why I Love Solo Travel

Solo travel isn’t just about going somewhere new.
It’s about coming home to yourself.

When you travel alone, you’re free to move at your own pace. You don’t have to compromise or accommodate anyone else’s idea of “fun.” It’s your trip, your schedule, your experience.

And that kind of freedom creates space to reconnect with your inner self. It helps you remember what you love—and that discovery can shape where you go and what you do.

Here’s a Real-Life Example

I worked with a woman who told me she had no idea where she wanted to travel. She just knew she felt stuck. She’d raised kids, worked hard, done all the “right” things—and yet, she felt disconnected from herself.

Through our coaching session, she remembered how much she used to love the symphony. As a girl, she took piano lessons and used to imagine herself dressed up for an elegant evening at the opera. But her family never shared that interest—and anytime she brought it up, they’d roll their eyes or groan.

You can guess what happened next, right?

She planned a solo trip to a city with a world-class concert hall, bought herself a beautiful outfit, and went to a performance by herself. And she loved it. She said it felt like slipping back into a piece of her soul she hadn’t worn in decades.

That, my friend, is the power of solo travel. And that’s the power of reconnecting with you.

What Would Light You Up?

Take a moment, right now, to ask yourself:

• What did I love to do before life got busy?
• What experiences have I always wanted but never prioritized?
• Where do I feel most alive?

Your answers to those questions aren’t random—they’re your guide.
They point to the kinds of experiences and destinations that will bring you true joy and fulfillment.

If you love bookstores, maybe your solo adventure takes you to a literary city.

If you have a favorite author, maybe you can retrace their steps.  For example, you can visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.  
If you love nature, maybe it’s a quiet retreat in the mountains or a desert spa sanctuary so you can do forest bathing, hiking, and journaling.
If you love food and culture, maybe it’s a culinary solo tour through New Orleans.  Learning about the history and notable residents of an area while trying different foods is so fun.  But likely not something you’ve gotten to do if you have small kids who won’t stray much from mac & cheese and chicken nuggets!

This is your journey. You get to decide.

But What If You Don’t Know Where to Start?

That’s exactly what I’m here for.

I offer private coaching sessions where I help women just like you figure this out. Together, we’ll:

• Talk through your travel experience (or lack of it—no shame here!)
• Uncover what brings you joy (I’m professionally trained by Coach U in coaching individuals.)
• Identify your unique travel style and interests
• Build an action plan so you know where to go, what to do, and how to feel confident doing it
• Encourage you every step of the way (unlike others in your life who may try to hold you back)

And yes, we’ll make it feel less overwhelming and more exciting.

Because you deserve a life that feels fulfilling. Not just someday—now.

Your Next Step

If this post stirred something in you… if you realized you’ve been defining yourself in relation to others for too long… I want to invite you to take one bold step toward rediscovering yourself.

📅 Book a private coaching session with me right here.
Let’s talk. Let’s get curious. Let’s build a solo travel experience that reconnects you with the most important relationship in your life—the one you have with yourself.

Because once you rediscover her…
Once you let her lead the way…
That’s when the real adventure begins.

With warmth and joy,
Joy
Your Solo Travel Coach

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