Self-doubt, insecurity, and feeling capable often creep in without us realizing it. Regardless of our age, background, or lifetime of experience, taking a bold step alone can feel daunting for any woman.
However, a calling eventually arises within all of us to seek true freedom. We long to know that we are capable, self-sufficient, and spontaneous outside of our daily roles as wives, partners, mothers, and friends.
Finding this freedom can seem intimidating. Nevertheless, it is never too early or too late to reach for it.
Overcoming the Fear of Traveling Solo
For many women, traveling completely on their own feels like an impossible task. In fact, it often seems too dangerous, too complicated, or far outside their comfort zone.
However, the rewards of choosing a solo journey can be truly liberating. For example, 50-year-old Surf Goddess Colleen Kobata decided to rise to the challenge.
Today, Colleen carries a warm, bright presence. Nothing in her confident demeanor hints that traveling to Bali alone was once a massive hurdle for her.
“It is wonderful when you find a partner to share your life with. However, I had lost myself a bit,” Colleen explains.
Over the years, her husband had taken the reins on planning all their overseas trips. Consequently, Colleen had unknowingly taken a backseat in her own life. She had also stepped away from her career to focus on raising her children, which caused her self-reliance to slowly diminish.
Although she started surfing before turned 40, life circumstances and a lack of confidence kept her out of the water for over five years.
Rediscovering Self-Reliance at 50
As her 50th birthday approached, Colleen remembered a promise she had made to herself a decade earlier. She had always dreamed of celebrating her milestone birthday on a tropical surfing retreat.
Initially, she hoped her teenage daughter would join her. But when her daughter showed no interest in surfing, Colleen faced a choice.
“I really started to doubt whether I could travel all the way to Bali by myself. Furthermore, I doubted whether I could surf after a five-year break,” she shares.
At first, she considered asking her husband to organize the trip for her. However, as she began searching for flights online, Colleen realized something sobering. She had not planned a trip by herself in 24 years.
Instead of letting fear stop her, she booked the ticket anyway.
“This is how I found myself stepping off an airplane in Singapore at midnight on the morning of my 50th birthday,” Colleen recalls. “I spent three full days exploring the city, riding the subway, and setting my own pace. In doing so, I rediscovered my self-reliance.”
Standing Up on the Mat and on the Waves
A few days later, Colleen arrived at Goddess Retreats in Bali. Suddenly, she found herself surrounded by a welcoming community of empowered, supportive women.
More importantly, she paddled back into the ocean for the first time in five years. Despite strong currents and challenging waves, Colleen was determined to reconnect with the sport that brought her so much joy.
“Yesterday I surfed for the first time in five years,” she says with a smile. “My body is older and carries a few injuries. Nevertheless, I was standing up and learning turns before the session was over.”
Reflecting on her retreat experience, Colleen recognizes the true value of stepping out of her comfort zone.
“Traveling solo can be scary,” she notes. “However, refusing to take chances results in stagnation.”
By taking a leap of faith, Colleen conquered her fears and reclaimed her self-confidence. Ultimately, she evolved, stood up, and proved that it is never too late to rewrite your own story.
