Chronically Joyful

There is a distinct moment that happens right after you hit “Book Now” on a solo trip whether you live with a chronic illness or not.

For a split second, a surge of pure, unfiltered exhilaration hits your chest as you imagine yourself wandering through the depths of a wooded trail with your hiking poles with no one else around, and moving through the world entirely on your own schedule.

And then, almost instantly, the fear creeps in.

“What if something goes wrong? What if I get lonely? What if my body decides to flare up halfway into a 7 mile hike?”

If you live with a chronic illness, that fear isn’t just abstract—it’s grounded in real-world logistics. When your body requires a baseline level of care, predictability, and energy management, stepping out into the unknown without a safety net can feel like an impossible gamble unless you’re Bilbo Baggins.

To celebrate 32 rotations around the sun, I will be doing exactly this – getting lost in the woods with just my hiking poles, heading toward one of the most beautiful views in Southwestern VA.

And you know, here is the secret about solo travel: fear and exhilaration are two sides of the same coin. You don’t have to wait for the fear to completely vanish before you book the airbnb and pack your bags; you just have to learn how to invite that fear along for the journey. 

The Dual Realities of Going Alone

1. The Fear: Giving up your safety nets

When you travel with a companion, there is an invisible cushion. If you feel exhausted, they can carry the heavy bag. If you need a distraction, they are right there to point out the weird mushrooms your “snail eyes” couldn’t initially see. Going solo means stepping into absolute accountability for your own time, choices, and how you choose to expend your energy.

When a chronic condition is added to the mix, the fear often sounds like a list of worst-case scenarios: “What if I don’t have the energy to drive out early enough in the morning to maximize the day? What if I can’t keep up with my own extravagant 4-day itinerary?

The shift happens when you realize that starting a solo trip with a body that has limits isn’t a liability—it’s a masterclass in self-trust.

2. The Exhilaration: Radical Autonomy

Here is the beauty of solo travel that nobody tells you: It is actually the most accommodating way to travel!

When you travel with a group, there is constant pressure to keep up, match paces, and compromise. When you are on your own, your day belongs entirely to you.

• If you wake up feeling incredible? You stick to the original plan and make the most of it.
• If your body demands a slow morning, a three-hour afternoon nap, or a simple night in? You don’t owe anyone an apology or an explanation – you don’t even have to justify things to yourself.

The true rush of solo travel isn’t just seeing new places; it’s experiencing the radical freedom of listening to your body’s needs without feeling like a burden to anyone else and enjoying every second that you can.

How to Alchemize Travel Anxiety into Personal Power

If you are dreaming of a solo adventure but feeling paralyzed by the “what ifs,” here are three mindset shifts to help you bridge that gap:

1. Build a “Cozy Safety Net” into your itinerary 

Solo travel doesn’t mean recklessly throwing yourself into chaos; you are allowed to make it as comfortable as you need to. Book the place with the extra comfy bed! Build buffer days into your schedule where the only goal is to rest and drink in the scenery with a good cup of coffee! Preparation isn’t just for infusion days; it’s a practice to carry into all arenas of your life. 

2. Re-frame “Rest Days” as essential parts of the journey

If you end up spending a whole afternoon resting at the place you booked to stay instead of sightseeing, you haven’t “wasted” a day of your trip. You are experiencing a new corner of the world on your own terms. Reading a book next to an open window in a new place still counts as travel, even if it doesn’t look the way the highlight reels on Instagram do. 

3. Trust the Resilience you’ve already curated

If living with a chronic illness has taught me anything, it’s how to adapt, how to pivot when plans fall apart, and how to navigate discomfort with absolute grace. We are already experts at handling the unpredictable and the exact same resilience used at home is the tool that will carry anyone through any hiccup on the road.

Stepping Into the Unknown

Solo travel isn’t about proving how tough you are to the rest of the world. It’s a quiet, private declaration to yourself that your world doesn’t have to shrink because of fear or physical limitations.

It’s okay if your hands shake a little when you step foot into the quiet cottage you booked months before. It’s okay if you feel a wave of panic during the hour drive to the trailhead. It’s okay to change plans at the last minute because you aren’t feeling 100% that day. Let the fear sit right next to the excitement and see where that glorious energy takes you!

You are allowed to take up space in the world, at your own pace, one step at a time.

“One step and the next gets you where you’re going.” – Sister, Swan Song

So, dear Readers, have you ever taken a solo trip or is there a destination sitting on your bucket list right now? What fears may be holding you back? Comment below and let’s chat about it!