Life Lessons From My Week At Sea

I love to travel.

While I'm not against sitting on a beach drinking fruity umbrella drinks, my favorite type of travel is a bit more uncomfortable.

Last year I stayed in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru for a week, complete with giant spiders, ungodly humidity and hikes in less than friendly terrain.

I just returned from sailing around Mallorca and Ibiza for 6 days, with mostly strangers, from around the world.

My trip this year was more cushy on the surface, but still had its unique challenges.

There were 4 boats and 40 international travelers in all.

While this trip didn't involve insects, heat or rugged environments, the mental and emotional tests were still real.

As someone who has lived alone for several decades, sharing a space with ANYONE can be a bit trying for me.

I am highly sensitive and a bit introverted so too much stimulation of any sort can be overwhelming.

Being on a small boat 24/7 for 6 days with 8 other people was the height of overstimulation.

Add to this not only a shared (very small) berth with a stranger, but a shared (very small) BED with a stranger!

For all of our sakes I will not address the shared (very small) "bathroom" (head) situation.

Like many, I generally enjoy cocktails at gatherings with new people, to ease my social anxiety.

While mostly everyone else on the trip was partaking, I decided to forgo the adult beverages, which was both challenging at times and liberating at times.

The thing I enjoy most about this type of travel as opposed to the typical rest and relaxation type of travel is the personal growth.

I come back from these adventures knowing more about myself, the planet and humanity.

I discover and re-discover parts of who I am.

I learn, grow and stretch.

I feel reborn each time I travel and fall in love with life (mine and life in general) over and over again.

If you're considering a trip in the future, I'd encourage you to contemplate a unique type of travel.

We so often try to "get away" from life, but by broadening our horizons and pushing our limits we can not only show up for, but step into, life in a whole new and exciting way!