Packs your bags. Book your flight. Pick a destination. You're off.

I've never been out of the country by myself. This is something I told people before June 20th. Now, I've traveled across the world to Australia all in my lonesome. I am leaving, on July 20th, with best friends, a full camera roll and vivid memories I'll remember forever. One month. One month of solo travel. One month of not knowing a soul before I stepped off the plane. One month of leaving my current life and stepping into a new one. One month that changed my life.

Saying something changes your life usually can be a bit of an exaggeration. But I can confidently say that this trip changed who I am as a human being.

I found happiness. I found out my passion. I found individuality. I found confidence. I found out who I really am. I found out how others perceive me. I found out who was there for me and who loves me. I found out who to trust. I found out all strangers really aren't that bad. I found out you can talk to someone for a four hour flight as if you knew them for years, when in reality you just met. I found out you can stay in a city by yourself and have the best night of your life. I found out that tea can sooth your soul and mind, and that Tim Tams are addictive. I found out that wine on the Western Australian coast is the best wine in the world (biased.) I found out that winter isn't really cold here. I found out that tattoos can create friendships. I found out that friendships can lead to tattoos. I found out that I'm brave. I found out that I can eat dinner alone and feel whole again. I found out that you can end up closing the bar even if you only had intentions of having one drink. And I found out bartenders can turn into friends. I found out that people you know for a short amount of time can collaboratively change your life.

I found out that once you're taken out of your own little world and thrown into another one, you blossom into the person you're meant to be. You realize who you are, where you've been and where you're going.

Before I left the states, I thought I knew who I was. I was comfortable in my world at university. I had control over everything that was going on around me. But the moment you lose control and you go into a situation where you have absolutely no idea what will happen, that's when you find out what life is all about. You realize what matters and what doesn't. You enter a new culture and begin again. You find a place that your heart never knew existed, where you feel like you belong. And then you leave, and your heart aches for a return.

What I have realized from solo travel is that we are too scared. It's like standing at the edge of a pool. You are completely dry and you've never been in this pool before. You could hold your nose and jump in, but it could be freezing. You could have an unpleasant experience and want to get out as soon as possible. Or, the pool could be warm and soothing, relaxing every joint and muscle in your body. So what do you choose? Do you jump, risking discomfort and the unknown, or do you stay safe and stay out of the pool?

At home, everyone cares. People care about the silliest things. People judge about the silliest things. I respect that people have their views and morals, and their experiences have led them to those beliefs, but for someone to get frustrated because someone else goes against their beliefs is pointless.

What I have learned while on this trip, away from the normal I'm used to, is that you need to sincerely do you. At the end of the day, you only get one life. You only get to do this thing once. No do overs, no pauses, or fast forwards or rewinds. So, who cares if you get tattoos? Who cares if you cut your hair? Who cares if your style isn't preppy and proper? No one should care about those things but you. If doing those things makes you happy, then who cares! Simply, other people around you caring becomes their personal problems. I've learned to not let other people's opinions phase me. Because there are, in fact, places in the world where not everyone is out to hurt others and get reactions. You just have to step outside your circle.

I've also learned that you won't find happiness by depending on other people. The moment I stepped off that plane, I was absolutely petrified. But, once I found my groove, I have never been so happy. I think in life, it's important to have close relationships, but you can't let them take over every feeling you have. If you can't live for yourself, travel by yourself, make memories by yourself, then you will never be happy by yourself. Having someone important to you is just a plus. Remember this.

I encourage everyone I know in my life to travel solo at least once in their lives. You will break out of your shell without even realizing. You will create memories that don't need to be validated. You will do things you never thought you could. You'll have memories and stories to tell your grandchildren one day.

You'll find yourself glowing. Shining. Admiring the blue sky and the sky of stars. You'll find peace at home knowing there's a place out there that brought you this much joy. You find happiness. Utterly beautiful happiness. Once you learn of this happiness, you won't tolerate being around people or in places that make you feel anything less.