This Travel Tip Tuesday, We’re taking on an issue that lots of travelers–and those who love us–face from people in our lives. Are travelers, especially solo travelers, just selfish? I believe solo travelers are wise, confident, organized, responsible, and believe it or not, they tend to be less selfish and more thoughtful than your regular person.

Maybe those aren’t all true at the same time, and maybe none of those statements are true the first time a person sets out to travel, but please stay with me, and let me explain that perspective.

1. Solo Travelers Have a Broader Worldview
It’s true. You can read about a place faraway or see a report about another country on the news, but when a person is willing to see people and situations first-hand, they have an undeniably better understanding.

2. Solo Travelers Are Resourceful
Necessity is the mother of invention. When their shoelace breaks and they don’t know where to find a replacement, they use something else or figure it out somehow. If they’re hungry and running low on cash, they find a way to make a cheap meal out of what they have around. A selfish person pouts, complains, or gives up; a solo traveler will figure it out–because they have to.

3. Solo Travelers Are Self-aware
When they travel, they have no one else to rely on but themselves. They have to be super vigilant about their luggage, their cash, their steps, their time, everything. So if the traveler in your life sometimes seems selfish about their “stuff” or their schedule, don’t take it personally. It might just be their way of taking care of themselves.

4. Solo Travelers Are Savers
They may seem like misers on occasion, but they’re really just trying to work hard and save up for something they believe makes them a better person. They’re not asking you to give anything up; are you asking them to give up their hard-earned cash to do something you want to do?

5. Solo Travelers Are Humble
OK, they may not be terribly humble after their first solo trip. They might brag about it a little–or a lot. But the more they go, the more humble they become. They get into situations they come through but would rather not brag about. The more they travel, the more they realize just how insignificant they are in the great big world. They also realize their mistakes are their fault–they have no one to blame but themselves when things within their control go awry.

Think you might want to try this solo travel thing? Read more in 5 Reasons to Travel Solo! What are your thoughts or questions about solo travel, or travel in general? I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section below.

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