• Wine time 🍷 (I mean when is it not?). Happy Weekend my loves x
  • AD | Celebrating Valentine’s/a new job/living my best life 🥂🌹 hope you’ve had a wonderful day my loves. As much as today is a bit of commercialised BS, it’s also kinda bloody lovely just to let the special people know how much they mean to you. I’ve been exchanging texts all day, sent cards and very much enjoyed eating too much chocolate. Love is gr8 ❤️ wearing @prettylittlething, jumpsuit is linked in my bio
  • AD - Gifted | I don’t know who I think I am but I liked my makeup today so here’s my face and my toilet.
Earrings: @prettylittlething
Necklace: @john_greed
Lip colour: @pixibeauty ‘Orange Red’💄
  • AD | Making moves in 2019 🤫🥂 also hi I’ve got the best lingerie collection RN that I’ve ever had. This year’s being good to me 😌 lace bodysuit is from @prettylittlething, I’ve popped the link in my bio 🌹
  • AD - Gifted | Lazy recovery day 💤 wearing lingerie from @btemptduk - undoubtedly my favourite lingerie brand. Their designs are so delicate & beautiful and SO comfortable. This set is a new favourite 💕
  • Girls night 🍷
  • AD - Gifted | End of the week drinks because I’m an adult that does that apparently 🤷🏻‍♀️ also excuse the stain on my jeans, I washed them and they came out more dirty than when they went in - fab. Happy Weekend my loves, hope you go & make some stories to tell on Monday x
  • AD - Gifted | Shorter, darker, healthier 💇🏻‍♀️ a huge thank you to @hairbygalit for injecting life back into my hair while I sat and devoured too many sweets. It’s finally got some shape again and it’s exactly the colour I wanted ☺️ new hair same me - just better 💁🏻‍♀️ grandad cardi is linked in my bio
  • How I feel about:
- Getting my hair done tomorrow
- Having my first press trip of the year confirmed w/ my number one @zoegriffinphoto 👯‍♀️❤️
- The huge bowl of pasta I’m cooking RN
  • AD - Gifted | Date night with my love last night @jadelaronde 🌹 I’ve popped the link to the jumpsuit in my bio

@beth__norton

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Beth Norton

Travelling Solo: It’s A Yes From Me

Travel · September 25, 2016

Granted, I didn't exactly fly halfway across the world on my own. But I took a solo trip to Dublin for 4 days last month and it was a blissful 4 days of running on my own schedule with no one else to think about. Selfish? Absolutely. But taking time for myself (real time, not just 5 minutes catching up on Snapchat stories) was more valuable than I could ever have imagined. 

From a young age, I've always enjoyed my own company. I'd sit in a corner and lose myself in a fictional world that existed between the pages of a book, I'd plug my headphones in to shut everyone else out and unlike many, have absolutely no problem with going out for a coffee or a meal by myself. In fact, it's something I really enjoy doing. Don't get me wrong, I have days where I crave attention, conversation, physical affection. But on the whole, I'd consider myself to be fairly independent and content spending time alone.

So on a whim, when a payment came in a few months ago, I decided to book a solo trip. I wanted to explore somewhere I'd never been before and I wanted to do it on my own. I'd always wanted to visit Dublin and the convenience of a short flight and the fact that it's an English-speaking city (as well as absolute adoration of the Irish accent) suited me. I had one in-person meeting during the trip and the rest of the time was mine.

In short, I explored the city by foot, ate in as many wonderful veggie and vegan restaurants as I could find and worked constantly. I carried my laptop around all day and at each pit stop, I'd resume with emails, editing and taking calls. Yet something about being in a new location and being on my own with no interruptions or distractions, made me more motivated and eager to work than ever. I just felt so full of energy and optimism.

It was during the brief moments of pause at mealtimes that I realised how valuable that time was. It's a bizarre feeling to really feel content in your own company, especially when you've barely made it out of bed some days in the past. It's strange how the mind can go from being an enemy to a friend. It takes time, a lot of self-love, acceptance and a solid support system. But being there, by myself, was just a confirmation of that. It was a poignant trip that really made me realise how far I've come over the last couple of years, allowing me to appreciate the journey and every experience that has shaped it. I'm still learning about myself every day and I love that.

Having boarded a handful of flights on my own and more recently, actively decided to travel alone, I can't wait for my next solo adventure. If you ever get the opportunity, I encourage you to grab it with both hands and not look back. And if you don't get an opportunity, create one. Because it's an experience like no other, learning about and understanding yourself and what truly makes you happy. You're allowed to be selfish without regret and for that short space of time, focus solely on your own needs and desires. Discover yourself. 

Solo travelling? It's a yes from me.

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XO
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Comments

  1. Amy says

    April 30, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    wow, this sounds like a really great experience and I lovely trip. I really like the way you wrote this piece, especially loved the line ‘It’s strange how the mind can go from being an enemy to a friend’.

    Amy x
    http://www.whatamysays.com

    Reply
  2. Emma Bought What says

    October 10, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    Sounds like you had a lovely trip! I enjoy my own company too so maybe I’ll go on a solo trip one day x

    http://emmaboughtwhat.blogspot.co.uk/

    Reply
  3. Aleeha says

    September 30, 2016 at 7:15 pm

    I do want to travel by myself one day, I think it will be a wonderful experience.
    Aleeha xXx
    http://www.halesaaw.com/

    Reply
  4. Eloise says

    September 27, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Sounds lovely! I’d love to be able to one day have the confidence to travel alone. I’m one of those that struggles to go for a coffee solo! xx

    Reply
    • Beth Norton says

      September 29, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      One day you will! It takes time lovely, you’ll know when you’re ready for your own solo adventure x

      Reply
  5. Josie says

    September 26, 2016 at 10:17 am

    Lovely post, it sounds idyllic! I’d love to visit Dublin – Ireland is beautiful and I totally agree, I could melt in the accent!! Glad your trip was such a success and that you’ve found joy in that new experience and can’t wait to read about more adventures to come!

    Josie

    JosieVictoriaa

    Reply
    • Beth Norton says

      September 29, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      Thank you lovely!

      I couldn’t recommend Dublin enough, it’s such a beautiful city 🙂

      Reply
  6. Sarah McMaster says

    September 25, 2016 at 7:20 pm

    I’d love to take the plunge and go solo but I’m too much of a baby to do it 🙂

    http://thosestarsthatshine.blogspot.co.uk/

    Reply
    • Beth Norton says

      September 29, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      All in good time! I never thought I’d be able to do it either. But it’s such a wonderful experience to have 🙂

      Reply
  7. Yana says

    September 25, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    This took me by suprise, I’ve actually just booked a solo trip to Brussels next week and randomly came across your post as a retweet on Twitter. Everything you said, articulated what I’ve been unable to explain to myself. I had questioned why I booked the trip and felt a bit insecure about going. Now I can’t wait! I’m inspired. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Beth Norton says

      September 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm

      Oh that’s amazing! Such a lovely thing to hear.

      I hope you have the most wonderful time in Brussels, I’ve always wanted to visit!

      🙂

      Reply
  8. Kerstin says

    September 25, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    Such an amazing post. I’ve recently started traveling solo too and it’s just so much fun and so relaxing. I think it’s incredibly important to be content on ones one in order to have healthy and fulfilling relationships: YOU GO GIRL!

    Love, Kerstin
    http://www.missgetaway.com/

    Reply
    • Beth Norton says

      September 29, 2016 at 4:08 pm

      Ahh thank you so much Kerstin, you always leave the loveliest comments!

      x

      Reply

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