Do you consider yourself a daring soul?

As I challenged myself more over the years, I discovered my authentic self — the dreamer and the doer.

Have you ever dreamt a dream and wondered if and when it would come true? Or even if it was possible… for you?

I have.
I did.
And it happened for me because I chose to make it happen.

My first international trip.
A very different experience.

As a woman.
In a foreign country.
With no friends or family with me.
Completely SOLO.

To Ireland I go.

I didn’t wait for someone to partner up with me and be my ride or die. I wasn’t about to ask any friends or family to tag along. Solo — that’s what I wanted.

Ireland was the first time I proved to myself I could do this.

I was intentional in my research of Ireland, reading countless articles and blog posts by people who had already experienced it. But more than that, I felt a deep desire to explore on my own — to soak in every moment with no outside noise.

And underneath it all was this quiet, persistent knowing:

I can do this. This was the trip that changed how I trusted myself.

Going Against the Noise.

But let me be honest — on the forefront, I heard all the noise.

“Christine… why not wait until you have a partner to go with you?”
“Did you ask any friends to go? Why not?”
“Why would you go to a foreign country alone?”
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to travel alone?”
“You know trips like that are better when you have someone to share it with.”

I heard it all. But the icing on the cake came when I specifically requested a travel itinerary that included only three people:

Me.
Myself.
And I.

My travel agent said,
“Christine, are you sure about this? You’re a female and a single woman wanting to drive yourself around Ireland. That’s not very safe. How about a 10-day group tour instead? That sounds like the safer route.”

Oh my… safer route?!

That Obligatory Feeling.

Have you ever felt obligated to do or say something or be someone because of what others tell you that you “should do?” Since when do we give away our power and allow others to tell us how to live our lives and how to experience the things we want to experience on our own terms? Friends, I’ll be honest. My response to my travel agent was everything but what he expected to hear. I told him that I love people…because I DO. BUT to travel with a bus full of 60 people for 10 days in a row for excursions that he eluded would be starting at 6am – 6pm A DAY!!!!!

NO. THANK. YOU.

Again, I love people. However, the intent of this trip was to fulfill my desires, choices, and personal experiences all on my own. My decisions. I craved to be on my own time and only my own time. I planned to explore where I wanted to explore and just BE.

Eventually my travel agent gathered this from me and provided me with a 10-day SOLO itinerary where I stayed in a castle upon my arrival and departure from Ireland. By request. Yes. I. Did.

By My Design.

Let’s do this, shall we?

Are you seeing a pattern here?

This entire trip was by my design — the trip that changed me forever.

I was daring. Solo.
The dreamer.
And now, I am the doer.

Did I get lost? Absolutely.
Did I care? Not one bit — I laughed at myself.

Being open to getting lost led me to unknown paths, castle ruins, breathtaking parks, wild sheep, and views forever etched into my memory.

Learning to lean into fear, releasing the what ifs, and doing the damn thing anyway — those moments have always become my most memorable and life-changing experiences.

Courage isn’t something you wake up with one day — it’s built through lived experiences that stretch you beyond what feels comfortable.

My solo trip to Ireland showed me what this actually looks like in real life.

So friend, I ask you:

What dream are you holding onto but not living into?

Go for it.

This adventure reminded me that you don’t have to wait until you feel ready — you grow into confidence by choosing to go anyway.

XO, Christine

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