As a solo traveler, I can always find happiness within myself. I have spent my fair share of time traveling alone and have enjoyed every moment of it. Being able to be comfortable in my own skin, I thought life couldn't get any happier. However, from my two previous trips, I realized that this is not entirely true. Even though the euphoria is present, the happiness feels hollow without someone to share it with.
During my trip in Africa, I had a chance to finish a book, Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer. The book (also a movie) is about a guy named Chris McCandless, who truly believed in living off the land. He burned all the cash in his wallet, went into Alaska with his rifle, a few winter gears, and a bag full of rice to escape from the meaningless dullness of human eloquence and took refuge in nature. Four months later, his decomposing body was found in an abandoned bus along the Stampede Trail in Alaska. At the end of Chris's inspiring and lonely life, one of his last statements to the world was:
“Happiness only real when shared.”
, Passage highlighted in a book found near Chris McCandless's remains
McCandless had happily escaped humanity his whole life, only to find that happiness itself can only be amplified when shared. As a solo traveler, this statement hit me right in the heart. We decided to travel alone to escape from the excessive nonsense that is our modern society, and yet, we still can't escape the fact that human intimacy is an integral part of a meaningful life.
As a solo traveler, the thought of being dependent on someone else, sacrificing your goals to make everyone happy, and being disappointed by the lack of commitment from the other parties, is extremely scary. We want to go our own way, at our own speed, do whatever we want, whenever we want, and however we want. That's the beauty of traveling alone, and if "true happiness" requires us to drop all these perks, then... is it really "true happiness"?
Does Chris's statement hold any truth in it?
I believe it is, and here's why. Even though I despise all the things mentioned earlier, I realized that you don't actually have to go through all those things to share happiness with someone.
When I was traveling alone in Australia and Africa, I met many awesome people and we tagged along together, nurturing our short friendships and seeing where they took us. For example, in Zambia, I went out with a couple of guys, played beer pong, went on a booze cruise, and did some crazy stuff as if we were friends for years. These are the kind of memories that you will recall and think, "Wow, I had a great life", not the times when you spent sitting around at a hostel all day.
The thing is, when you have a shared happy experience with someone, no matter if it's with your loved ones or a complete stranger who shares similar goals as you, your happiness will always be amplified.
A research conducted by Benedetto Sacchetti of the National Institute of Neuroscience in Turin, Italy, shows that the part of our brain that's in charge of senses also plays a role in storing emotionally charged memories. We tie all the senses we experience, such as sounds, smells, and sights, together to evoke emotionally charged memories. The experience that strikes us as unique (shock) will always triumph over the experience we have already grown accustomed to. A location can only be as unique as your previous ones; it's the people around you at that moment that throw you out of your game and make the difference.
So don't get too scared about sharing your happiness with someone. On your next trip, try opening up to people you meet. Talk about your life, listen to their life stories, tag along, enjoy each other's company, share happy moments, and see how far it will take you. I can't guarantee that you both will become best friends (who knows?), but I'm sure as hell you will experience happiness at a level you can't experience without a great companion.
Further Reading for Inspiration
Looking for more articles to help inspire you to travel more? Here is a collection of articles you might like:
- Hiking to the Everest Base Camp is one of the most memorable epic moments of my life. Here's a long-read piece about my experiences hiking the Everest Base Camp: On My Way To Everest Base Camp.
- Ever wondered what it's like to travel the world on a third-world passport? Check out: Traveling The World On A Third World Passport.
- Here's why I always celebrate turning a year older with a hike: Climbing Kilimanjaro On My 33rd Birthday.
- Are you currently planning a trip around the world and looking for cheap countries to visit? Here are the 13 Cheapest Countries To Visit in the World.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for the most beautiful travel blogs to follow? Here are the 24 Most Beautiful Travel Blogs to Follow.
- For adventurers and backpackers out there, here are the 10 Best Adventure and Backpacking Blogs You Should Follow.
- I truly believe we need more Asian representatives in the English-speaking travel blogging industry, especially for blogs about Asia. Here are the Top 10 Kick-Ass Asian Travel Bloggers To Follow.
- Did you know that you can travel without leaving your couch? Here are the 8 Great Travel Books You Should Read.
- For the best travel videos to inspire you to travel even further, here are the 20 Most Creative Travel Videos of All Time.
- If you are looking for travel vloggers to follow on YouTube that aren't cringeworthy, check out: 10 Best Travel Vloggers to Follow On YouTube.
- The best way to improve your photography skills is to learn from the best. Here are the 10 Best Photography YouTube Channels to Follow.
- A photo is worth a thousand words. Here are the 25 Most Beautiful Travel Photos I Ever Took From Around The World.
- Ever wondered what it is like to be a travel blogger during COVID-19? Check out: Being A Travel Blogger During COVID-19 - What Is It Like?
- Looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit this year? Check out: 8 Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination to Visit.
- Can't travel internationally for the time being? How about traveling in your own country? Here are the 7 Reasons Why You Should Travel in Your Own Country.
- To find the most inspirational travel quotes and captions to go with your photos on your Instagram, check out 34 Short and Unique Traveller Quotes for Instagram.
- We often hear bad stories about locals from travelers, but what about the other way around? Here are some of the Notorious Stories Of Terrible Backpackers.
- If you lost your bag while you were traveling, here is how to deal with the situation: My Bag Was Stolen In Germany.
- Have you ever felt that you do not belong in a place you were born in? Read this: Where Is Home? - My Quest In Search Of Where I Belong.
- People often preach about how important it is to live in the moment, but sometimes, that may not be such a good idea. Here is The Problem With Living In The Moment.
- Want to embark on your first solo trip but not sure where to go? As a long-time solo traveler, here are my favorite places based on real experiences: 10 Incredible Travel Destinations for Solo Travelers.
- Solo traveling is not for everyone, and even though I love it to death, it is not always flowers and sunshine for solo travelers. Here are the 10 Things I Hate Most When Traveling Solo.
- Travel friends come and go, but that may not be such a bad thing. Here is why you should embrace your travel friends: A Life Of Brief Encounters.
- Hiking is life. Here's why: One Year Of Incredible Discomfort - 10 Things I've Learned From Climbing Mountains.
- Here's why having no plan is the best plan: Magical Things Happen When You Have Nothing To Do - The Art Of Doing Nothing.
- Is life getting you down? Here's why you can't always blame life for everything: Life Doesn't Suck. We Just Suck At Living It.
- Want to know why I chose to travel alone? Read this: We Travel Alone, NOT To Be Alone.
- Traveling is no longer for the rich. Here is why: "People Think I'm Rich".
- The Himalayan Mountain is one hell of a teacher. Here are the 7 Life Lessons The Himalayas Taught Me.
- Want to travel alone but scared that you might get bored out of your mind? Here is How to Enjoy Yourself and Have Fun While Traveling Alone.
- Want to start traveling solo as well? Here is What It's Like to Travel Alone.
- Here is a simple story on how I started traveling: F*ck It, I'll Do This Alone.
- For more inspiring articles like this, visit my Inspiration page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
6 Comments
I respect your article, but I don't think you addressed the quote's meaning. You keep talking about amplifying happiness by sharing it with others. But Chris's quote is, "Happiness is only real when shared". He's implying that true happiness only comes from sharing it. He was so focused on losing himself, and finding that inner happiness. It wasn't until those final moments that he realized that happiness is more than just being "happy" with yourself. I completely agree with his quote. The only truly "real" way of being happy is by the act of sharing it, otherwise is just stays an intention. And well, we know intentions are the paved road to hell.
Awesome post here man! I watched "Into The Wild" which was a movie based on Chris McCandless' life. I really truly agree "Happiness is only real when shared.". That was a very emotional part for the movie. Something that Chris realized seconds before his death.
Thanks for sharing!
P.S.
Forgot to mention. I referenced your content on my blog post.
I know my readers would enjoy the value as much as I have.
You can see it here:
http://www.petezafra.com/15-surefire-ways-to-become-a.../
Hello!
I stumbled upon this post by happenstance. I'm currently solo traveling Europe and like you, have recently been enjoying every second of it. I am a pretty independent and introverted person and like to tell myself that I don't need others to feel fulfilled. However, a couple days ago I was watching Into The Wild and in the ending scene on his deathbed he scribbles that quote and it hit me right in the gut. It made me question all my happiness I've had while travelling solo. Sure, it's euphoric and amazing, but does it mean anything if I don't share it with anyone?
That quote really threw me for a spin. For the first time in three months, I've been lonely. I'm currently in Vienna and everytime I see something beautiful all I can think about is wanting someone to share it with. I googled the quote, "Happiness is only real when shared" hoping that I could find something to disprove it and to validate my desire for solo travel. Instead, I found your post, which was highly relevant but not what I wanted to hear as I cope with loneliness.
Do you think solo travelling still has its benefits? I really, truly am an introverted person and meeting strangers exhausts me. Would you still recommend solo travel to others?
Sincerely,
A worried traveller
I probably won't check this post again so if you feel inspired to reply, midori.patterson@colorado.edu is a good place to reach me. :)
Wow I see your post 8 years later,I wonder if you found your happiness?