It Only Takes One Decision: A Powerful Lesson Learned from 3 Years of Wandering Bel
It's hard to believe that three years have passed since Wandering Bel began its journey across the internet, creating a welcoming space for advice, amusing anecdotes, and valuable tips. From the start, I aimed to foster a community of solo travelers, regardless of age, one where we could share our genuine experiences of solo travel.
I struggled to develop a theme or lesson I learned from my third year. I kept thinking about all my travels this past year. Honestly, 2024 was the best year I’ve had in a hell of a long time because finally, life stopped—well, slowed down on life-ing for me. It allowed me to legit travel the world. I could travel because of one decision in the summer of 2023 that led me to be number one on Google for a blog post. It even outranked Trip Advisor by the end of 2024.
Please understand that this post isn't me bragging about my stats, how much I traveled, or how much I explored. It’s not that. Instead, this blog post is another example of how one decision can change your life in a way you never dreamt or thought of.
That Decision
As I was in Vienna, Austria, in 2023, my old job texted me like an ex would, saying they wanted me back. Boy, I was fucking hesitant to say yes. I honestly didn't want to. I knew all the bad habits and then some, but deep down, I knew going back would be better for my soul, from getting paid a higher salary to the adventures I’ll share below. If you asked me the day I left, I’d tell you that leaving was good for my soul.
Fast forward, I could travel like I never had before for my job, from Hawaii—yes, Hawaii—to Germany, and let's throw in Florida, which we can mostly say “ehhh” about, except for the Keys. But these trips allowed me to have time off to explore. During that exploration time, I experienced travel magic that I could only dream about; I was lucky enough to drive through 5 different countries, and this job allowed me to be part of the book that my short story is part of, and that's because I walked away.
Sabbatical Year
I always joke with people at work, saying I took a sabbatical year. Deep down, I never thought I would come back. But during my "sabbatical," I was able to work from home and finally bring my cortisol down since it had risen due to health issues from my family and my work. I participated in a writing group that allowed me—this girl who struggled for years to write—into an award-winning book. A book I helped launch in Munich, Germany, at 2 am my time. That book would be more important than my first-born child—if I ever had kids. And it's all because I chose to leave my job…
Which leads me to wandering around Switzerland.
Interlaken, Switzerland
If you had asked me back in 2023 and parts of 2024 if I would go to Switzerland, I would not believe you since I was working from home. But because I was returned to my old job, I could go to Germany.
On that trip, my original plan was to hang out in Zurich for a few hours and then return to Germany. At least, that was what it was until a co-worker who turned into my dear friend and travel mentor laid down the law and said, "Dude, don't go to Zurich. You need to go to Interlaken and explore. I would not allow you to count Switzerland if all you did was go to Zurich for a few hours."
I was annoyed at his assessment about what counts or doesn't count to claim a country, so I started to investigate it… and yeah, Interlaken looked amazing, so I went. Thanks to his suggestion, I had a fantastic time there, from paragliding to seeing the Swiss Alps, which truly became the highlight of my trip.
In fact, because of that experience, I was able to write a blog post that ended up ranking as the number one link on Google, surpassing TripAdvisor, which is quite an achievement!
One Decision
If I had not chosen to return to my old job, this website would not have grown as huge as it did. But more importantly, I would not have met the people I have in the past 1.5 years, let alone grown in the direction I did.
I belong to many solo traveler/traveling groups, and I see so many people paralyzed by the idea of traveling solo or in general. It breaks my heart because, for me, it's so easy. But I am constantly reminded how hard these choices can be, especially if they affect your mental, physical, and financial health.
As I write this, I realize you will be reading it long after I have made another significant career decision, so I want you to know that it's okay to question things. I encourage you to explore that hesitation so you can make an informed choice.
Traveling the world can be daunting—logistically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. It has the potential to break you apart in ways you never expected. You may discover parts of yourself you didn’t know existed, leading to moments of deep reflection and tears as you question life itself.
However, it will also offer you experiences you never knew you needed. It will provide stories, lessons, and memories that many people only dream of.
This is what I learned three years later, Wandering Bel: one choice can lead you to an adventure you never imagined, regardless of whether it turns out to be good, bad, or indifferent.
If you're feeling nervous about making a decision in your life (like I am currently), my advice is to trust your instincts. Listen to that small voice urging you to take the leap. Even if it ends in spectacular failure, at least you won't have regrets, and you'll have an incredible story to share. I invite you to tell that story here.