Travel.

As I trekked through the ancient rainforests of Taman Negara in Malaysia, I was struck by the incredible biodiversity surrounding me. Towering trees draped in vines created a dense canopy overhead, while the forest floor teemed with life - colorful fungi, scampering mammals, and a kaleidoscope of butterflies. This was one of the oldest rainforests in the world, dating back over 130 million years.

As I wandered through the bustling night market in Kuala Lumpur, I was immediately enveloped by a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and smells. Vendors hawked sizzling satay skewers, woks crackling with fragrant char koay teow, and colorful stalls overflowing with fresh tropical fruits. The air was thick with the tantalizing aroma of spices and charcoal smoke.

I arrived in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan feeling like a hollowed-out shell of my former self. Just weeks before, my world had been shattered by heartbreak - a relationship I thought would last forever ending without warning. I was emotionally battered, my sense of self-worth in tatters. In desperation, I booked a solo trip to this remote Himalayan nation, longing to get away and find space for healing.

Looking back on my journey as a solo traveler, it's amazing to realize just how much I've grown and how profoundly my perspective has shifted. The person I am today is almost unrecognizable from the wide-eyed, apprehensive woman who first stepped off that plane with a one-way ticket and a headful of doubts.