Why Life Sometimes Needs a Brave Detour

You know how sometimes life nudges you in a certain direction.

2025 smacked me sideways. Repeatedly.

Two major losses, illness and a break up all in quick succession.

I held it together with sticky tape and glue, but knew if I didn't invest in myself and have a proper break, it wouldn't be pretty for those around me.

So I decided to travel solo.

For someone who has spent her whole life travelling - sometimes off the beaten track, sometimes with friends or sometimes alone - I was surprised at how apprehensive I felt travelling solo as a 50-something.

Where would I go? How would I meet people? Where would I stay? What type of budget would I need? Would I be lonely?

So of course, I chose Fiji.

Fiji - not the usual solo destination. But how could I say no to this?

Beautiful, relaxing...and full of loved-up couples.

Not the usual solo destination, granted. And not the usual type of travel I go for. But after the year I had, the need for ease and having everything done for me, was a clear winner.

So I went all in and stayed mostly in two resorts: Mana Island and Navini.

Initially my days were filled with lounging by the water, eating, napping, reading, eating some more.

And slowly my cup started to refill.

From Top: Relaxing on Mana Island, Beautiful, fresh lunch on Navini Island, and a cold beer!

I overcame my nerves about dining alone, surrounded by couples and families. Although I saw one other solo person and had to stop myself from sitting with them!

I had to force myself to put away my phone, and I read at the table or simply stared into space (not having a distraction was much harder than I thought it would be). In the early days, most my conversations were limited to "are you using those chairs, or can we take them?" That hammered home how solo I was!

But when you stretch yourself out of your comfort zone, the magic happens.

I found my groove in Navini, a smaller, quieter island. The staff knew I was travelling solo and were adept and subtle at introducing me to other people. They had a large communal table, where I shared meals with a family spanning four generations. We ended up doing a few activities together as well.

And that's where I discovered a lovely balance. A mixture of replenishing solitude, meals and activities with newly found friends from all over the world.

For me, this was a brave detour.

It wasn't travelling in remote countries brave or trekking mountains brave. And no one calls lounging on a beach with a beer and snacks 'brave'.

It was brave to travel solo, when it would have been easier to stay at home surrounded by friends.

It was brave to put me first. That really doesn't come naturally.

It was brave to do absolutely nothing for a few days, without feeling I needed to be doing something useful.

And let's face it, it was brave of me to snorkel with a shark, because I could have easily been mistaken for a seal given the year I'd had.

"Solo travel in your 50s isn’t about proving anything.

It’s about giving yourself space to breathe again."

Solo travel in your 50s just feels different. You’re not trying to prove anything to anyone.

You’re simply giving yourself space to breathe again. To rest. To remember who you are outside the noise of everyday life.

Wailoaloa Beach, Fiji

And sometimes that small act of booking the trip, getting on the plane, sitting at a table alone for dinner - becomes the bravest detour of all.

I didn’t come back a different person.

But I came back with a bit more space in my head. And right now, that’s enough.