I wish there were more courageous women

I would like to tell you a little story today. I was sitting comfortably having breakfast in a hotel in Austria. A petite, brown-haired waitress approached me and asked me in a Spanish accent if I was here alone. I said yes and replied that I was here to ski. Her eyes suddenly became very big and bright. She told me how courageous I was to just do what I wanted to do and that she would like to be able to do the same. Then she told me her story.

She is originally from Spain and married a man here in Austria. After 13 years of marriage, she suddenly got divorced. With several children, abroad, without speaking German well, it was a real shock. Now she has been living alone for four years and is learning to live her life all over again. For the generation of women before her, it would have been unthinkable to marry a man from another country, let alone to live an independent life without a husband as a woman alone abroad. Since the separation, she has begun to build a life of her own. She told me that her goal is not only to be able to spend time alone, but also to really enjoy that time. She is also very motivated to learn to speak German really well.

Their story touched me deeply, and I would like to share it here because I repeatedly observe how many women hold back and wait for others to help them realize the things they would like to do. It's as if they want some kind of permission or invitation that often never comes. For me, being brave doesn't mean doing something that others wouldn't dare to do, but acting despite my fear because it's what I want to do. Comparing yourself to others can be inspiring, but it can also be demotivating. I told her that the more afraid she is, the more courageous she can be.

I'm sitting here alone at the table, simply looking forward to my day in the mountains. I'm looking forward to nature, the peaks, the snow, and of course gliding down the slopes. Many years ago, I stopped letting myself become dependent on others. It started with a hike that I ended up doing on my own after my planned companion kept dithering, and has since turned into days and even months of exploring alone – most recently to New Zealand and Australia.

Breaking free rarely happens overnight; it is a lengthy process in which you have to overcome small obstacles again and again. You keep pushing your own boundaries, so to speak, but only as far as you can handle without panicking. For anyone interested in personal development: outside your comfort zone, but not yet in the panic zone. Growth happens in between. What most people are afraid of is “being alone.” Many confuse this with loneliness. I think there is often a feeling behind it of feeling insecure without other people around and not really knowing what to do with yourself when you are alone. If I go to a café alone, what do I do? Where do I look? Will people look at me strangely? It's all in your head and just unfamiliar. Growth only happens when you stop overestimating your fears and consciously decide what you want. And the best thing about it is that when you learn to enjoy spending time with yourself, you are also much better company for others, because they no longer have to compensate for anything. When traveling, you're usually less alone than you might think. I always have the most wonderful encounters and conversations when I'm traveling alone—like right now.

I simply wish that many more women would follow their inner impulses and do what they want to do - regardless of the wishes or time constraints of others. This applies not only to vacations and leisure time, but to life in general, including one's career. Those who know themselves well and know that they can get along just fine on their own are much more confident in following their own path, setting boundaries, and standing up for themselves. This brings many good things with it.

Or, in the words of my encounter, when she joyfully threw her arms up in the air at the end and shouted, “Girl power!” :-)

Who knows, maybe I'll meet her again someday and she'll tell me everything she's accomplished since then. I have no doubt that she will go her own way. Achieving your own goals gives you an incredible amount of strength and energy, and I wish that for everyone.

Best regards,

Katharina