YOLO- You only live once. #AtoZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z

Posted in Aks Corner, family, Friendship, gratitude, Love & Relationships, Self Love, sisterhood, The Couple, Travel stories

I was browsing the net listlessly, my mind was thinking about Suraj and our incomplete trip to Europe. Now that things were settled with Nysa, Arjun and the baby, we had decided to take 2 week long trip to Europe covering a few countries. It had been a long time we had travelled together- just the 2 of us.

Suraj was almost on the verge of reserving the flight tickets. The hotel stay, Euro rail pass, tickets to the Eiffel Tower etc- all the information was kept handy. We had not frozen the dates and thats why he hadn’t booked the tickets yet. I had a well planned itinerary ready- at the click of a button.

Sheena, Rashmi and Megha who stood by me like pillars suggested we take the trip. Sheena’s in laws were going to their hometown Rajasthan for a month and she was free. Megha could join us for 2-3 days- being an Airhostess she would request to be put on the routes we were travelling – so we could be together in one country for 2 nights. Rashmi would make it only to France and then had to return due to her busy schedule.

But I was in mourning. Should I be letting my hair down when my spouse has breathed his last just a month ago? I thought of Suraj and I knew mourning was the last thing he would want me to do. In fact if I was the first one to go, I would want him to live his life to the fullest and make each day memorable, without me.

The tickets were booked and the trip began. I was feeling cheerful again. Getting ready for the trip, packing, shopping, making sure everything is taken care of, the euphoria that usually surrounds a trip helped in lifting my spirits.

The snow capped mountains, the serene lakes, the beauty of watching the lights glimmer as we stood atop the Eiffel Tower, eating pizzas, crepes and drinking wine at the quaint cafes, the night at the pub with ear blasting music as we had tequila shots and danced like teenagers, the historical monuments and museums, soaking in the local culture and sipping coffee and tasting the local delicacies in a small eatery – each experience was worthwhile. The last 2 days in Lugano were particularly memorable as I was all alone.

Megha joined us in Rome and Rashmi in Paris. Sheena had to return 2 days earlier as she had to go to her hometown for a wedding. I had to cover one more city and decided I will not strike it off my itinerary.

A part of me was nervous as I hadn’t travelled alone before but a tiny voice in my head told me ” You live but once, make each moment count. Step out of your comfort zone, take risks, it may or may not work out but its worth trying. If you succeed you will have a wonderful memory else its a lesson learnt”. Solo travel was a wonderful experience with a few lessons learnt.

I still remember that first meal I ate alone, I gobbled up my cheese burger, while my eyes were firmly glued to my phone. I wanted to appear busy, I wondered what people may think, are they laughing at me? The next time when I ate alone I darted a quick glance and saw everyone was busy in their own world to care much about a single woman traveller. I ate a bit slowly and took sometime to relish my pasta. It got better with each time and by the time I was eating at airport cafe, I took a good 45 minutes to finish my meal.

Solo travel teaches you much more than you can fathom, above all it teaches you to shed inhibitions and be comfortable with the one who matters the most “you”.

Linking up with #BlogchatterA2Z

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My theme for the challenge is

“A slice of life through Myra’s eyes” – a fictional tale of growing up and learning some vital lessons about self love, feminism, sisterhood, a working woman and the essence of being a woman in urban India.  

(Image source- author’s own)

Published by Akshata Ram

Chartered Accountant, Story Teller, Dreamer, Voracious Reader, Blogger, Mommy to a little munchkin, Shopaholic, Day Dreamer.Passionate about my career in the corporate world and aspire to break the glass ceiling, at the same time nurture my passion for writing. My niche area is short stories, I also write on parenting, sexism, life's experiences, micro blogs and flash fiction. I have won the best Parenting blog post at mycity4kids.com the largest parenting website in India, 4 times and several of my posts have been published in the #MostPopular category on this site garnering millions of views. I also write on Bonobology, Rivo Kids, Women's Web and Youth Ki Awaaz. My blog has been chosen as the Top Indian Blogs for the years 2018-2019,2020 by TopIndianBlogs website and found a place in the prestigious Top 22 Indian Literary Blogs in 2020 @TopIndianBlogs.

35 thoughts on “YOLO- You only live once. #AtoZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z”

  1. Beautiful. Life shouldn’t stop just because you have lost someone dear. Life goes on, so should you. I am glad Myra never loses her mojo inspite of Suraj’s death. Loved the way you have described Europe and the fact that Myra travels with her girlfriends. It has always been my dream to visit these countries with my dear friends.

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  2. yes life goes on whether we like it or not. it’s best to live in the present and on ones own terms rather than let society dictate it to us or the niggling voice in our head that stops us. Listen to your heart and live it up _- only ONE life to do so and it’s YOUR life.

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  3. How much I love ‘you live only once’. We should make the most of it. It’s great she finally went on the trip. And Europe is a beautiful place to visit.
    Have never done a solo trip. But I have eaten alone at a restaurant, watched movie alone in my college days, just for the experience. It’s not so bad.

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    1. I totally love the solo experience. I was in Switzerland for 3 months on a business trip and how I loved traveling alone. I rebelled in it. I have even watched movies alone it feels a bit odd in India but rather watch a movie alone than sit holed up doing nothing

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  4. Yes … path breaking adventure once again.
    I know someone in the family who had to take this trip with her teenage daughter. Not because she wanted to rejoice at lost life but to embrace life as it moves on.
    Cheers to life.
    ~Romil

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  7. I agree solo travel teaches you a lot.
    Honestly your story is becoming so beautiful as it is coming to an end. Maybe you should continue the story. I am loving the wisdom of old Myra. She is matured and in control of her life. To me this is the beginning of a new story.

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  8. Solo travel is a bliss. Hope I will do that soon. It really needs to step out of our comfort zones. Happy that Myra didn’t think about whats and whys of society and got ahead with life.

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  13. Lovely story. Indeed, there is only one life, and one needs to live it to the fullest.

    And yeah, a solo trip teaches you to be independent 🙂

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  14. For life to be alive, one must go on. Myra will have hear full of gratitude for undertaking this solo journey. She must have discovered her true self all over again and in the new light, a twilight!

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