Learning To Trust Again in Tulum By Carly Benson

A story of leaning into trust by one of our retreaters, Carly Benson.

I have trust issues from being cheated on and out of a lot of money, lied to and backstabbed. What's funny is I knew this, but I didn't really know this about me. I didn't know how deep it runs or the well of anger it has caused in me.

And then I came to Tulum for the fourth time and the Universe handed me the ultimate lessons in letting go and learning to trust.

As amazing as it is in Tulum, what people don't tell you is that it's not like the states...

You can't flush your toilet paper. The mosquitos are on another level. You can't drink the water or use ice. My room has no A/C. And the most terrifying of all: my room also has NO lock on it. Meaning when I go to sleep I have to trust and have deep faith I will be kept safe and protected.

Don't get me wrong, it's one of the most magical places and I'm not complaining, but rather keeping it real about the amount of surrender that goes into traveling internationally.

While these things all seem like a big trade off, it wasn't until I had no lock on my door, that I realized part of my journey here this time was to relearn how to trust. Myself. Life. Others. God.

And to remember to be OK with walking into the unknown. The uncomfortable. And to not just be ok, but to embrace it all. Even the things that make me feel unsafe or uneasy.

To trust that I'm being guided and to know the universe always has my back. To know that I don't need to have 20 locks on my heart either.

I'm reminded of a quote that goes something like this: The caves we fear to enter, hold the treasures that we seek. I entered the cave of trust this trip.

In learning to trust again, I've also learned a thing or two about forgiveness, which is one of the most priceless treasures I've ever tried to find.

Who knew that having no locks on my door would lead me to such gold. 

Follow more of her insights and adventures on Instagram: @carlybbenson

The Beauty of Traveling Alone by Kori Zornes

My name is Kori, and I am a travel addict-

I constantly crave new adventures, it is my drug of choice.  The first time I got the courage to travel alone (yes I was scared), it forever changed me.  It lit up my soul. I gained freedom and inspiration that will forever make traveling a part of my lifestyle and a part of who I am. 

Here are just a couple reasons why myself and many others of our retreat goers choose to travel as a party of one:

1.  Meet Interesting People

The best way to meet new friends?  Be alone.  People are much more approachable when they are by themselves.  You will be amazed by the number of people you meet while traveling alone.  There are so many wanderlust individuals roaming around the world looking to make new connections, learn about other cultures, and find new friends.  You may be surprised by the interesting people you meet along the way and the life-long connections you make.

2. Be Yourself

Often times we get so caught up with fitting in.  We have to act a certain way at work, in our relationships, and in our society.  When you leave everything behind and venture off on your own, you can be exactly who you are; honest, real, lost, found, happy or sad. There is no judgment when you take this journey.  You are a unique individual who is enough. 

3. Enjoy “Me” Time

How often do you really get alone time to do whatever it is that makes you happy?  Sometimes we forget how nice it is to spend solo quality time to just be with ourselves.  You start to listen to your thoughts, gain new insights, entertain your daydreams- it's all part of that quiet alone time.  Imagine lying on a beach or hiking through nature in blissful silence, soaking in how happy you are to have time with the most important person- YOU.

4. The choice is yours

Sometimes the hardest part about traveling with others is making decisions… where to go, what to do.  Now think about being able to make all of the decisions based solely on what you want.  Maybe you want to enjoy the entire day sipping cocktails at a local bar, or maybe you want to spend the entire day sightseeing.  When you travel alone you get to decide what to do, where to go, and how the adventure plays out… Your story lies within your hands!

5. Feel Empowered

Nothing is better than facing your fears, getting out of your comfort zone, and setting on to a new adventure.  When you travel you learn, you grow, and you get over obstacles- imagine doing it all alone?  It is empowering!  That solo trip may feel daunting at first, but when you get out there and do it, you may realize how much you can take on in life.

“As you travel solo being totally responsible for yourself, it's inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are.”