Confidence & Mindset
Why Age is Not a Barrier to New Adventures
Thursday, October 16, 2025When I booked my first solo trip to India and Bhutan, I nearly talked myself out of it. That little voice in my head wouldn’t shut up, “Are you really doing this? Alone? Isn’t it a bit late for this kind of thing?”
But another voice, the quieter one, said, “What if this is exactly what you need?” and that was the one I listened to.
Fear Comes Along for the Ride
And honestly, that trip changed how I see confidence and age. Because confidence isn’t about being fearless, it’s about doing the thing anyway. Fear comes along for the ride, but it doesn’t get to drive.
One night in Mumbai proved that to me. The restaurant was full: families, couples, groups of friends. I stepped inside, and I thought I would never get a table. I asked anyway! And guess what? They sat me right away. And to add to this, I was treated like a total diva. The next day, I really wanted a glass of wine, so I went to a roof bar with a view of the Mumbai Marina. I asked for a glass of red wine. When I was served, the waiter provided me with the provenance, taste, colour, and some nibbles. I remember laughing to myself. Here I was, alone, and somehow it felt like the best company I could have. Being solo has its perks.
Image: Travelling Alone as a Mature Woman-Embracing Adventure Without Fear
Image: Independent Travel After 50- Finding Freedom and Confidence on the Road
Being Alone Isn’t the Same as Being Lonely
Bhutan was different. Because of the travel rules, I had a guide and a driver with me most of the time, but all my meals were on my own. I remember sitting down in a small Thimphu restaurant with a bowl of rice, quietly eating while the world moved around me. Outside, schoolkids stared, giggling and whispering, the lone foreigner must’ve been quite the sight. I smiled, and they smiled back. It was such a simple, human moment. And I thought, this is what it means to feel confident, not invisible, not trying to blend in, just okay being exactly where you are.
I had the opportunity to walk through Thimphu on my own for a while. This has its own kind of magic. No one to rush me, no one to plan around. I could stop when I wanted, watch people, breathe it in. Every time I travel alone, I’m reminded that being by yourself doesn’t mean you’re lonely; it means you’re paying attention. Whatever you do, a walk in the park, a day trip somewhere, or having dinner by yourself. Just go!
Adventure Doesn’t Have an Age Limit
Here’s what I’ve learned: the more you step outside your comfort zone, the quieter that fear gets. You start to hear another voice instead the one that says, “You’ve got this. You can handle this.” Age doesn’t dull that. It sharpens it.
People love to say adventure is for the young. I don’t buy it. Curiosity doesn’t expire. That trip you’ve been putting off? That class you’ve been meaning to take? The thing that scares you just enough? Do it. There’s no right age, only the right moment, and that moment is now.
It doesn’t matter if, like me, you have to scroll all the way to find your date of birth on an application form. Let’s cheer each other on to live life wide open.
Your Turn
So tell me what’s one adventure you’ve been dreaming about but haven’t yet dared to take? Drop it in the comments.
Image: Travelling Alone as a Mature Woman- never too late for adventure