The moment life on shore felt overwhelming, demanding, and utterly exhausting, I knew I needed to find a space for solitude. That search for quiet led me to the vast expanse of the ocean—the ultimate place for finding peace in the deep blue sea.
In 2008, I booked a cruise to Lakshadweep with SIMAS Travels. I went as a solo traveler, one among sixty strangers on board. Within the first few hours, surrounded by the deep blue, I knew I’d made the right decision.
By the end of the cruise, a group of women I’d met smiled and said, “You’re enjoying yourself so much! Next time, we’ll travel solo too. Otherwise, even on a ship, we’re running around managing family chores.” Their words captured a universal truth: the struggle to find space, even when physically stepping away.
For me, this journey was far more than just a vacation. It was a much-needed breather.
Trading the Cubicle for the Cabin
Back home, I was entangled in a draining job at a private firm. My manager micromanaged me to the point of exhaustion. The tension was so thick it followed me everywhere—from the office corridors right into my pillow at night. I had even moved homes to be closer to the workplace, cutting down my commute so I could give more hours to the job… or at least appear to. The pressure was suffocating.
But the ocean was entirely different.
With endless stretches of blue water all around and the steady rhythm of the ship, I felt something I hadn’t in months: calmness. The waves didn’t rush; they moved with grace. The sky wasn’t anxious; it simply stretched. It was a magnificent, tangible contrast to the frantic pace I had internalized on land.
Finding the Anchor
Each day on the ship helped loosen the tight knots in my mind. There were no urgent emails, no deadlines, and no one watching over my shoulder. There was only the vast horizon, forcing a much-needed shift in perspective. I had arrived restless, but as the cruise drew to a close, I sailed back with a quiet, steady strength.
That trip didn’t solve all my problems—the job was still waiting—but it gave me the clarity and perspective I needed. It was enough to return and deal with the mess, one piece at a time. Soon after, armed with a renewed sense of self, things began to shift. I found the courage and eventually, a resolution that changed my career path.
Sometimes, to sail smoothly through life, you first have to step away from the shore.
Reflection: The Inner Rhythm
Like the ocean, we need space to breathe, to move at our own pace, and to rediscover our inner rhythm. A solo journey, a weekend getaway, or even a deliberate walk without your phone may not solve your big problems, but it can anchor you just enough to face the storm again—with strength, grace, and a renewed sense of purpose.
What’s your anchor? Have you ever taken a solo trip that changed your perspective on a big life problem?
32 Responses
True…I feelnitbis a common scene in almost everyone’s life. If they are working professionals or being housewife, stress abd being overly involved in work becomes suffocating.
Some find solace in reading, yoga, trekking and other such escape routes. But I feel you eventually have to get back to the main problem i.e. how much work should you take in, what are your priorities…this needs to be clear.
I decided I do not need more money or promotions and to be contented with work enough to complete it within office hours abd devote remaining hours to walking, reading abd spend quality time with family.
Being clear and content I feel brings peace calmness in one’s life
Oh yes! Totally agree!!
To sort out those thoughts the cruise was good for me. I had just begun my career with barely two years in the field. I was still finding my bearings.
Very true…Well found anchor….must for each of us
Oh yeah…! Much required for everyone!
Thanks for reading Anjali. 😃
Peace!
Internally felt with external help.
Very well written and expressed.
Grateful for your kind words! You’re right—peace is an inner state, but it’s often awakened by the world around us. Thanks for reading! 🙂
So relatable. Especially the micromanagement thing. At times, a physical transition does the trick and allows one to reflect. Yours was indeed a beautiful one!
A mid-career break proved to be the anchor in my case. Away from the professional chaos and commitments. One that gave me a chance to pause, realize and become self-aware about my true wants!
Thank you for sharing that! I know just what you mean. It’s amazing how stepping away helps us rediscover parts of ourselves we’d forgotten. Your mid-career break sounds like it came at the perfect time. Glad you found your anchor too! 🙂
Yet one more inspiring post. Very true. We do need to step aside and look at our own lives rather than being in the mess and trying to figure it out there….nicely written and correct guidance for those who are in the same boat or cruise!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you resonated with the message. Sometimes, taking a step back and reflecting on our own journey can be the best way forward. Wishing you a peaceful and introspective path ahead! 😊
I usually take one annual solo trip. Not to run away from problems, or to find solutions, but to find a piece of myself which tends to get lost in the hustle of life.
Very relatable and well written
Beautifully said! Solo trips can be so therapeutic, allowing us to reconnect with ourselves and find that lost piece. Glad you found the post relatable! 😊
Reading your blog felt like sailing through calm waters after a long, restless storm. The way you weave emotions into words is magical — gentle, deep, and profoundly real. You’ve not just written about finding peace; you’ve made the reader feel it.
Your kind words are like a warm hug 🤗🐻❤️. I’m grateful you found peace in my words. Writing from the heart is what I love doing, and it’s beautiful to know it’s touching readers like you 🌟.
Beautifully articulated… solitude and solo travel is a much needed reminder that you are not missing out on yourself.
Exactly! 🙌 Sometimes, stepping away from the noise is the best way to hear our own voice. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 😃
Wonderfully expressed. And so truly written. Can exactly understand as have witnessed the power of oceans for quite sometime now.
Took me to my sailing days
Keep writing and sharing 🙏
Thank you so much! 😊
I’m glad the words resonated with you. The ocean’s power is indeed awe-inspiring, and it’s beautiful you have those sailing memories. Wishing you calm seas and happy sailing through life. 😄
Brilliantly written, could feel the calmness of the blue ocean to the stress at the workplace. It’s true, sometimes you just need that space to connect with your inner self.
Thank you! 🌟
I’m glad you felt the calmness wash over you. Workplace stress can be overwhelming, and it’s beautiful you recognized the importance of taking that space for self-connection. Wishing you serenity and balance.
Beautiful.. after reading your blog i too feel i should do a solo trip atleast once to experience.. thanks for sharing Sneha
Aww, thank you l 😊 I’m thrilled my blog could inspire you to take the leap. Solo travel can be life-changing, and I’m wishing you an amazing journey ahead! 🌍💕 Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any tips or recommendations.
Captured & expresssed the state of mind, emotions in the perfect words along with valuable gist at the end.
Thank you so much! 🙏
I’m glad the words resonated with you and provided a sense of connection. Wishing you peace and clarity always.😀
Your article was so nice. It reflects everyday life of almost everyone. It’s actually imp to take time out and rediscover our inner selves and find that much needed peace. Today’s world has made people turn into machines. I think I should also take a break
Thank you so much! 🙏 I’m glad the article resonated with you. It’s indeed essential to pause, reflect, and recharge. Wishing you a peaceful break and a chance to reconnect with your inner self. 😃You deserve it!
positive self-talk is so great and negative self-talk so harmful, why do so many of us engage in negative self-talk?
What’s the source of this devastating voice ?
Some people have called it the “inner critic, and it’s that internal voice which criticizes, demeans, belittles or judges us, often with little respect for what is actually true. This voice shapes our identity, sense of worth and our belief in what’s possible. You’ll know the inner critic is speaking when its weapon of choice against you seems to be shame, guilt or fear.
It can be enlightening to think about where and why we first acquired this inner narrative voice. It’s certainly not a choice. Your life experiences, the way you’ve been parented, social expectations, cultural norms and all the details of your unique context may set up this voice inside you.
The inner critic itself has been theorized to come from the internalized voices of others who at some point really did criticize or undermine you. If you are frequently told you’re useless, it’s no surprise that you would soon come to tell yourself the same thing, long after the words were first uttered. If you grow up in a culture of family environment that stresses competition, a scarcity mindset, or shame, then you may live as though this is a normal way to think and feel.
You’ve captured it beautifully — that inner critic is shaped by years of conditioning and voices we unknowingly internalize. My story was about stepping away from all that noise — the pressure, expectations, and guilt — and finding a quieter, kinder voice within. Sometimes, solitude gives us the space to listen to ourselves again. 🌊
Can’t agree more. Everybody needs a breather and an anchor. My anchor was treks and rock climbing. Since i had them in a regular basis my job did not feel that stressful. I guess that was problem work-life balance.
That sounds amazing! Finding that perfect balance is key, and it sounds like you nailed it! Your passion for adventure definitely helped you unwind and stay grounded. Happy for you!! 🤩
That sounds amazing! Finding that perfect balance is key, and it sounds like you nailed it! Your passion for adventure definitely helped you unwind and stay grounded. Happy for you!! 🤩