It's The Bad Days That Make Us Interesting

Why the "bad days" are the best teachers with the most interesting lesson plans we should share with others

Stressed girl sharing story created by me using DALLE3.

Have you ever had a spectacularly bad day? Or even a remotely unpleasant day where, despite all your best-laid plans, things just don’t go your way?

We’ve all been there. Maybe it was the time your flight got delayed, or when your hotel booking got mysteriously canceled. These moments can be frustrating, but what if these were the stories we shared instead of keeping them to ourselves? Sometimes we want to keep the things we perceive as failures to ourselves and not share them. Not have that vulnerability, but instead, these are the moments we should share. They’re the moments that make us interesting and human.

Let me share a couple of my own travel mishaps.

Recently, I was listening to AJR and rediscovered the song "100 Bad Days." The lyrics spoke to me:

When all is going wrong and you're scared as hell
What you gonna do? Who you gonna tell?
Maybe a hundred bad days made a hundred good stories
A hundred good stories make me interesting at parties

What if that was true? What if each of those ‘bad days’ could be turned into a good story and then we shared those stories?

I’ve found in my travels, even my most successful trips have moments of trepidation and unfortunate incidents. But these are the lessons that helped me grow as a traveler. And when I share these more cautionary tales, it definitely makes me more interesting.

For instance, when my friend and I went to see Taylor Swift in Toronto, we decided to save some money by staying at an Airbnb not far away but definitely not near the venue. Joke's on us. The night of the concert, we spent at least 45 minutes in an Uber, stuck in gridlocked traffic, inching forward ever so slowly back to the suburbs from the venue. Any money we saved staying out there was lost to that crazy expensive Uber ride. We vowed never again! Next time, we would just stay within walking distance.

Another time, I went to Canada to see my all-time favorite band, Bastille. Funds were tight, so I reserved a room now and planned to pay at the hotel. I had the money necessary to pay for the room in my savings account, safe and sound. But when I arrived at the hotel, I was informed my room had been canceled for “non-payment,” which didn’t make sense because I was supposed to pay upon arrival. 😅 Thankfully, after speaking with a manager, I was able to book another room at the same rate.

These 'bad days' became defining moments in my travel adventures. They made me resourceful, resilient, and, yes, more interesting at parties. But more importantly, they helped me grow as a person. I learned to laugh at my mistakes, to embrace the unexpected, and to see every setback as a setup for a great story.

As a travel advisor, I often meet women who are hesitant to travel solo because they're afraid of these 'bad days.' They worry about making mistakes, missing something, or it not being perfect. But I always tell them that these moments are inevitable, and they are also the most valuable. Every misstep is an opportunity to learn and grow. It's about shifting our perspective from fearing failure to embracing it as a crucial part of the journey.

In fact, the most rewarding part of my job is helping solo female travelers overcome their fears and embrace the unknown. I've seen women transform through their travels, gaining confidence and a sense of independence they never thought possible. They return with stories much like my own, of overcoming and having a great time.

So, the next time you're planning a trip and you feel that familiar pang of anxiety, remember this: your potential bad days are just as important as your good days. They are the teachers that help you grow, the stories that make you interesting, and the experiences that shape who you are. Share them, embrace them, and let them guide you on your journey.

In the words of AJR, "A hundred bad days made a hundred good stories. A hundred good stories make me interesting at parties." Let's celebrate our bad days, not just for the stories they give us, but for the lessons they teach and the growth they inspire.

Travel isn't just about the destinations; it's about the journey, with all its ups and downs. So, here's to the bad days – may they continue to make us wiser, stronger, and more interesting.

Are you ready to embrace the ups and downs of your travel adventures?

As a travel advisor specializing in solo female travel, I'm here to help you turn those 'bad days' into stories worth telling. Let’s make every day, good or bad, a part of your unforgettable travel story. Share your own stories with me – I’d love to hear about your travel adventures, mishaps, and all!

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I created a really nice toolkit to help you reflect on your past travels and turn those less than stellar travel mishaps into shareable memories.

Check it out here Travel Mishaps To Memorable Stories Toolkit