Turning 19 Alone on a Mountain
I spent my 19th birthday hiking up Kondeshwar, thinking the view would make me feel older, or at least different. Instead, I reached the top and realized I was still me—sweaty, out of breath, phone at 5%, pretending the silence was peace and not just loneliness.
No big epiphany. Just me, a half-eaten protein bar, and the stubborn feeling that maybe growing up isn’t about chasing new places, but learning to sit with yourself, even when the view is good.
I never posted the photo. It felt too honest for Instagram, too unfinished for a story. But I remember the sky was clear, and for a minute, that was enough.
#Travel #SoloTravelTruth #BirthdayAlone
