“I want to take my first solo trip, but I'm scared something will happen. How do I stop talking myself out of it?”

You do not stop being scared. You get organized, and the fear gets smaller because it has less to hold on to.

Pick somewhere easy first — a direct flight, a walkable city, a hotel with a real front desk. Land in daylight. Book the first night's ride before you leave. Send your itinerary to two people. Keep a copy of your passport in your bag and in your email. That is the whole security plan, and it takes an afternoon.

Then go. The first dinner alone feels loud. The second one feels like freedom. Most women come back saying the same thing: nobody was watching me, and I liked my own company more than I expected.