Finding Fulfillment in Independence
“Protect your energy.”
As I was traveling across a foreign country with a refreshed mindset and the world at my finger tips, an underlying sense of connection began to settle in. There was finally fulfillment behind the independence I had created. This feeling wasn’t a result of the trip I was on or of a single life-changing experience. I knew these events were temporary, but this sense of fulfillment was rooted. I had been working towards this goal and just needed an outside angle by stepping into a new environment that allowed for my growth. I was finally being given a taste of what I could attract on the path I’d set out for myself.
My layover in Singapore highlighted the unbelievable moments only independence could bring me.
On the way back home from Bali, I would spend eight hours in Singapore before departing for the next leg of my flight. These eight hours were mine. I could either play it safe by staying in the airport or taking the train into the city. As soon as I landed in Singapore, I asked for directions to the famous Jewel–the world’s largest indoor waterfall descending from a stunningly designed glass ceiling. By the time I was satisfied with what I had seen, only an hour had gone by.
Did I know how to navigate a train system? Of course not. Did I care? Not at all. Sure I could have gotten lost and missed my flight, but that just would’ve been another adventure. I stored my bags in the airport and set out to see Gardens by the Bay. I started having doubts immediately. I couldn’t figure out why there wasn’t a way for me to print a ticket at the machine when I got to the train station. Turns out, all I had to do was tap my credit card at the revolving gate. I asked someone to circle my stops on a map and I was on my way.
Looking around the train, I saw another girl who looked like she might speak English. After striking up a conversation, I discovered that she was flying to Bali the next day. We bonded over everything I had to offer about my travels around Indonesia and how she had been solo traveling for a while. She asked to join me that night and we ended up at Gardens by the Bay together.
Little did we know that tickets were required to access the observatory deck to see all of the lit up trees towering over the city. The sweetest couple overheard us at the door and offered their tickets since they had gone the night before. We took the elevator up, then found a staircase labeled “rooftop access.” After walking up one more level, we emerged from the stairwell to a 360 view of Singapore. Right as a man offered to take our picture, fireworks started going off behind us. When the fireworks ended, we went back to the ground level. As soon as we walked out the doors, a light show began and the trees flashed and glistened in sync with music coming from a hidden speaker system.
Everything fell into place for us. I wouldn’t have found myself in those moments if I hadn’t been on my own and open to connecting with new people, accepting whatever experiences came to me.
