If self-care is important, then solo trips have to be the ultimate form of self-care. Because if dating yourself is cool, you have to be REALLY cool to take yourself out of town.

I won’t lie and act like I wasn’t nervous. I won’t lie and act like I didn’t get lonely for a split second, or like I didn’t get scared. I’ve seen every episode of SVU… of course I was skeptical.

I stayed on the Lower East Side and tried to explore as much of Manhattan as I could. I didn’t make it to Brooklyn the way I wanted to. I didn’t do all the touristy things on my list. I didn’t make it to the play or poetry night.

There’s actually a LOT I didn’t do.

But New York is huge, my list was long, and honestly… I wasn’t there to check boxes.

I got to know the train. I had to go hang with Carrie in the West Village. I caught some fashion in SoHo, was a full tourist in Times Square, had my little main-character moment at the Louis Vuitton Café, supported minority-owned businesses in Harlem, ate at Brooklyn Chop House, and made it to the Brooklyn Bridge.

But some of my favorite moments happened when I wasn’t doing anything at all.

I spent time in my hotel. I read my book. I did my skincare. I wrote. I took a bath.

I slowed down.

And that was just as important as seeing the city.

New York is a city for dreamers, and I’ve accepted that dreaming big is a part of who I am.

Somewhere between walking the city, sitting at restaurants by myself, getting dressed up just because I felt like it, figuring things out as I went, and simply being with myself, I realized something:

I’m a D. Girl wherever I go. ✨

I didn’t do everything on my list, and honestly? I didn’t have to.

I wasn’t on a strict itinerary. I wasn’t rushing. I wasn’t on anyone else’s time. I was simply experiencing life at my own pace—and genuinely enjoying my own company.

This trip taught me that I’m capable of more than I give myself credit for. It taught me that being alone and being lonely are two completely different things.

And most importantly, it made me curious about myself.

I learned so much about who I am, and I’m eager to learn even more.

Here’s to taking yourself out. Taking yourself seriously. Taking up space. And realizing that wherever you go…

you’re still YOU. 🥂🗽✨

— D. your girl.