Beijing was my first solo trip abroad. It took a lot to overcome my fear of traveling alone, but life is too short to sit back waiting for other people to buy a ticket to your dreams. Get out there and live! The reward is worth fighting through the discomfort.

My travel adventures began six years ago in Beijing, China. Now how does a chronically ill, broke, introvert with social anxiety and no experience traveling end up alone in Beijing, China? I'm glad you asked. Groupon, silly. For $999, I purchased an 8-day tour package to Beijing with flight, hotel, meals, and excursions included. In all honesty, it wasn't that I had some burning desire to see China in particular. I simply wanted to visit every country in the world, and China seemed like as good a place as any to begin.