The Freedom of Being Unknown

Why anonymity can sometimes bring out the most authentic version of who we are.

Photo by Crazy Cake on Unsplash

I was scrolling through Substack recently when I came across a great note by Brandi Wiatrak. It had some great discussion in the comments as well and it really started me thinking. She was saying she doesn’t like sharing her article links on Facebook for the people she knows in real life - that it’s easier to write for strangers on the internet, basically.

I can 100% relate to that. I’m a fairly private person and I don’t necessarily want to bare my soul to people I know in real life. But sharing with people who don’t know me is much easier! I told her I used to have a blog many, many years ago, and not only did I name it something else, but I also didn’t put my real name anywhere on it. I wanted it to remain anonymous so that nobody could search and find my writings. I felt like it was easier to write about the things on my mind and be truly authentic if I didn’t have to worry about what people I knew were thinking of my words.

So what does this have to do with travel and why am I sharing this here?

I discovered early on in our travels that that’s one of the things I love about our lifestyle. Being able to go to a new place where nobody knows us and we don’t have to live up to any expectations, act a certain way, dress a certain way, or anything like that is so freeing. I kind of felt like I could truly be myself and even reinvent myself if I wanted to.

It was an amazing feeling. One that I didn’t even know I was missing.

While community is great and it’s amazing to be around friends, I think we sometimes end up in a rut and just do what’s expected of us, without bringing any sense of adventure or spontaneity. I love that our travels allow us to do just that. It’s not like I’m out there being a completely different person and I’m totally inauthentic when I’m around people I know, but the pressure to follow the status quo disappears when you’re around people you don’t know and will probably never see again. I feel like it truly opens your eyes to things you may not have seen or experienced before, when you don’t have to worry about what others think of you.

Do you feel that way as well? Whether it be with your writing or while you’re out exploring the world, do you get a sense that you can truly be yourself and feel a little freer when you’re writing for strangers, or when you’re in a place where nobody knows you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.