The Complex Relationships You Have While Traveling

One of the most important lessons I've learned from traveling is building relationships, often short-term, with people I meet randomly. I don’t see these encounters as purely coincidental. I believe the universe or travel spirits conspire to bring us together for a reason—whether to teach us something, lose something, or find a companion. I call this 'travel magic,’ inspired by 'trail magic,' which refers to unexpected kindness or surprises along the journey through spontaneous acts of generosity or unexpected connections.

While I don’t always experience travel magic, sometimes I try to meet people and fail. Yet, unexpectedly, that’s when the magic happens. If you've followed me, you know I act differently while traveling (not intentionally).

During trips, I relax and go with the flow, which I rarely do at home. That’s why strangers often see me differently—they don’t know who I am outside travel. I think everyone has a second side. These moments include dancing under a full moon on a hostel rooftop in Prague and also sharing drinks with a jazz musician I met by chance at a bar in South Carolina, where he was performing. Later, that musician met me at my hotel for drinks and a life chat while sitting on a rocking chair.

These moments stand out. My favorite memory, which I’ve written about, was in Munich, where I met a group of strangers who became close over two days, even cheering me on during my book event over Zoom.

As I said, these people don’t know your normal life; instead, they meet you, and perhaps you meet yourself in those moments of simply being present during that rare state of just being.

I’ll admit, I’ve struggled to make and maintain friends for years, but traveling has taught me to accept impermanence. The idea that nothing lasts forever is both wonderful and challenging. After 15 years of solo travel, I’ve realized that strangers you meet for hours or days can become some of the most important people.

They teach you about life, relaxation, culture, or just sharing a good night, if you get my drift. These fleeting relationships aren’t always magical, but they are meaningful because they give you stories from your trips and provide a wake-up call in your life. Maybe, just maybe, you do need to have a one-night stand with a random Brit to cross off your bucket list.

Or maybe you need to talk to a random guy or girl over a pint to gain perspective on something that isn’t working in your life. Or maybe get a tattoo with! The beautiful relationships you have with these people break up your everyday life at home with friends. They allow you to meet yourself and others in this perfect moment that you won’t ever get again.

Over time, I’ve stayed connected through social media or WhatsApp. Initially, after a trip, we exchange updates, memes, and memories. As time goes on, those messages slow down, and I watch from afar as people I shared stories, drinks, or experiences with go about their lives. Still, I cheer them on and get excited about their news.

From my experience, I’ve learned how to nurture these relationships, whether they stay small or make a lasting impact. Sharing your soul with a stranger or forming a close-knit group during wild adventures helps you feel seen, heard, and loved more than ever. I believe making these friendships is easier because sometimes a stranger can see you more clearly or recognize the real you better than the people in your everyday life.

These relationships can define your journey—whether they become stories to share or just memories that pop into your mind late at night, making you check social media with a smile. Traveling teaches you how to build relationships—with others and yourself. It allows you to strip away distractions and just be present. You focus on the now, not the past or future, because honestly, in travel, there’s rarely a guarantee of seeing someone again unless luck is on your side, and you keep that magic alive in everyday life. Tell me in the comments what people you have met along your travels and what magic you got yourself into.