Tsvety Roo: Healing Through Solo Travel and Finding Yourself Again

What happens when you’ve done everything society says you should, but still feel completely lost? In this episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Tsvety Roo to talk about emotional healing, overcoming fear, and how one six-hour walk led to a life-changing solo travel journey that helped her rediscover confidence, purpose, and the courage to live on her own terms. Awards & Downloads Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries. Feedback We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a Mental Health Quote “What if I gave myself permission to go after it?” — Tsvety Roo Episode Description Imagine living in one of America's sunniest cities and still feeling completely lost. That was Tsvety Roo’s reality in San Diego after a career layoff, years of following the “checklist life,” and the growing belief that she was somehow falling behind. She had checked all the boxes—college, career, bigger opportunities—but happiness wasn't showing up just because she did everything “right.” Then came a six-hour walk. Tsvety cried, questioned what actually made her feel alive, and asked herself something powerful: What if she gave herself permission to pursue it? Nine months later, she sold her car, stored her belongings, and booked a one-way ticket to Málaga, Spain. What she thought would be a three-month adventure became three and a half years of predominantly solo travel. With G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, Tsvety gets real about loneliness, self-worth, fear, and the pressure to hit life's milestones on someone else's timeline. She shares how meeting new people and experiencing different cultures helped her reconnect with herself—and how those small acts of courage eventually gave her the confidence to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, a dream she'd carried since age 12. She also shares lessons from her photobook, 21 Small Acts: Lessons in Living Boldly from Around the World, including how a candle shop in Finland changed her understanding of home. You'll hear practical ideas for starting small: take yourself to lunch, try a weekend trip, connect with new people, and challenge the beliefs holding you back. Because finding yourself again doesn't require a passport. Sometimes it starts with one brave question and the courage to listen to your own answer. Keywords: Tsvety Roo, healing through solo travel, mental health and travel, finding yourself again, self-discovery journey, overcoming fear, building self-confidence, emotional healing, loneliness versus solitude, redefining success, personal growth, women traveling solo, overcoming societal expectations, 21 Small Acts, intentional living Meet Our Guest — Tsvety Roo Tsvety Roo is a speaker, visual storyteller, designer, photographer, and creator of 21 Small Acts: Lessons in Living Boldly from Around the World. After three and a half years of mostly solo travel and visits to 46 countries, she has transformed her experiences with loneliness, fear, and self-doubt into powerful lessons about courage, connection, and personal growth. Through photography, storytelling, speaking, and her book, she encourages others to question limiting beliefs, redefine success, and discover how small, intentional actions can create meaningful change. Connect with Tsvety: Website: https://www.21smallacts.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsvetyroo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsvety.roo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TsvetyRoo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsvetyroo/ Key Takeaways You can do everything “right” and still feel lost. Tsvety discovered that career success, financial goals, and following society’s checklist couldn't replace a genuine sense of purpose and connection with herself. Loneliness and solitude aren't the same thing. Feeling isolated in San Diego taught Tsvety that being surrounded by people doesn't guarantee connection. Solo travel helped her discover the difference between feeling alone and becoming comfortable with herself. Confidence grows through small acts of courage. From booking her first one-way ticket to eventually climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tsvety learned that taking action despite fear helped her recognize abilities she'd underestimated for years. You're not behind in life because your timeline looks different. Whether you're 22, 39, or 62, there's no single right age to travel, change direction, pursue a dream, or redefine success. Home can be a feeling, not just an address. An emotional moment in a candle shop in Finland taught Tsvety that belonging can come from rituals, meaningful relationships, and the communities we build wherever life takes us. Healing doesn't require changing your entire life overnight. Tsvety's transformation began with a six-hour walk and honest self-reflection, proving that even the biggest personal changes can start with one intentional step. Actionable Items Take yourself on a small solo adventure. Start with lunch, a movie, or a day trip by yourself. Notice what feels uncomfortable, what feels freeing, and what you learn about your own company before considering bigger adventures. Challenge the “shoulds” in your life. Think about one expectation you've been carrying around your career, relationships, age, or personal milestones. Ask yourself whether it's something you genuinely want or something you've been taught you're supposed to achieve. Create your own sense-of-home ritual. Borrow inspiration from Tsvety's candle tradition. Choose a small, meaningful object or routine that helps you feel grounded and connected, especially during periods of uncertainty or transition. Important Chapters 00:02:32 — The Childhood Dream of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 00:07:24 — Reaching the Summit and Experiencing Every Emotion 00:11:08 — Emotional Disconnection and the Beginning of Tsvety's Healing Journey 00:12:52 — The Six-Hour Walk That Changed Everything 00:15:35 — Breaking Free From the Checklist Life 00:18:00 — The One-Way Ticket to Spain That Started It All 00:24:29 — Challenging Age Expectations and Society's Timeline 00:28:23 — Letting Go of Shame and Redefining Success 00:34:57 — Building Confidence Through Small Solo Adventures 00:38:08 — Creating 21 Small Acts and Turning Travel Into Life Lessons 00:41:52 — Finding Home and Belonging in Unexpected Places 00:44:12 — The Hardest Lesson: Learning to Believe in Yourself 00:47:05 — Where to Connect With Tsvety Roo Closing CTA Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website: https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #TsvetyRoo #21SmallActs #SoloTravelHealing #SelfDiscoveryJourney #OvercomingFear #EmotionalWellness #BuildingConfidence #RedefiningSuccess #FindingYourself #LonelinessToSolitude #MentalHealthJourney #PersonalGrowth #IntentionalLiving *************************************************************************** If You Need Support, Reach Out If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference. 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