Alka Bhatt says her solo trip gave her a love of traveling alone. Courtesy Alka BhattI'm now engaged, but solo trips are still integral to my lifeIt's been nearly three years since my solo trip, and when I got home, I felt ready to date authentically. Rather than mold myself to be more desirable, I listened to my wants and needs and looked for compatibility. Within a few months, I met someone special, and a year into our relationship, I felt he was the one. On a weekend trip to DC last month, I took myself out to a fancy Sichuan restaurant after thrifting at a trendy shop.

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Persons: —, I'd, Alka Bhatt, Alka Bhatt I'm, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Toyota, Teton, DC Locations: Philadelphia, Texas, Houston, Pennsylvania, Lake Huron, Upstate New York, Sichuan