My love of travel was borne out of the many road trips we took when I was a kid. My job was to pick out the hotel at each of our stops. As I got older, I found myself choosing unique opportunities that allowed me to travel and took me to different places for work or school.
When I was 25, I took the biggest international adventure of my life and set off on a backpacking trip through Africa. I visited 7 countries over 2 months, made friends from around the world, and it was the most amazing experience of my life. That trip to Africa ultimately sparked my interest to pursue a career in travel.
Throughout my life, travel always about fun, adventure, growth, and discovery. But I also came to realize that travel has the power to heal, too.
Several years ago, my best friend (and soul sister) passed away unexpectedly. I was devastated, and had a very difficult time dealing with her loss. One of the things we always enjoyed was spending time in nature, and after she died, I started to notice dragonflies everywhere I went. They would gently land on my hand, and stay with me in a calm and comforting way.
From that experience, I learned about the significance of dragonflies and how they symbolize transformation. Thinking about the spiritual nature of life and death provided some peace to process my grief. I started taking longer trips, and through the healing nature of travel, little by little, I came back to myself and started to savor life again. Although I miss my best friend every single day, I still feel that she is with me. And she is my inspiration in starting Soulful Journeys.
Organic Gardening
Kayaking
Nature Photography
Travel magazines
Motivational Dance classes
All things wellness, holistic, and taking better care of my health
East Africa
Always try to do one thing that’s new to you on each trip. Whether it’s trying a local delicacy, waking up early to catch the sunrise, or doing something completely outside your comfort zone, I think travel is most rewarding and memorable when you open yourself up to new experiences!
One of my favorite travel memories was in Masai Mara, Kenya. It was a full moon night, sitting outside with our guides and listening to their stories while looking at the stars. You could hear the sounds of elephants, lions, hyenas, and zebras in the distance. Truly magical!