Vows, veils and the vanishing woman
How Travel Helped Me Reclaim My Life
I was 23 when I got married, full of ideas about what I was supposed to be. Television, magazines, and society told me I should be a wife, a mother, and a successful employee. I tried to live that life, and on the outside, it looked perfect: a big house, two beautiful children, and a satisfying professional career. But inside, something didn’t fit. Something was always missing.
Although it’s hard to admit, I was unhappy. I let that unhappiness affect the people around me, and I know I will be healing from that period of my life for a long time. By the age of 45, I had almost vanished into family life—I was nearly invisible. And then my marriage broke down. It was my decision. It wasn’t what I wanted, and although my ex-husband has his own story, it didn’t meet his needs either.
During that time, a single conversation set me on edge. My ex-husband casually said, “You wouldn’t manage Machu Picchu. It’s too much for you.” It wasn’t confrontational or unkind, but it made me question everything. Was my life only meant to serve others? Was I meant to be who everyone else needed me to be, instead of who I wanted to be?
My world had become small and shrinking. I might never do the things I dreamed of, see the places I longed to visit, or feel truly alive again. So I left. I started a journey of self-discovery, reclaiming my strength, and crafting the life I wanted. I might sound like a cliché, but it’s true: I had spent one life, between 23 and 45, giving it to other people. Now, my next chapter was beginning—and it was mine.
Why Travel?
Travel has always been a part of my life. Even as a child, I felt a thrill when packing suitcases, booking flights, and planning adventures. As a mother, travel became more complicated—first with small children, then with teenagers—but it remained the one time I felt truly seen, validated, and alive.
There’s something indescribable about experiencing new cultures, foods, and places that awakens the soul. Travel showed me that life could be more than routines and obligations. When I decided to create the life I wanted at this stage, it was clear: travel would be my path.
Feeling the Fear
My first solo trip was to Peru at the age of 48. I booked it on a whim on a rainy morning, and almost immediately, doubt crept in. Could I really do this alone? Would I get lost, or worse? What if I didn’t like the food? How would I navigate a language I didn’t speak?
Of course, these fears were largely unfounded. My trip had its hiccups—ticketing issues, language barriers, and some unusual encounters with other travelers—but I did it. I climbed Machu Picchu. I navigated the system. And the smiles in my photos say more than my words ever could.
That trip changed me. Every time I face something challenging or frightening, I remind myself of what I am capable of. Travel has taught me that belief in myself is the most important thing I can carry.
What’s Next?
The travel bug never left me. Every sunrise, every new city, every person I meet adds to my hunger for the world. My mission now is to travel full-time, balancing my life at home with my family, my children, and my own ambitions.
I’m creating a new life from scratch, learning who I am outside the expectations of others. It’s scary, provocative, and raw—but it’s real. I’m becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be.
For anyone wondering why leaving a relationship that isn’t serving you is okay, it is!
Follow along on my journey as I explore the world, reclaim my life, and inspire other women to do the same.