The year was 2012. The judge dropped the gavel to signify the end of my 23-year marriage. In the wake of a very contentious divorce my plan of “ happily ever after” came to a resounding end.
Since elementary school, I’d been planning to meet the man of my dreams, marry, have children, and raise those children to be awesome additions to society. They would ultimately marry and have children of their own. We would have beautiful holiday gatherings and family vacations filled with love, laughter, and more happiness than I could stand.
That gavel drop forced me to wake up from the fairy tale and take stock of my reality. I veered wildly off course from the plan I’d crafted. Even though I was the one to seek a divorce, my new reality did NOT sit well! I was a 50-year-old single mom with my bearings shot, my confidence in tatters, and I was desperately in need of healing.
Act 1 is done…
After a few years of absolute floundering in my new “normal,” I took a spur-of-the-moment solo vacation. To say this trip was pivotal and revelatory would be an understatement. For the first time, I was on my own with no one to consider but myself.
I planned outings, made new friends, embarked on adventures, and most importantly, fed my soul. It was the beginning of the healing that I so desperately needed. It also permitted me to begin rewriting my story.
The “second act” of one’s life is defined as a pivotal stage of reinvention and growth that often occurs after significant life events, such as career shifts, personal transformations, or major transitions.
It starts the moment that you realize the script is in your hands, and you’re both the lead actor and the director. This is not a mere encore or redo of what you’ve already accomplished; it’s a symphony of newfound wisdom and whimsical choices for folks with the audacity to rewrite the narrative!
Travel has served as the portal to rediscovering myself. After overcoming my fear of traveling solo, the world I discovered was a soothing balm for my bruised heart. I found solace in sunrises, wisdom in waterfalls, and strength in every trail I hiked.
After many trips to other states, my first passport stamp landed me in Italy. I walked the city streets of beautiful Turin. I toured and drank at more than was probably wise. Each day was filled with elements of a vibrant new culture, a language I barely spoke, and a blooming love for facing new challenges. With each experience, I discovered resilience that I never knew I possessed.
Along the way, I even met a few kindred spirits. Fellow adventurers whose paths mirrored mine. We shared stories filled with laughter, tales of divorces, career upheavals, and that universal yearning to tell a new story.
The New Normal
This isn’t a travel brochure promising picture-perfect sunsets and postcard-worthy beaches. It’s a raw, honest invitation to those of us who’ve spent years following the well-worn path, only to find ourselves yearning for a detour.
To those who crave a life less ordinary, a life where the map is drawn with the ink of our own experiences, and the destination is wherever in the world our hearts lead us.
Does this sound like you?
If so, then you’ll love it here. Join me for discussions in exploration and introspection. I dedicate this space to us continuing to learn how to use travel as a form of therapy, growth, and wellness. Let these stories and findings serve as living proof that life after the storm can be more than just rebuilt; it can be reimagined and painted with vibrant hues of self-discovery and untamed joy!
Comment below to share your story, and don’t forget to subscribe to learn more about making the most of your Epic 2nd Act. 😉
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