Travel Was the Map — But Evolution Was the Destination

I didn’t set out to start over. I just knew I couldn’t keep living a life that looked fine from the
outside but left me feeling empty inside.

So I moved — literally. I booked one trip. Then another. Then another. Each city gave me a little
more clarity. Each moment alone revealed more truth.

I wasn’t trying to find myself. I was finally ready to stop ignoring what I already knew.

Letting Go With Love

We started out as friends. For a long time, that’s all I wanted it to be. People would say, “He
really likes you,” and I’d always respond, “We’re just friends.”

But one day, something shifted. I can’t even explain why — I just went with it.

Looking back, I think we were trying to make something work that wasn’t built to last. We were
young and stubborn — he had a fear of loss, and I had a fear of abandonment. Neither of us
wanted to hurt or disappoint the other. He struggled with a temper and I’ve never liked anger. I
see it as a draining, unproductive emotion and do my best not to give it any power. He leaned
into confrontation. I shut down around it.

I analyze emotions to understand where they’re coming from — Am I angry, or am I just
disappointed? Were my expectations unspoken? But he went straight to anger — loud, direct,
and then done. Meanwhile, I was left holding the weight of what wasn’t said. That mismatch
slowly wore down the intimacy between us.

We stopped trying. We stopped growing. And somewhere in that space, I stopped having clear
boundaries and started letting things go.

Early on, the relationship had its toxic moments. But over the years, it became something else
entirely — distant, resigned. It was comfortable. Familiar. However, once I started doing deeper
work — healing, shadow work, and radical self-awareness — I couldn’t unsee how far we had
drifted.

I knew I would have to be the one to ask for the divorce — and it wasn’t an easy decision. But
leaving a dysfunctional relationship was ultimately a gift to both of us. It opened up the
possibility for each of us to find someone who could truly light us up. I didn’t want to go my
entire life without experiencing a deeper level of passion, intimacy, or emotional connection. We
were financially comfortable — but comfort isn’t love. And for me, it was no longer enough.
We used to have this joke: one of us would say, “What do you want to talk about?” The other
would reply, “How about your feelings?” And then we’d both say, “Nah, I’m good.”

So we just never talked about anything. We lived in the same house. We were friends — good friends 

— but there was nothing else. Letting go wasn’t easy. But it was necessary. 

Traveling Alone Changed Everything

The biggest shift came when I started traveling solo. Removing all the noise — the opinions, the
doubt, the people who said I was crazy — gave me clarity.

It was just me. Facing the unknown. Believing I’d figure it out. Living boldly. Taking risks. Feeling
every moment instead of rushing through it.

I did what I wanted. And I gave myself permission to skip the parts that didn’t serve me — like
5:30 AM meditation at an ashram in Rishikesh. That wasn’t for me.

I wasn’t there to perform spiritual growth. I was there to live it — honestly, intuitively, in a way
that felt right.

The Hawaii Trip

Two months after the separation, I went to Hawaii with a friend. It was beautiful — the views, the
beaches, the moments. But I left knowing something important: I don’t enjoy traveling with
people.

I don’t like following someone else’s schedule. I don’t like adjusting my flow for their itinerary.
Freedom matters to me.

Would I travel with someone again? Yes. But only if that person is easy-going and aligned.
Someone calm. Kind. Low-drama, like me. Someone who treats others well, serves from the heart,

and shows up fully for the people they love — because that’s exactly how I love, too.

I want a relationship where we both lean in completely. No fear. No holding back. Just honesty,
presence, and care. Real love isn’t quiet — it shows up. Not for the world, but for each other.

Becoming a Travel Blogger + Hospitality Consultant Was My Full-Circle Moment

This wasn’t a midlife crisis. It was midlife clarity.

All my experience — aviation, hospitality, sales, service — came together. I let go of everything
that didn’t feel aligned, and suddenly, I was doing what I was made to do.

Now I consult with brands that care. I help luxury hotels and travel brands elevate the guest
experience through real storytelling, honest feedback, and the kind of attention to detail that
builds emotional loyalty. I use my lens as both a traveler and a professional to create content
that connects.

I tell real stories. I create experiences that matter. And I live a life that reflects who I’ve become.

This isn’t a phase. This is my Soft Glow Era.

If You’re Sitting in the Middle of Your Own “In Between” — Read This

Soft Glow Check-In:

● It’s okay to change your mind. What you believed yesterday, you don’t have to believe
today.
● What part of your life looks fine from the outside but no longer feels true on the inside?
● Where have you been quiet to keep the peace?
● What would it look like to start listening to your inner voice — and actually follow it?
● If you could book one trip just to get clarity, where would you go?

You have permission to...
● Travel solo without having to explain yourself
● Skip anything that doesn’t serve your spirit
● Reclaim your time, your voice, and your joy
● Outgrow old versions of yourself without apology
● Want love, fun, peace, and passion — all at once
● Glow up without waiting for permission

What I Know Now:
● Staying in something familiar isn’t always love — sometimes it’s fear.
● Real love isn’t quiet — it’s expressed, chosen, and shown daily.
● Anger unspoken becomes disconnection.
● Traveling alone reveals how much you actually like your own company.
● You can care about someone and still choose to walk away — with grace.
● You’re never too late to rewrite your story.

Travel was the map. Reinvention with intention is always the destination.