Reinvention Through Travel: A New Chapter With Intention

Recently, I was honored to appear live on The Marissa Mitchell Show on FOX 5 DC. Marissa invited me to talk about travel, my book, Destination Stewardship: Drive Sustainability, Economic Renewal, and Cultural Integrity, and my season of reinvention.

For me, reinvention is not about becoming someone new. It is about reconnecting with the go-getter I have always been, bringing my eclectic interests together and continuing to phase out my legal work. We also talked about the promise I made at five years old to someday live in London and my recent 38-mile trek through Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains just eight months after total knee replacement.

Near the end of the segment, Marissa asked how someone begins a new chapter. She spoke about people who may want to travel, start a blog, leave a job or pursue an idea that has been waiting in the background. She also asked what happens when travel—or another dream—feels financially out of reach.

I reflected on those questions after our interview because an eight-minute live segment moves quickly, and there was more I wanted to say. Wanting something different is only the beginning. You also have to understand why you want it, whether it fits the larger vision for your life and whether the time and financial investment are realistic.

Travel Has Been Central to My Life

Travel has been one of the most transformative forces in my life. Years after making that promise to my five-year-old self, I moved to London with only $300 in my pocket and an overwhelming faith that I would be okay.

That faith paid off. I was accepted into a graduate program at the London School of Economics, found a part-time job and traveled throughout Europe whenever I had the chance. Before beginning my studies at LSE, I also spent a summer in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Living abroad taught me that I could find my footing in unfamiliar places. It also deepened my appreciation for cultural immersion. Many of my strongest travel memories are not of famous landmarks, but of conversations and shared meals with people I might never otherwise have met. There is something special about breaking bread with a stranger and leaving the table understanding each other a little better.

Those experiences stayed with me. When my husband, Ian, and I co-founded World Footprints, we wanted to do more than tell people where to go. We wanted to share stories rooted in culture, history, humanity and social impact. Our mission is grounded in Ubuntu—the belief that our humanity is interconnected.

In a social media post, I shared how my different interests have served me over the years and why this work feels so meaningful. Someone commented that I had “discovered my purpose when no one was looking.” I loved that observation because purpose does not always arrive in one defining moment. Sometimes it develops quietly while you are simply following the interests and experiences that continue to pull you forward.

Watch my conversation on The Marissa Mitchell Show on FOX 5 DC

Understand Your Why

First and foremost, do not sabotage your ability to put food on the table by impulsively quitting your job. You may need that paycheck to invest in a new venture or support yourself while you figure out your next move.

Before investing significant time, money or energy, understand your why. Why do you want to travel, start a business, write a book or change careers? Does the opportunity fit the larger vision for your life, or are you chasing the next shiny penny because it promises visibility or a lot of money?

There is nothing wrong with wanting financial prosperity. Still, something can make money and be the wrong opportunity for you.

Be realistic, too. Can you afford the investment? Do you have time to follow through after the initial excitement wears off? Would you still want to pursue the idea if the financial return took longer than expected?

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” was my father’s mantra, and I still believe it. Experience has also taught me that just because you can do something does not mean you should—or that you should do it now.

A new chapter does not have to begin with a dramatic leap. You may start with research, a conversation or a small test of an idea before making a larger commitment.

Travel Can Be Part of Your Reinvention

If traveling more is part of your reinvention story, I understand the appeal. I often encourage people to experience more of the world because every trip changes you in some way. You may return with a new perspective, a new interest or a better understanding of yourself.

But travel costs money. Airfare, hotels, meals and time away from work can add up quickly. Health, caregiving and other responsibilities may also affect when and how you travel.

Travel does not always have to mean crossing an ocean. Sometimes it begins with a museum, cultural festival or neighborhood you have never explored. Cities such as New York, Washington, DC, London and Toronto are also filled with foods from diasporas around the world, giving you a chance to travel through your palate without going very far.

A local trip is not the same as an international journey, but it can still introduce you to new people, stories and perspectives. It is also a chance to practice destination stewardship by learning about the place, supporting local businesses and respecting the traditions of the people who live there. How you travel matters as much as where you go.

Travel can also change how you see yourself. Morocco did that for me.

Finding My Strength Again in Morocco

After months of feeling stuck and dependent following knee replacement, I wanted to shake things up. When I was invited to trek through Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, I initially said no because I did not think I was strong enough. But I began thinking about the younger version of myself who had moved to London with only $300 and trusted that she would figure things out.

Eight months after surgery, I completed the 38-mile trek. My biggest lesson was realizing that I was much stronger than I realized. Somewhere along the way, seeds of fear and doubt were planted but my experience in Morocco reminded me that I was still brave and capable.

A year before surgery, I had started working with a personal trainer simply to improve my fitness. I had no idea that the strength I was building would later help me recover and complete the trek. A few months after Morocco, I challenged myself again by walking a 10K race. I finished in two hours and eight minutes—and I was not the last person to cross the line.

The experience gave new meaning to something I have long said: “If you don’t stretch, you won’t grow.”

In the end, reinvention is not always about becoming someone new. Sometimes it is about reconnecting with the courage and confidence you already have—and taking the next step with intention.

Watch my conversation on The Marissa Mitchell Show on FOX 5 DC