And if this was only a continuation?

Exactly one year ago, I was halfway through what I called my Soul Journey. I was still a public servant, still dreaming of my escape, but no longer dreaming aimlessly. I had a plan. A purpose. An unwavering intention to build a life that felt authentically mine.

Today, as I look back on the last twelve months, the picture is almost overwhelming. Time seems to have flown by in a blur, yet when I gently revisit it month by month, I see just how much has changed. Every lesson was slowly digested—like a carefully prepared meal, savoured with the sensitive palate of a chef—until it naturally became part of who I am.

So little time, yet so many changes.

There were countless decisions, risks taken, fears faced, victories celebrated, and beneath it all, a quiet faith that I was exactly where I needed to be. Looking back, I am genuinely amazed. Not because everything went perfectly—it certainly didn’t—but because I had the courage to keep saying yes to the unknown. I embraced uncertainty while refusing to let it define me.

Today, on my 48th birthday, I feel something I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so completely: contentment.

When my husband asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, my answer surprised even me. I didn’t want a party. I didn’t want presents. I simply wanted good food, good company, the dogs running around the yard, and an ordinary day spent with the people I love most. Sometimes the richest moments are the quietest ones.

In just two weeks, I’ll be setting off once again. As always, I’ll bring you along on the adventure. I have a few surprises planned that I’ll reveal when the time is right, but more than anything, I plan to simply live each moment as it comes. Those are usually the stories worth telling.

Today, though, I also want to share something a little more personal.

Most of you have probably noticed that I have fallen deeply in love with Mexico. It isn’t just the landscapes or the beaches. It’s the people. The generosity. The food. The culture. Every time I travel there alone, I somehow never stay alone for very long. I meet extraordinary people who generously share their traditions, their stories, their favourite hidden restaurants, their family recipes, and pieces of themselves. Those encounters have changed me.

This week, I lost someone who understood exactly what I mean.

A dear friend passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She had spent many years working throughout Mexico in the tourism industry, and I have no doubt she left an imprint on countless travellers, just as she left one on me. She was curious, adventurous, fiercely intelligent, and happiest when good food brought people together.

Every time we got together, we’d end up planning an elaborate meal. Butter chicken. Tamales. Duck ravioli. We’d spend so much time talking, laughing, tasting, and cooking that dinner rarely made it to the table before midnight.

She taught me that food isn’t simply something we eat. It’s how we connect.

So this trip will be a little different.

I’ll carry her with me.

Every beautiful meal, every market, every tiny family restaurant tucked away down an unfamiliar street—I will think of her. In a way, now that she is free, she’ll finally get to come everywhere with me.

It also makes me think about the people who quietly make these journeys extraordinary. The ones working behind the scenes who often go unnoticed but end up shaping our memories more than we realize.

Many of you will remember me talking about Katrin in Oaxaca, and John, my driver in Mérida this spring.

When I first met him, I honestly assumed he was simply a driver.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

John is a federally licensed tour guide whose depth of knowledge, flexibility, curiosity, and genuine love for the Yucatán completely transformed the way I experienced the region. More importantly, he understood the way I like to travel.

I don’t enjoy rushing through attractions because they’re listed in a brochure. I don’t particularly like tourist traps or large group tours. Or any type of group tours for that matter. I dislike rigid itineraries that leave no room for curiosity.

I want to wander.

I want to stop because something smells incredible.

I want to eat where the locals eat, learn the history behind the buildings, hear the stories that never make it into guidebooks, and discover places I never would have found on my own.

John made that possible.

Whether it was changing plans because we stumbled across something unexpected, taking a detour to a tiny village, or introducing me to dishes I had never even heard of, every day felt less like a tour and more like spending time with a knowledgeable friend who genuinely wanted me to experience the real Yucatán.

If you’ve ever considered visiting the Yucatán Peninsula with your family or a group of friends, I truly encourage you to think about exploring it this way. You’ll have the freedom to create your own adventure while benefiting from someone who knows the region inside and out. If you’re travelling with children, he’s the kind of person who somehow keeps everyone entertained while still giving the adults a chance to breathe and enjoy themselves.

And just between us… if you mention my name, you might just receive the Queen B experience 😉

I’ll attach one of my Instagram posts from this spring so you can get a glimpse of the experience. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYgTjKbMgZk/

As for me…

The countdown has officially begun.

In two weeks, my suitcase will once again be last minute packed with far more curiosity than clothing, my camera will be ready, mainly space to bring back stuff from the market, my appetite even more so, and I cannot wait to share another chapter with all of you.

There will undoubtedly be beautiful landscapes, unforgettable meals, unexpected friendships, and a few stories I couldn’t possibly predict.

Those, after all, have always been the very best ones.

Here’s to another year of choosing wonder over comfort, curiosity over fear, and collecting moments instead of things.

Thank you for being here for the journey. And if you feel someone you know would enjoy reading these emails, absolutely forward them on or ask them to reach out to me!! I want to share my adventures. Life is meant to be discovered!