Reinvention often sounds dramatic.
A bold decision.
A turning point.
A moment when everything suddenly changes.
But in my experience, reinvention rarely feels like that while you’re living it.
For me, it began with grief.
After my husband Terry died, life as I knew it stopped. Not gradually, but suddenly. The world carried on around me, but everything that had once felt certain had disappeared.
About a year later, my counsellor said something that stayed with me.
She told me that people often begin to lose patience with grief after about twelve months.
The problem was, twelve months was exactly how long it had taken me just to begin understanding what life looked like without him.
I was only just beginning to come to terms with it.
And I realised something else too. When I tried to talk about how I felt, I struggled to find the words. Conversations felt clumsy and incomplete. People wanted reassurance that I was okay, and I often didn’t know how to explain that I wasn’t — not yet.
But writing felt different.
So, I started a blog.
At that point, I had never read a blog in my life, let alone written one. I simply found an article online explaining how to set one up and followed the instructions step by step.
I began writing about my grief.
Not with any ambition or strategy — simply to explain what it felt like. To share something honest in the hope that if someone else encountered grief in their own life, they might understand it a little better.
I expected only my friends and family to read it.
But something happened as I wrote.
The words became easier. The feelings became clearer. And slowly, writing became a way of understanding myself again. CLICK HERE to read these essays, raw and unedited since I pressed POST back in 2016.
Travel came next.
I have often said that travel helped me heal, and that’s true. It gave me space. Perspective. Movement when everything inside me felt stuck.
It was on a bus in Bolivia that another quiet decision appeared (you can practically see it forming in the photo).
I realised I wasn’t the only woman in midlife whose life had changed suddenly. And while travel was helping me find my way again, I also knew many women might not have the confidence to set off alone, especially if they hadn’t travelled earlier in life.
So, I began writing about that too.
That’s when Sue Where Why What was born.
It became my passion. A place where I could share stories, lessons, and encouragement for women navigating life changes and wondering what came next.
The growth was slow. Often almost imperceptible.
Ironically, it wasn’t until the pandemic — when we were all stuck at home — that things began to shift. With more time on my hands, I finally learned about things like search engines and how websites are discovered.
I had always filmed videos during my travels, but for years I didn’t have the confidence to speak on them. Eventually, I did.
And slowly, my blog, my videos, and my audience grew.
Not explosively. Not virally.
Just steadily.
Over time, people began telling me what I should be doing.
I should have more followers.
I should grow faster.
I should optimise more.
I should be more visible.
Apparently, everyone has the answer to your problems once you put something out into the world.
For a long time, I listened.
And for a long time, I felt as though I was somehow failing.
But recently, something has shifted again.
I’ve realised that I’m actually very happy with where I am.
I never studied writing at school — in fact, I chose science because English was never my strength. I don’t have an impressive vocabulary. I’m not a huge reader, and I don’t spend hours watching other creators’ content.
But none of that stopped me from starting.
Because what I had wasn’t expertise.
It was experience.
And the simple belief that sharing my story might help someone else feel less alone.
Reinvention doesn’t always mean becoming someone completely different.
Sometimes it simply means allowing your life to grow in directions you never expected.
That’s what this journey has been for me.
Following my curiosity.
Following my passion.
Telling my story as I live it.
And trusting that the right people will find it when they need it.
So, if you were to reinvent one small part of your life right now, where might you begin?
For women feeling the pull to travel but unsure where to start, Find Your Way is always there — no rush.CLICK HERE to learn more.
And for something a little bit different, over on YouTube I have a couple of NEW VIDEOS for you:
Kings Cross in London is much more than just a connection hub, gateway to the Eurostar or a place to get your photo taken at Platform 9 3/4. Check out my latest video HERE for more hidden gems which make it a destination in itself!
You can also watch the latest tip in my Hiking Solo series. Click THIS LINK for all the advice so far.
And just to let you know I have changed my posting schedule. You can expect more tip based short videos every Monday, a longer video every Thursday and a short fun travel clip on a Saturday…or at least that’s the plan, unless life gets in the way a bit. Subscribe HERE so you don’t miss any.Thank you for being here — whether you read every word or just dip in now and then. And if any of this resonated, or you think it may help a friend, please forward this email.
Until next time,
Safe travels,
Sue x
This email may contain affiliate links. If you choose to use them, I may receive a small commission — thank you. You’ll never pay more, and my opinions are always my own.
P.S. Helpful travel resources I genuinely use can always be found below:
🏠 For accommodation, I use Expedia and Booking.com primarily. They have their own loyalty schemes which is easy to progress through the levels for better discounts and inclusions.
🚍 For tours and activities, my preferred supplier is Get Your Guide.
🗺️ For multi day or week tours, check out G Adventures. I used them for trips in Costa Rica, Peru, and Galapagos.
🧳 For luggage storage on your travels, I recommend the service by Bounce.
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