A Midlife Reflection for Women Ready to Travel Transformatively
A powerful midlife reflection on a year of transformative travel—from volunteering and a Camino honeymoon to luxury cruising, China adventures, and a bold new home project.
At the end of every year, I like to take some time to reflect on where I’ve been, what has happened, and why it’s been so impactful.
And this year? This year has been immense. One of those years that arrives quietly and then sweeps you up into something so big, so emotional, so transformative, that you reach December wondering how on earth one human heart can hold so much.
A Christmas That Shifted Everything
I started the year in a deeply reflective mood. Over Christmas, we had volunteered with a homeless charityin London — an exercise in gratitude, humanity, and emotional stamina.
It was heartwarming and fun… but also painfully humbling. Telling someone who literally owns nothing that we didn’t have clothes in their size — and having to send them back out onto the streets — cracked something open inside me.
But then came the moments that stitched it back together. Like the guy who said, as we found him a pair of fancy trainers, “You create magic.” Those three words will stay with me forever.
We left exhausted, but with our hearts full. It was a reminder that travel and service aren’t separate things — both are about connection, empathy, and truly seeing people.
And Then… A Wedding!
Not long after, life shifted again. We were suddenly thrust into arranging a wedding — the beautiful chaos of it all triggered by the news that my sister was visiting from Australia.
If she was coming, this was our chance. A unique opportunity to have my precious family with me as I finally tied the knot again. Everything else went on hold for three frantic months as we planned, organised, laughed, cried, panicked, and pushed forward.
And then it happened.
A perfect ceremony. Not perfect in a glossy-magazine way…
Perfect in a real life, real love, this-is-us way — hiccups, hurdles, outbursts and all.
A Honeymoon Unlike Any Other
And then — instead of the Maldives and a water villa — we set off to walk the entire length of Spain.
Yes. Walk. For our honeymoon.
Five weeks. A different room in a different village almost every night. Backpacks. Blisters. Joy. Tears. Sunrise starts. And the kind of raw, shared experience that bonds you on a soul level. Walking the Camino de Santiagotogether was transformational. A masterclass in tolerance, challenge, togetherness, spirituality, humility, and deeply joyful achievement.
We made it. Every step, side by side. Stronger, fitter, and more connected than ever.
A New Project, A New Purpose
We returned home with sore legs and full hearts. And then? Life threw us another adventure when we found a potential new home — an old, disused underground water reservoir.
Not a typo. Not a metaphor. A literal concrete box buried under one foot of soil, covered in self-seeded trees so tightly packed a tree expert described it as “a tree ghetto.”
Oh — and all the trees are protected. Meaning we needed permission to trim a single branch.
A perfect challenge for a newly married couple, yes?
But we fell in love with it. Its potential. Its story. Its slightly wild, unruly, full-of-possibility energy.
And that love has only grown each time we’ve returned to dream, plan, and get our hands dirty.
From Backpacks to Ballrooms
The reservoir officially became ours as we sat frantically in the departure lounge for our next adventure — a luxury cruise through the fjords of Norway on the Queen Mary 2.
For me, this was a shift. From budget to luxury. From backpack to ballroom. And to my surprise… I loved it!
There was something magical about dressing for dinner, watching the fjords glide by, sipping tea at afternoon service, dancing in the evenings, and embracing a side of myself I didn’t know needed space to shine.
Did it turn me into a cruise fanatic? No — the Queen Mary is its own universe. I still crave immersion, connection, and dirt-under-the-fingernails experiences.
But luxury in small, appreciative doses? Yes. I’m officially converted.
And Then — China
My past and future collided beautifully in China. We travelled there to source materials for our reservoir project — windows, doors, a staircase. Practical things… yet the journey itself was anything but ordinary.
The visa process was intense, the alphabet unfamiliar, the warnings about language barriers intimidating. But once again, travel worked its magic. I discovered that navigating challenge is what makes me feel alive. That humans are far more similar than different. And that Shanghai dumplings are a glorious (and occasionally lip-burning) adventure in themselves.
The trip was a huge success — practical and personal.
Looking Forward With Full Hearts
Just as I write this, we’ve been granted permission to begin work on the reservoir. It involves removing some trees — with plans to replant and create a healthier environment — and marks the beginning of something huge.
And next?
Christmas in Australia.
My first with my new husband. Surrounded by my family. A full-circle moment that feels like the perfect end to this whirlwind year.
2025 — What. A. Year.
A year of service, love, adventure, transformation, surprise, discomfort, joy, luxury, challenge, and deep connection.
A year that reminded me — and I hope reminds you — that midlife is not a time to shrink or settle.
It’s a time to expand. To experiment. To rediscover every version of yourself. To say yes to the unexpected. To choose experiences that change you from the inside out.
Roll on 2026. I’m ready. Are you?
So, what has been the highlight of 2025 for you? I’d love to hear what triumphs and challenges you have experienced this year. Hit reply to this email to let me know or connect via your social method of choice (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads or LinkedIn) to give me all the details.
Last week I mentioned the NEW VIDEOS I have been publishing which document my road trip along the North Coast 500 route in Scotland. This 516-mile loop around the northern Highlands is often called “Scotland’s answer to Route 66,” and is a journey like no other filled with rugged cliffs, white-sand beaches, tiny villages, ancient castles, and winding single-track roads that make you feel like you’re driving along the edge of the world. Today I’m letting you know that the final part has now gone live, which will be my final video of this year…as this is my final email before I pack up my keyboard for a month of family and festivities. You can view all of the videos in the series via the playlist HERE.
Also, one final mention to all the work I’ve been doing to revamp my YouTube channel and here is the final instalment of my new playlists that you may want to check out:
Transformative Travel | From Heartbreak to Healing
Travel Bloopers and Highlights
Canadian Solo Female Travel
SouthEast Asia Travel Videos
Galapagos Islands Travel Guide
And before I bow out and wish you a wonderful Christmas and a happy start to 2026, I have one last bonus for you. Last week I was honoured to be invited to share my thoughts on BBC 5 Live radio about the increase in solo travel among women in midlife over the last few years. You can hear all I had to say HERE.
Did you find this email useful? If so, why not forward it to a friend?
Until next time,
Safe Travels
Sue x
This newsletter may contain affiliate links. By using these, Sue Where Why What may receive a small commission for which I say thank you, but you will not pay any extra charges for this. My opinions remain my own.
More of my Adventures…
Video Playlist – North Coast 500 Scotland – Dream Drive Around the NC500
Video Playlist – Travel to St Lucia – Solo Female Travel Over 50
Video Playlist – Travel Bloopers and Highlights
And finally, just for you…Receive a small commission for which I say thank you, but you will not pay
🏠 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 walking and food tours (two of my favourite things to do anywhere), I recommend Walks and Devour Tours.
🗺️ For multi day or week tours, check out G Adventures. I used them for trips in Costa Rica, Peru, and Galapagos.
🤞 I would never leave home without travel insurance. With Safety Wing you can take out an annual policy and pay monthly. This takes the hassle out of having to remember for us regular travellers.
🛫 For cheap flights, check out Skyscanner or join Jacks Flight Club which scans the internet for error fares (UK only).
🧳 For luggage storage on your travels, I recommend the service by Bounce
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