English 
Updated on September 3rd, 2025
Grief Awareness Day (30th August) is not just a moment to remember those we’ve lost – it’s an invitation to honour how loss changes us.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already walked through some form of grief. Maybe it was the death of a loved one. The end of a marriage. The closing of a chapter you thought would last forever. Grief doesn’t just follow death. It follows change. It follows endings. And for many of us, it cracks us open in ways we never expected.
I know this road well.
When I lost my husband Terry, ten years ago, I felt like I had lost my identity too. I didn’t recognise the woman staring back at me in the mirror. The future we had planned disappeared overnight, and I was left standing alone at a crossroads, unsure of how to keep moving forward.
And that’s when I started to travel.
Not to escape – but to heal. Not to forget – but to remember who I was beyond the grief. Not to run away – but to return to myself.
I started my first blog to share my journey through grief. You can read all about in my Postcards from Tragedy to Hope, HERE.
Grief and Travel: An Unlikely Partnership
Grief Awareness Day reminds us that grief has no timeline. It can linger quietly for years, only to resurface with the smell of a stranger’s cologne or the sound of a song on the radio. But while grief reshapes us, it doesn’t have to define us.
For me, travel became a lifeline. It offered perspective when I felt trapped in my own pain. It gave me silence when I needed reflection and movement when I needed momentum. It gave me stories when mine felt stuck.
Through solo travel, I found strength I didn’t know I had. I faced fears, made decisions on my own, learned new languages, danced with strangers, hiked alone, got lost and found again. With each step, I wasn’t just moving through the world – I was piecing myself back together.
And I know I’m not alone.
Why Travel Can Help Heal Grief
For many of us, grief can feel like the closing of a book. But I want to gently suggest something else: maybe it’s the opening of a new chapter. Maybe it’s an opportunity – not to forget your past – but to write your future with intention, courage, and self-love.
Here’s why travel can be a powerful partner in that journey:
- It disrupts the patterns of pain. Sometimes being somewhere new gives your mind space to breathe.
- It invites presence. Watching the sunrise over a mountain or listening to waves crash against a shoreline brings you back to now – out of the past and into this moment.
- It reconnects you to yourself. Away from your roles, responsibilities, and routines, you can ask: Who am I now? Who do I want to become?
- It reminds you life still holds beauty. Even in the aftermath of loss, there is wonder. There is joy. And there is still so much waiting to be experienced.
An Invitation on Grief Awareness Day
So, on Grief Awareness Day, I want to speak directly to you – the person who’s quietly carrying heartbreak beneath her smile. The one who is strong for everyone else but feels lost inside. The one who’s wondering, Is this all there is now?
No, this is not the end. This is your invitation.
Grief may have broken you open. But now, you get to decide what you’ll fill that space with. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to choose you.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be willing to take one small step. That could be booking a trip, joining a group, saying yes to a solo weekend, or simply daring to dream again.
Midlife is not too late. In fact, it may be the most powerful time of all.
Let today be a turning point. Let grief become your gateway. Let travel become your transformation.
Because you’re still here. And your story isn’t over. In fact – it could be just beginning.
So, if you’re ready to start that journey and need guidance, you’re in the right place. Through transformative travel, I help women turn grief into growth, fear into freedom, and uncertainty into adventure.Hit reply to this email or connect via your social method of choice (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads) and let’s begin – together.
Ever wondered what it’s really like to sleep in an Ice Hotel? I braved a night at the iconic Hôtel de Glace in Quebec—and it was colder, more beautiful, and more surreal than I ever expected!
In this week’s short video on YouTube, I take you on a whirlwind tour of Canada’s only ice hotel. You’ll see the breathtaking ice sculptures, explore my frozen room, sip a cocktail at the legendary ice bar, and hear my honest thoughts about what it’s actually like to sleep on a bed made of ice. Spoiler: it’s an unforgettable experience – but it’s not for the faint-hearted! Check it out for yourself 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…
Blog – Postcards from Tragedy to Hope
Blog – Have You Joined The Facebook Group Yet?
Video – My Wildest Galápagos Animals Encounters Yet!
And finally, just for you…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., but you will not pay any extra charges for this. My opinions remain my own.
🏠 For accommodation, I use Booking.com. They have their Genius loyalty scheme 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.
🤞 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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