The Trip That Changed Everything
It was just over 3 years after my divorce that I decided to go to a Travel Exhibition with a friend one cold, depressing January weekend. It wasn’t like I had lot of other things to do and it was a day out!
I’d always loved travel and had regularly gone on holidays with my husband. But since my divorce I’d lost my enthusiasm for it and didn’t really have many single friends to go away with.
A Chance Encounter
I met a Wildlife photographer at the show who I got talking to and he gave me a flyer for a photography trip he was running to Kenya in June. The trip sounded amazing… but the only trouble was… I had no one to go with.
After a lot of deliberation, and encouragement from my friend, I finally decided to book… telling myself that it was only for 6 nights… so what was the worst that could happen 😱
Way Outside My Comfort Zone
Now don’t get me wrong – this was massively out of my comfort zone. I’d never been away on my own before with a group of people I’d never met. Kenya was also the place where I’d got engaged and held special memories for me of my husband – so that was something I had to get over.
I don’t know how many times I nearly cancelled the trip before going, I was so anxious about it. But eventually I bought the camera gear, and told myself I’d read the instructions on how to use it on the flight over there.
A Trip That Sparked Something New
From the moment I arrived I had the most amazing time!
Discovering my love of wildlife photography literally changed my life after my divorce! I know that sounds like a bold statement – but it’s true.
I hadn’t laughed so much for years – real belly aching laughs. I met some kind, genuine, fascinating people and made some life-long friends from that trip. Most of the people on the trip were on their own, even if they weren’t necessarily single, and around my age.
The most refreshing thing was that everyone accepted me for who I was and how I showed up on that trip. No one asked about me about what I did for work or what my background was, which I’d been dreading, as I knew I would probably end up in tears if they asked. They just accepted me for who I was in that moment and that was liberating.
I’d always loved wildlife and we saw some incredible sights and made some magical memories. The highlight of the trip was seeing a Cheetah mum with her 5 cubs all lined up in a row! Of course, I messed the shot up and to this day the photographer never lets me forget it 😂.
Nature, Healing, and Real Joy
Being out in nature gave me space to breathe again. Those early 4:30am starts weren’t fun, but watching the sun rise over the savannah and watching the wildlife made every second worth it. And yes… I cried sometimes, thinking of my husband and the life we’d shared… wishing he was there with me. But it was also the beginning of letting go.
That trip changed me. It gave me something to look forward to again. It gave me back me.
I got my confidence back, I found my sparkle again.
I built a new passion, a new circle of friends, and a life that excites me… something that I never thought was possible at one point.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world with this hobby. I came back and immediately booked a trip to India to see the tigers and the Arctic to see the Polar bears with a friend I’d made on the Kenya trip. I’ve since been to Antarctica, The Pantanal, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Alaska, Sri Lanka and many other amazing places. And I’ve been back to the Massai Mara, where this all started, many times. It’s my favourite place to be.
To summarise
The lessons in all this…
Sometimes, the thing that changes your life starts with a scary “yes.”
Saying yes to that Kenya trip was terrifying. But it was also the turning point in my healing. It gave me new confidence, new purpose, and new joy.
Be curious about life.
Try something you’ve never done before. What have you always wanted to do but never got round to, or what couldn’t you do whilst you were in your relationship? It doesn’t have to be travel – it’s whatever lights you up.
Follow your passion – there’s nothing to say that this next chapter of your life can’t be even better than the first one!
If you’re ready to move on with your life and thrive after your divorce then download my free guide ‘Make divorce the best thing that’s happened to you’
