The Short Story: Finding Myself Again

After cancer, I realized I had been waiting—waiting to have fun, to say no, to give myself permission to just be me.

For years, I had prioritized everything but myself—my dreams, my happiness, the inner spark that makes life feel alive. I had spent too much time following the rules, trying to be good, nice, and acceptable instead of embracing the life God made me for.

But I don’t believe we were created just to play it safe. I believe we were meant to experience the world, to feel fully alive.

Travel had always been my gateway to freedom, confidence, and self-discovery. But after cancer, it became more than that. It was how I remembered who I was. How I chose adventure. How I declared, I matter.

Now, I help other midlife women do the same—because your best years aren’t behind you. They’re waiting for you to say yes.

Contact Natalie for more info.

“Loving Yourself Enough To Stop Waiting is the Real Adventure” - Natalie

The Longer Story: How Travel Became My Healing Journey

I grew up in Europe, always in motion—cars, trains, castles, museums, gasthauses, and breathtaking views. My parents believed that if you had the chance to travel or experience something new, you took it. No hesitation.

When I started traveling on my own—first as a student, then in my twenties—I realized something powerful: travel wasn’t just about exploring new places. It was shaping me. Every adventure built my self-belief, independence, and identity outside of who I was expected to be.

That love for exploration wove itself into my life. I earned a degree in International Business, worked as a teacher in an International Baccalaureate school, and poured myself into helping others dream big and believe in themselves. I became a wife, bonus mom, and dog mom—doing my best to be the “good girl,” the one who gave everything to everyone else.

And in the process, I lost myself.

I made everything about mindset and helping others, but I ignored my emotions and never gave myself permission to rest. Then 2020 hit. The world stopped. And shortly after, so did my body.

Two days before leaving for Cabo, I walked into a doctor’s office expecting a quick visit for cough medicine. I walked out with a CT scan that would later reveal a tumor between my heart and lungs.

So, what did we do?

We went to Mexico anyway. I figured if God and my body were telling me to stop, rest, and reset—why not do it staring at the ocean? Funny enough, I ended up getting quarantined there (yes, really), which gave me a lot of time to think.

Deep down, I knew the truth: I had spent years playing by the rules, saying yes when I wanted to say no, and ignoring the stress building inside me. I had to change.

And while my faith and mindset played a huge role in my healing, travel helped heal my spirit.

As I lay in a hospital bed, watching bag after bag of chemo drip into my veins, I started planning my post-treatment trips. Three months after finishing, I ran a half-marathon at Disney—because I wanted to feel alive, experience magic, and celebrate what my body had overcome.

Then, my husband and I took a 10-day couples’ trip to Costa Rica. A country known for its natural healing—thermal springs, nutrient-rich food, and pura vida happiness.

That’s when it hit me:

Travel wasn’t just a childhood joy. It wasn’t just about building confidence, learning about the world, or chasing adventure. It had the power to heal, rejuvenate, and spark self-discovery.

Travel is a tool to wellness. To a well-lived life.

So here’s your permission:

Don’t wait.

Don’t wait for the kids to be older.
Don’t wait for a man to marry you (or divorce you).
Don’t wait for retirement.
And please, don’t wait for a cancer diagnosis to decide that you matter.

It’s time to live well, travel well, and be well.