ONWARD to Bali!

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it!” I yell back to my friend wheeling her suitcase through the crowded Da Nang International airport. While I appreciate her kind offer to help me manage my luggage in the chaos of a crowded airport, I felt confident I could manage and wanted to show myself that I could do it without any help. So I extended the handle on my rolling suitcase a little more and pushed my way through to the check-in kiosk.

Even before I had a stroke in 2017, I have always loved to travel. Traveling is my favorite thing. It's what gives me life and fuels my fire. There is simply nothing better than being able to explore a new place and take in the surroundings. Every time I travel I learn something new about myself and what I am capable of.

After I had the stroke I knew I needed to get back to traveling ASAP. I felt like a part of me was missing and I knew I was going to do everything in my power to be able to get that back. It's now been six and a half years since I had a stroke, and not only do I live independently and get around on my own, but I also travel all across the world and share my journey.

As people with disabilities, travel is not always made accessible to us. I have made it part of my mission to show other people with disabilities that travel is possible and that our disabilities do not have to define or limit us. While traveling might look different after a stroke, it is still possible and very fun.

On that note, I am excited to announce that in May I will be hosting a group trip to Bali with other members of my Instagram disability community. So far we have a fantastic group of eight, traveling from all over to meet in Bali and connect in person while seeing a new place. As you may know, a traumatic experience such as stroke can be isolating, and having a strong support system makes a whole world of difference. While social media certainly has its downsides, it has a lot of positives as well, and I’m grateful to have found a supportive community of friends online. And meeting together in-person is the next step! Onward!

The deadline to sign up for my Bali trip is March 21st and there are lots of open spots still on the trip! Book your spot and join us in Bali!