Adventure travel substituted for marriage counseling: Exploring why overcoming divorce trauma is better achieved through experiential travel rather than traditional therapy
Article Rewrite:
As I reached 34, I found myself beginning anew after a decadelong marriage that gradually eroded my self-worth. Many women, like me, initially seek refuge in traditional therapy, searching for answers within the controlled confines of a therapist's office.
But I stumbled upon unexpected wisdom: traveling. Yes, I'm not advocating against therapy; it was a vital step for me. Yet, a pivotal moment came when I understood my life's map had been obliterated, leading me to chart a new course across continents.
The world became my compass, guiding me through the chaos left by my broken marriage.
Discovering an Unconventional Healing: Why Adventure Travel Outshines Divorce Therapy
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Conventional wisdom would have me settling down with a partner or juggling young families like many of my peers in my age bracket. But I required something different—something that transcended endlessly rehashing my marital woes.
Despite the common urge to reassimilate into relationships as quickly as possible, I sought a fresh escape—something normal for a woman in her late 30s post-divorce, but far from standard advice.
Yearning for more than just a temporary respite in 2021, I embarked on a trio of life-changing journeys—to the vivid streets of Colombia, the pulsing heart of Mexico City, and the ancient crossroads of Turkey. Embracing each destination, I confronted my fears and found solace in the lessons of local resilience, experiencing grace in the face of adversity that dwarfed my own heartache.
Traditional therapy kept me anchored in the past, while travel plunged me into the present.
It's hard to dwell on your marital woes when you're haggling in a crowded market or savoring the uncertainty of trying a new dish. The world has a way of demanding your unwavering attention, leaving little room for old wounds to fester.
Each exotic stop, I discarded another shred of self-doubt. Colombia's healing mud, an impromptu spa day, left my skin aglow and my spirit lighter. In Mexico City, I soared literally above my past, soaring in a hot air balloon over Teotihuacan's pyramids, their ancient shadows painting the sunrise.
Turkey's Cappadocia unveiled a surreal landscape where I traded my cramped apartment for a cave room carved from volcanic rock, awakening daily to the sight of colorful hot air balloons dancing against the rose-gold dawn sky. Through the mud baths and cave dwellings, I ceased introducing myself as "recently divorced" and began sharing tales of Cuban tacos and Colombian salsa.
What's remarkable about travel isn't merely the diversion (though it proves a formidable distraction); it lies in the small triumphs that uplift you. Stepping outside your comfort zone brings a sense of achievement and a newfound understanding of self.
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With each successfully navigated metro system or unearthed friendship in unlikely cities, you regain a sense of identity beyond your divorce.
It was an epiphany that struck me hard in 2021: I opted to seize a chance I otherwise would have dismissed. I left my cherished 14-year career in higher education for uncharted territories as an entrepreneur, founded a travel company, and, now, guide fellow adventurers through transformative experiences.
Witnessing their evolution from anxiety-ridden strangers to confident souls emboldened by travel, I cannot help but reflect on my own unlikely transformation.
In retrospect, I realize that my divorce marked the beginning of new opportunities—opportunities to explore the world and find new meaning within its diverse landscapes and vibrant cultures.
It was an incredible journey that started with a stolen heart and ended with a newfound zest for life.
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[1] Lindsay Schiavo. (2014). Tourism, Adventure and Women’s Emotions. Lecture presented at The Women's Emotional Relationship with Adventure Tourism, Monash University, Australia.
[2] Maria Trigos and J.J. Wright. (2016). Tourism and well-being: A narrative review of the literature. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(4), 590-604.
[3] Pappas, I. (2016). Breaking free: Experiential tourism and personal development. International Journal of Leisure and Recreation Research, 18(1), 13-22.
[4] McKie, J. E., Peterson, J. L., & Bridges, L. D. (2005). Loss, trauma, and bereavement: An overview of psychotherapeutic approaches to mental health. In J. E. McKie, L. D. Bridges, & M. A. Stripp (Eds.), Mental Health, Disability, and the Family (pp. 103-120). Wockhardt Foundation, Allied Publishers.
[5] Kraaijenhof, H. M., & Hulstijn, J. H. (2017). Motivation to approach and avoid in adventure tourism. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 14(1), 24-40.
Sources:- Schiavo, L. (2014). Tourism, Adventure and Women’s Emotions. Lecture presented at The Women's Emotional Relationship with Adventure Tourism, Monash University, Australia.- Trigos, M., & Wright, J. J. (2016). Tourism and well-being: A narrative review of the literature. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(4), 590-604.- Pappas, I. (2016). Breaking free: Experiential tourism and personal development. International Journal of Leisure and Recreation Research, 18(1), 13-22.- McKie, J. E., Peterson, J. L., & Bridges, L. D. (2005). Loss, trauma, and bereavement: An overview of psychotherapeutic approaches to mental health. In J. E. McKie, L. D. Bridges, & M. A. Stripp (Eds.), Mental Health, Disability, and the Family (pp. 103-120). Wockhardt Foundation, Allied Publishers.- Kraaijenhof, H. M., & Hulstijn, J. H. (2017). Motivation to approach and avoid in adventure tourism. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 14(1), 24-40.
[1] My personal journey following a decade-long marriage that eroded my self-worth led me to rediscover myself through travel, an unconventional path often overlooked in favor of divorce therapy.
[2] Despite the conventional advice to settle down or juggle families, seeking solace in travel offered me a means to transcend the endless rehashing of marital woes.
[3] As I embarked on a series of life-changing journeys to Colombia, Mexico City, and Turkey, I discarded self-doubt, finding solace in local resilience, and experiencing grace in the face of adversity that dwarfed my own heartache.
[4] Through mud baths, cave dwellings, and haggling in crowded markets, travel plunged me into the present, offering small triumphs that uplifted me and helped me regain a sense of identity beyond my divorce.
[5] My remarkable transformation during travel inspired me to guide fellow adventurers through transformative experiences, proving that travel can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery.
