After 15 months, five continents and 25+ countries, Gail reflects on her journey through Mexico and the unexpected lessons it brought. From travelling by train and navigating languages and food to searching for the elusive Olmec heads and discovering ChatGPT as an unexpected travel companion, Mexico reminds her of the beauty of impermanence. Sometimes, the journey is not about controlling the experience, but learning to embrace it, grow from it and simply BE.

This Christmas and New Year, I found myself far from familiar shores, sailing toward South America and Antarctica, embracing new continents, new cultures, and a new chapter of life. At 60, I am travelling the globe not to escape my old life, but to expand it. With curiosity as my compass and joy as my intention, 2026 begins with passion, transformation, and the courage to keep going.

In 2025, I stepped into my sixth decade with a backpack, a medium sized suitcase, and no fixed plan. What followed was ten months of solo travel across five continents and thirteen countries, guided not by schedules or objectives but by curiosity, presence, and the desire to simply be. This journey was not about ticking destinations off a list. It was about growth, challenge, connection, stillness, and learning to trust life as it unfolded.