Midlife, or as I like to call it, the wisdom years, is a season rich with possibility. It’s a time when we are freer from the constraints of earlier years, more rooted in who we are, and perhaps for the first time, fully open to growth without hesitation. In these wisdom years, we recognize that true learning and transformation don’t come from sitting on the sidelines but from engaging deeply with life. We know, with lived experience, that growth requires stepping beyond the familiar and opening ourselves to new adventures.
And there’s no better teacher of this mindset than travel itself. When we journey to unfamiliar places, we are invited to let go of tightly held expectations and allow each experience to shape us in unexpected ways. Just as we become women of wisdom through life’s joys and challenges, travel shows us that true understanding comes from being fully present in each moment, even—and especially—when it takes us out of our comfort zone.
The Liberation of Letting Go in Travel
In our wisdom years, we carry with us a lifetime of ideas, dreams, and assumptions about what life “should” look like. But when we travel, we’re asked to release these expectations—to see each place, each person, and even each moment as they truly are, not as we imagined they would be.
And, let’s be real: this stage of life comes with an added bonus—a lot less giving of shits. We’ve spent years worrying about what everyone else thinks, bending over backwards to keep things just right. By now, though, we know there’s a whole lot more freedom in simply not caring about the little stuff. So when the hotel “suite” turns out to be more of a closet with a view of the dumpster, or the “luxury” airport transfer is a guy with a tuk-tuk, we’ve learned to shrug it off and laugh. These are the stories we’ll end up telling and retelling with a glass of wine, laughing at how our idea of “luxury travel” has come to include a working toilet and maybe a lock on the door.
This newfound freedom to care less, ironically, lets us experience so much more. Without the pressure for everything to go just as planned, we allow the journey to unfold as it is—and often find ourselves pleasantly surprised. Instead of a trip that goes exactly as expected, we end up with a tapestry of memorable quirks and unexpected laughs. And isn’t that what we really want from an adventure?
Setting Intentions, Not Expectations
One of the lessons these wisdom years have taught us is the power of setting intentions rather than expectations. Intentions come from within—they’re about how we want to feel or what we hope to discover. For example, setting an intention to embrace openness, to connect with others deeply, or to cultivate a sense of curiosity as we explore.
Expectations, on the other hand, are like that over-packing friend—heavy, unnecessary, and likely to get in the way of a good time. When we ditch the need for control (and maybe even the need for five different shoe options), we free ourselves to travel light, open to whatever comes our way. Setting intentions without attachment to an outcome is like showing up to a restaurant and being open to whatever the chef recommends. It’s less stressful, more exciting, and sometimes, we end up with a dish we wouldn’t have dared to try on our own.
Going with the Flow: Wisdom in Flexibility
Travel reminds us, again and again, of the value of flexibility—a lesson that applies far beyond our travels. Flights get delayed, accommodations aren’t what we expected, and sometimes, the road takes us in a completely different direction. But it’s in these moments that we become women of wisdom, learning to go with the flow and adapt gracefully.
In travel, as in life, letting go of the need for control allows us to see every experience as part of the adventure. A detour can lead to an unforgettable encounter, a missed reservation might open the door to a hidden gem of a restaurant, and even the little discomforts—like adjusting to new foods or navigating a bustling marketplace—can deepen our appreciation for the unfamiliar. Going with the flow helps us realize that sometimes the best memories are made in the spaces between what we planned and what actually happened.
Bringing Travel Lessons Home
The growth we gain on these journeys isn’t something we leave behind at the airport; it comes home with us and infuses our daily lives. When we let go of expectations in travel, we learn to let go of them in everyday situations as well. Back home, when plans change or a day doesn’t go as expected, we bring the same wisdom and flexibility we used abroad.
This open-mindedness allows us to approach each moment with gratitude, curiosity, and joy—even in the mundane. The mindset we cultivate through travel—one of openness, resilience, and humor—reminds us that life’s richness isn’t found in perfection but in the stories we gather and the ways we choose to respond.
Embracing Midlife as the Ultimate Adventure
Our wisdom years have a way of humbling and freeing us. We no longer need to chase perfection or cling to a rigid sense of who we are supposed to be. Instead, we see each day, each experience, and each new place as a chance to grow, to explore, and to connect deeply with ourselves and the world around us.
And really, after years of caring about “doing it right,” there’s something deeply satisfying about embracing the “perfectly imperfect” nature of travel—and life. By now, we’ve learned that showing up as we are, with our hearts open and our humor intact, is all we need to experience the richness of any journey. Just as travel teaches us to let go of expectations of a place, its people, and even the journey itself, midlife invites us to let go of expectations about ourselves. We are wiser now, able to see that true growth happens not by holding tightly but by allowing life to unfold and trusting ourselves to navigate it with grace.
So, let us continue to embrace these wisdom years as the perfect time for change. Let’s set out on adventures not with expectations but with intentions to see, to feel, to grow, and to connect. And as we journey, both near and far, may we continue to become women of wisdom—open, resilient, and joyfully embracing each step of the way.
In this letting go, we discover not only the beauty of the world but also the beauty of who we’re becoming. And isn’t that the truest adventure of all?
In friendship, and adventure
Penny
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