There comes a point in life when you realize you’ve become really good at waiting.
Waiting until you have more money.
Waiting until the kids are grown.
Waiting until you find someone to travel with.
Waiting until life feels a little less busy.
I know, because I’ve done exactly that.
Between working as a pilot, raising three incredible sons, navigating marriage, divorce, and all the responsibilities that come with adulthood, travel was always something I’d do more of “someday.”
Then one day, I realized that I’m not getting any younger. My body may not always work as well as it does now.
This year, I made a promise to myself: I’m taking 12 trips in 12 months.
Not because I’m retired.
Not because I’m wealthy.
Not because my calendar suddenly became wide open.
I’m doing it because I finally realized that travel isn’t something that should happen after life.
It’s part of living it.
More Than Just Visiting Places
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I have become slightly obsessed with points and miles.
Yes, they make incredible travel possible.
Yes, they’ve allowed me to fly in premium cabins and stay in hotels that would otherwise be out of reach.
But here’s the truth:
Points don’t make you travel. They simply remove some of the financial barriers.
The hardest part isn’t earning the points.
It’s deciding you’re worth the trip.
My hope is that flyGIRL becomes more than a place to learn about credit cards or airline programs. I want it to be a place where people—especially women who have spent years putting everyone else first—realize they don’t have to wait for permission to see the world.
Hong Kong Reminded Me Why I Said Yes
The first international trip of this challenge took me to Hong Kong.
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I imagined it would feel overwhelming. A massive city on the other side of the world. Different language. Different culture. Different everything.
Instead, I found a place that was welcoming, easy to navigate, incredibly efficient, and full of kind people who were willing to help a female solo traveler find her way.
The biggest surprise wasn’t how different Hong Kong was.
It was how familiar so many moments felt.
Travel has a way of reminding us that while cultures may differ, people often have far more in common than we realize.
That’s one of the greatest gifts travel gives us.
Why I Want to Share This Journey
For years, I’ve trained as a pilot and flew professionally.
Travel was part of my job.
Today, travel is something different.
It’s a choice.
It’s curiosity.
It’s growth.
It’s one of the ways I continue learning about the world—and about myself.
That’s why I decided to document these 12 trips.
Not because I want to collect passport stamps.
Not because I think every trip has to be extravagant.
But because I hope someone reading this realizes they don’t have to keep waiting either.
Maybe your first trip is a weekend road trip.
Maybe it’s finally applying for your passport.
Maybe it’s learning how points and miles work so your dream vacation becomes affordable.
Every journey starts with one decision.
To say yes.
Come Along for the Ride
Whether you’ve been following along from the beginning or you’re just joining the adventure, I’ll continue sharing the destinations, lessons, travel strategies, and unexpected moments that make this journey so rewarding.
Some trips are close to home.
Some are halfway around the world.
Every one of them will have a story.
And I hope, somewhere along the way, you’ll be inspired to write your own.
Because life doesn’t stop being busy.
The perfect time rarely arrives.
But the world is waiting.
And sometimes, the biggest adventure begins with one small word.
If this story resonated with you, I’d love for you to travel alongside me.
Every destination has a story that goes beyond the Instagram photos, and I share those experiences on YouTube—from the planning process and points strategy to the unexpected moments that make each trip unforgettable.
I hope you’ll join me for the next adventure.
▶️ Watch on YouTube