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by Denise Rowe I know what you are thinking, because I was you. I was a 50-something widow, not sure who I was anymore. I loved to travel, but it was something I did with my husband or kids. The last time I went on a major trip with girlfriends was in college. Sure, there were the girls’ weekends with my college roommates over the years, but nothing too crazy. One of my friends who travels came to visit me and suggested that we pick two destinations and see what we could put together. She left it in my hands to start researching and that’s when it happened. Call it divine intervention, or fate, but there appeared on my Facebook feed a post from the Travel Sisters advertising trips for those exact destinations. I thought it was either kismet or some scam, and I became determined to figure out reality. It sounded too good to be true, so I dug a little deeper and then thought, “what harm is it to attend a meeting?” So I did. I gathered up my courage to walk alone into the Panera where the Travel Sisters were meeting for coffee and see who these women were and what were they all about. What I found was warmth, kindness, laughter and open hearts. The stories and desires to travel were ones I related to, and I discovered a deep camaraderie based on similar life experiences. I was hooked and I signed up for what has become four yeas of fantastic exploration and a constant source of joy and freedom. Greece, Croatia, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, endless stories, laughs & family. I have hiked in a waterfall & swam in the Blue Lagoon, went to high tea in Dublin & also drank a Guinness with my face on it, rode a carousel & a gondola in Germany, had a private tour of the Louvre, rode a camel in the Sahara and spent the night in the desert, rode a cogwheel train in Switzerland, danced on the Rhine, sang in Santorini, museums, and attended once in a lifetime events, capers and thrills. So many memories and so many more to come. I am here to tell you it’s more amazing than you could ever imagine. It has helped me create a mindset of “I can’t believe I did that” instead of “I wish I had.” Who is a Travel sister? She is an independent smart woman looking for adventure. As a Travel Sister, you will find will lifelong friendships, amazing escapades, lots of laughs, and a renewed sense of self. Think of it as a sorority for masterful women where someone will always have your back and whose purpose is to always lift you up. You will be empowered to step into the best version of yourself. It is the permission to live loud and boldly. It is a safe place to be accepted and appreciated for being you. Also, age is just a number here. This is a place where yes is always the answer. I think this sums it up: If you do anything in this life, make it count. Say yes to the road trips, the laughs that make your stomach hurt. Book the flight. Speak your heart. Wear the outfit. Life isn’t promised, one day, all that will matter is how deeply you loved, how fully you lived, and if you truly showed up for it. So, if it brings you joy, if it makes you feel alive, go after it. This is it. Right now. Make it mean something. 
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1/5/2026 0 Comments Zoe: Light, Laughter and Joy by: Denise Rowe
I came across this quote before New Year’s, and I shared it with my friend and Travel Sister, Zoe Welsh: Nothing is coincidence Every soul you meet is written In your destiny to teach you, To heal you, or to love you. I did not know that days later it would bring me comfort as I mourned her tragic death at the hands of an intruder in her home on January 3rd. Light. Laughter. Joy. These are the words I think of when I think of my friend Zoe Welsh. I would never in a million years ever consider that the words grief or anger would be associated with my thoughts of her. Whenever we were together, we chose to be happy and dream. I am so thankful that I got to spend Wednesday evening with her and celebrate the new year. We made plans to talk this week and made a commitment to spend more time together. We had so many wonderful memories in the short time we got to know each other, and I will treasure them. She was there for me when my dad was dying, and she hugged me tight in the airport when I found out he was gone. What I wouldn’t give for one more hug . . . one more laugh over our inside jokes. Zoe would want us to press forward as a network; she loved this project. We have all come together as women who want to travel the world. However, in the end, we have built strong bonds and lifelong friendships, a true sisterhood. We show up for each other through thick and thin, we laugh together, cry together, and raise and prop each other up. We are true blessings in each other’s lives. This is what comes to my heart and mind when I think of Zoe: Be too much. Be extra Live boldly. Smile wide. Laugh loud. Celebrate yourself. Stay open-hearted. Feel deeply. Speak your truth. Giggle. Dance. Soak Up the sun. Play in the waves. Breathe it all in - And love your life! I will remember the giggles and smiles. I had the pleasure of experiencing all of these emotions with her and I am a better person because of it. I am grateful for the life of Zoe Welsh. Zoe’s soul brought knowledge, inspiration and joy, and now her energy and memory will continue to light our paths forward. |
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