This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Depend®. The opinions and text are all mine.
When I was growing up, I didn’t stray far from home. A camping trip here. A visit to Grandma’s there.
Once I hit adulthood and found myself bringing home my own paychecks, I discovered that I had a passion for traveling the world.
My eyes weren’t set on Grandma’s house anymore (though I still visited often), and they weren’t set on my own backyard (though a staycation is always fun). Rather, my heart was drawn to adventures on other continents, different cultures, and exotic cuisine.
My 30’s were spent traveling the globe by land, air, and sea.
In Singapore I climbed to the top of a rainforest. Indonesia had me swimming with sharks in the South China Sea. And the U.S. Virgin Islands kept my mouth drooling over conch fritters. I met the love of my life and became a mother.
My 40’s have surprised me. As I’m well into this decade now, and rapidly approaching the next, I’ve found that I’m more adventurous than ever, pushing myself beyond what I thought I would (and could) do.
Here’s what I’ve learned…at this time in my life, there are things that won’t stop me from traveling and chasing my dreams.
4 Things That Won’t Stop Me From Traveling
AGE
I lost my mom when she was in her 50s. As I approach that decade of life, I find myself a little anxious.
The world has told me that I’m getting old. My wrinkles and gray hair have told me that I’m getting old. My body often screams I’m getting old.
So why do I feel more confidant than ever? Why do I feel like I’m younger than my mom was in her late 40s?
Recently I had the opportunity to chat with nationally known psychotherapist, award winning reporter, and author, Dr. Robi Ludwig. With academic credentials including a doctorate in psychology, and appearances on the Today Show, CNN, and Oprah, I wanted her to weigh in on what I was feeling.
She’s written a book on this very topic, “Your Best Age is Now”, and shared with me that I’m not alone in this thinking. Dr. Ludwig said, “Old myths about aging are simply not true and midlife is no longer the time it once was”.
I’m sitting here blogging in what has become my second career, one I’m passionate about and allows me incredible opportunities to travel the world. Truth be told, there have been many times where I have been made to feel “too old” for this. Many a writing job where I was not allowed to apply because of my age. Many a press trip where young millennials were simply shocked to find out my age.
Yet Dr. Ludwig explains it’s in these moments where it is important to not “give ourselves false excuses to be out of the game”. I couldn’t agree more.
So you will find me pushing myself out of my comfort zone (even if it scares me) – kayaking through Florida creeks, ziplining over Kauai’s lush greenery, and walking the red carpet in Hollywood.
FEAR
There are a lot of things to be afraid of in this world.
Fear comes easy to me, I’ll admit. Those close to me have learned I think in terms of “worst case scenarios”because of the losses I’ve experienced in life. I’m not saying it’s good for me, it’s just my personality.
Whether it is concern about the uncertainties in parts of the world, challenges of traveling solo, or the fear of getting motion-sick while cruising an island, I will not let fear win.
I choose to travel despite my fear.
I choose to travel because of my fear.
MOTHERHOOD
Recently, I was heading off on two back to back press trips to destinations I was thrilled about. My 96-year old grandmother, very predictably, asked, “Well, who is going to take care of your little girl?”
Now mind you, I love my grandmother dearly, and she does come from a different era. BUT, if my husband was heading off on two back to back work trips, not a single person would ask him who was watching his little girl. Not one. Am I right?
That said, I have an incredible husband who happily watches as I trot out the door, suitcase in hand, to take a helicopter tour off the Napali Coast or interview Michael Douglas in Hollywood.
My daughter is always well taken care of at home, if she’s not got her bags packed and joining me already.
No, motherhood, you will not stop me from traveling.
BLADDER LEAKAGE
Were you expecting this one? If not, why not?
It’s often part of the aging process, and yes, for mid-life or even after (or because of) motherhood. In fact, 65 million Americans experience bladder leakage in one form or another.
It’s not something that we often talk about publicly, but that is something that should change. Dr. Ludwig agrees. She said, “There’s a lot of power in belonging to a larger group” and mentioned that life can feel so satisfying “in the smaller moments of connecting in authentic ways”.
Just opening up to a small group of friends with topics like pre-menopause and bladder leakage can really make you realize you are not in this alone. You get away from that automatic response “why me?”.
But here’s the thing – bladder leakage (of any amount) doesn’t have to get in the way of living a confident, uninterrupted life. It doesn’t have to stop you from traveling.
And while my amount of bladder leakage is not something that’s ever prevented me from traveling, I know that thanks to Depend® it never will.
We have technology now that not only always us to feel confident, but comfortable (and you cannot tell one is wearing these undergarments)! I wonder what my great-grandparents did when products like the Depend FIT-FLEX® Underwear did not exist.
TIP: Depend FIT-FLEX® Underwear now comes in more sizes for better comfort, making it the brand’s best-fitting, most comfortable underwear yet. It is designed to fit and feel like underwear for all body shapes, so you can reconnect with the people and things you love.
No bladder leakage, you won’t stop me from traveling. Whether I’m concerned about a long flight, thrilling rollercoaster, or belly-laughing with friends, I will keep on.
As I grow older, I will embrace this new part of me, thankful that Depend® works hard to help us feel and do our best!
What “thing” won’t stop you from traveling? Chasing your dreams?
For more information about incontinence and Depend® products, please visit: here. For product samples, please visit: here, and follow Depend on: Depend.com, Facebook: @Depend, and Youtube: @kc10dependchannel.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Depend® brand. The opinions and text are all mine.
I LOVE traveling!! I can’t travel anymore by myself, because I am disabled. I became a mom exactly two weeks after my 18th birthday. Then I had another baby 12 days before I turned 21. That still didn’t stop me from traveling. Of course, I didn’t do first class traveling, but I packed up my kids and took busses. We went to Seattle, WI, IN, MI, and a couple of more states. The kids loved it. They were good too! I got married and had a couple of more kids, and we still traveled, but this time, we usually drove everywhere. Your going to laugh, but my youngest two kids loved the WWF, before it became the WWE. We drove to many a state to see Wrestlemanias! The kids always dressed like their favorite wrestlers. Money got tight and we didn’t do that much traveling anymore until I got cancer. I always wanted to go to Europe. So against doctors’ orders, I got some masks and gloves and went on a ten day tour across Europe. It was one of the best times I ever had!! But age and illness has slowed me down, but hasn’t stopped me. I take Depends. I am not ashamed! I am glad products are around so I am not a prisoner in my own home! Plus while traveling, sometimes it’s not easy to find a bathroom/water closets when you need to! Nothing is perfect, but you have to push yourself if you want to do or get things in life! One of the things that will stop me from traveling is my health! Like you, I am so thankful that I have a very supportive husband! He even encouraged me to go to a couple of MM conferences so I could learn about new treatments and talk to others who had the same disease. Thank you for sharing your experiences and more with us!!
Oh Sue, thank you for sharing your story. I love your spirit and hope and pray for your health!!
These are great tips for travelling, thank you.
i too am gonna travel regardless,,i have some issues but by golly im not gonna let it keep me from doing or seeing the things i like to do
I can identify with a lot of what you said. I also lost my mom when she was in her 50s and I started travelling not long after. I stayed in my first hostel at 35. Age isn’t stopping me. My friends aren’t big travellers so I go solo. Fear isn’t stopping me. I’m not a mom but I haven’t completely ruled out the idea yet and I hope that if I go down that path that I’ll be the kind of mom who travels with her kid. I’d like to think motherhood wouldn’t stop me. 🙂
Thanks for sharing Melissa and I’m so sorry that we share that in common.
I love the pictures you’ve included in this post! 😉 I find that the older I get, the more I push myself out of my comfort zone, too. I hope I won’t let those 4 things stop me from traveling, either!
This is so great and I agree with all of this!
Thanks so much Ramona!
I can totally relate to everything you said!!
I’m seriously ready to pick out my first package of Depends!
I love your list! I traveled solo for the first time this year. I want to be more adventurous with my travels!