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What keeps you going when the distance feels heavy?
What makes the sacrifice worth it?

In this episode of My Solo Chronicles, Mike shares his story of working cross-country for years in the airline industry — living miles and time zones away from his wife and children.

While his family built their daily life back home, Mike built a career from hotel rooms, early departures, and long stretches of absence. His version of “solo” wasn’t about independence or adventure. It was about purpose.

We explore what it really means to stay committed when proximity isn’t possible. The emotional weight of providing from afar. The discipline of showing up for your family in ways that don’t always get seen. And the clarity that comes when you’re forced to answer one powerful question:

What’s your why?

This is a story about distance — but even more, it’s a story about devotion.

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In this new episode of My Solo Chronicles, we explore the question “What’s your why?” through Barbara’s powerful and deeply personal story.

Barbara reflects on her journey as a Black female entrepreneur in the cosmetic industry, in the late 70s, which includes a pivotal moment when she had to travel to New York just to source products/ingredients suitable for women of color, that weren’t available elsewhere. What started as research quickly became clarity—revealing the gaps in the industry and helping define the purpose behind her work.

She also speaks about resilience, representation, and what it means to build your own lane when the system isn’t built with you in mind. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes your “why” is born out of necessity—and grows into the courage to create what doesn’t yet exist.

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In this episode of What's Your Why, DQ shares why she chooses to travel solo and how those experiences have shaped her confidence, self-awareness, and sense of purpose. She talks about the lessons learned on the road, the freedom of moving alone, and why solo travel can b one of the most transformative ways to understand you "why".

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In this first episode of this four-part series, What's Your Why, I start with my own story. After losing my mom in 2016, grief became the unexpected catalyst that pushed me towards doing life solo. What began as a way to cope slowly with my mom's passing, quickly began to transform into a way to honor her - by saying yes to experiences she never had the chance to live.

I reflect on how my mother's legacy shaped my courage, my independence, and my decision to step out into the world alone. This is a conversation about loss, healing, and finding purpose through solo journeys - no matter what "solo" looks like for you.

Towards the end of the episode, I invite you to reflect on your own why. If there's a story behind what drives you, I'd love to hear it - reach out via email or connect with me through social media and share what your why is.

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I left the U.S. for Japan for eight months—and came back changed. In “The Return Home,” I reflect on returning to the U.S. after living and working in Japan, and the emotional complexity of coming home to a life that no longer feels the same. This episode explores reverse culture shock, shifting identity, and the quiet disorientation of reintegrating after long-term solo living abroad. From unpacking suitcases to unpacking who I became overseas, this is an honest look at how the journey doesn’t end when you return home—and how learning to come back can be its own kind of travel.

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This brief episode is a quick check-in to let you know that My Solo Chronicles is taking a short pause. After 30 episodes of amazing solo travel stories and reflections, I’m taking some time to reimagine what’s next — exploring not just solo travel, but all the ways we can embrace doing things alone, from everyday adventures to personal growth. I’ll be back soon with fresh ideas, new energy, and more stories to share. In the meantime, my moonbeams, take yourself somewhere quiet or loud, fun and adventurous and embrace the discovery of something new about yourself.

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In this two-part episode, Corinne shares her leap from college graduation straight into the unknown: moving to Japan to begin her career. With little more than determination and curiosity, she navigated the transition from student life in the U.S. to building a new life abroad.

From the challenges of adapting to a new workplace culture to the everyday surprises of living in Japan, Corinne’s story highlights the courage it takes to start fresh in a foreign country. Along the way, she reflects on lessons in independence, resilience, and finding joy in the unexpected, while being guided by her faith and strength in God.

Whether you’ve dreamed of working overseas, wondered what life in Japan is really like, or are just curious about how to thrive after graduation, this two-part series offers inspiration, honesty, and practical insights for anyone ready to take a big leap.

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In this two-part episode, Corinne shares her leap from college graduation straight into the unknown: moving to Japan to begin her career. With little more than determination and curiosity, she navigated the transition from student life in the U.S. to building a new life abroad.

From the challenges of adapting to a new workplace culture to the everyday surprises of living in Japan, Corinne’s story highlights the courage it takes to start fresh in a foreign country. Along the way, she reflects on lessons in independence, resilience, and finding joy in the unexpected, while being guided by her faith and strength in God.

Whether you’ve dreamed of working overseas, wondered what life in Japan is really like, or are just curious about how to thrive after graduation, this two-part series offers inspiration, honesty, and practical insights for anyone ready to take a big leap.

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