Sometimes, life throws us unexpected curveballs. Last week, I embarked on a Detour into the breathtaking Beartooth Mountains of southwest Montana. Accompanied by a group of amazing women - my Daring Darlings - this journey turned out to be a deeply personal experience.

Have you heard about the loneliness pandemic?

Today I wanted to talk about the challenging, humbling, and oftentimes lonely adventure life hands you as an adult woman: making friends.

Who’s who and the importance of safety.

Taking the time to explore a new place, whether close to home or far away, brings new perspectives and insights. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone a little (or a lot).

Summer has officially arrived here in Montana! But no matter where you are, summer is an excellent time to take advantage of getting out in nature. Here are some of my current favorite ways to get you #GirlMoss Summer on!

My recap of a Montana dude ranch experience.

This was my 6th(!) year bringing a group of Darlings to Detour at the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Big Sky... and I decided to put a twist on this one.

This isn't a yoga retreat.

But here’s why we Detour. Detours are laboratories for our hearts and souls. They allow us to step out of our day-to-day, release old stories that no longer serve us, and rediscover who we truly are.

First I will say, Morocco is NOT for the faint of heart.

Even though we broke up our daily activities with rest in the shade and unique experiences in amazing places, the heat and seemingly constant exploration on foot were real - I think we averaged close to 16,000 steps/day?! This being said Morocco was both transformational and incredibly humbling.

Let's face it. Everything gets a little harder to recover from as you get older.

Including jetlag.

At the end of the day, there’s no true cure for jet lag other than time and rest, but here are some of my rituals and tips for long-haul flights that help ease the change into new time zones:

As a 57-year-old woman, I’ve seen a lot of life and a lot of change. But mostly, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of Detours in life. Through them, I’ve encountered many opportunities to grow and evolve. I know that taking risks is often essential to finding true fulfillment, and travel is a great way to do that. So now, I seek them out actively.

Every Detour is a journey of self-discovery and growth.

I find that the best way to maximize the impact of the work I do with the group is to take a solo trip to reflect and integrate my learnings.

I spoke at the Bridger Women's Club about the importance of sharing our stories. I shared my personal story with the women who gathered, women of all ages and financial backgrounds. And I wanted to remind YOU how discovering your story — no matter where you are in life — is important

YOU are your own walking vision board.

“Beyond the paper and the prayers, the to-do list, and the wanting, there is you, all of you. You are a walking vision board.”

A solo female travel experience is incredible for the soul — at any age.

I am deeply passionate about this and believe it to my core. Providing safe and meaningful opportunities for women to experience travel is the intention behind Dare to Detour and it's at the root of our mission.

Do you ever find yourself thinking…?

I want to design the next chapter of my life on my terms. But I'm worried that it's too late to start.

But it will change your life.

Detouring has become my religion.

Why?

Because Detours shift perspective.

You might be wondering why I chose Morocco as a place to travel as a woman.

And why do I think Morocco is such an important place for us to Detour?

Why you can (and should) make a travel budget.

Are budgets your B*&%$ or your BFF? For most of my adult life budgets have been a B*&%$. In 2022 I made the decision to make a major shift, and step by step, I've been turning that B*&%$ into my BFF.

So what have I learned?

If I’m afraid, I Dare myself.

Many of you have reached out with questions about what motivated my Never Have I Ever DIY Detour Challenge. Honestly, it goes back to a story about fear. It goes back to when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I'm going to talk about my other big D word.

Divorce.

Because for the first time in a long time, I feel really good where I’m at. 

But many in my circle DO NOT understand why I’m alone. Or let alone, why I'm feeling happy about it.

Flower Crowns & Fearsome Things! This trip left me feeling all the feels. I grew up outside of Portland, Oregon, but moved to New York City right after graduating from Oregon State, so Detouring in Bend felt like a homecoming to me.