How is it already August?
At the beginning of 2026, I could not have predicted just how much life this year would hold: meaningful work, familiar places, new destinations, time with friends, solo adventure, professional connection, and a growing appreciation for the people who make every part of the journey matter.
This has been a year of movement—but not movement for movement’s sake. Each trip has carried its own purpose. Some have brought me home. Some have deepened friendships. Some have challenged me to stand confidently on my own. Others have reminded me that relationships built through work can become some of the most genuine and inspiring connections in life.
As I pause in August, I am taking stock of how far I have traveled—not just geographically, but personally and professionally.
Going Home, Going Forward
The year began with one of the most meaningful journeys I could take: returning home to Cape Town, South Africa.
Going back in January was not simply another trip on the calendar. It was an opportunity to reconnect with my roots, spend time in a place that will always hold a special place in my heart, and remember the many layers of who I am. Being in South Africa grounded me. It reminded me that home is more than an address; it is memory, belonging, family, history, and the feeling of being understood without always needing to explain yourself.
I wrote earlier this year about the experience of navigating two homes and the identity that comes with that—between Cape Town and Tampa, between where I began and where life has continued to take me. Read more: Two Homes, One Heartbeat: Relearning Myself Between Cape Town and Tampa
Returning to South Africa set the tone for the year: stay rooted, remain grateful, and continue making room for the people and places that have shaped me.
Travel, Friendship, and Connection
This year has also been filled with travel, reminding me how important it is to make space for friendship and shared experiences.
St. Maarten was a girls’ group getaway to celebrate a friend’s birthday. There is something uniquely special about traveling with a group of women—laughing together, celebrating someone you care about, enjoying beautiful surroundings, and creating memories that cannot be replicated through a phone call or a text. Life moves quickly, and those moments of being fully present with friends become more valuable with every passing year.
Anguilla was part of that same island experience, offering a chance to slow down and enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean. Sometimes the greatest luxury is not a resort or a destination—it is time. Time to relax, reconnect, and appreciate the people beside you.
Puerto Rico was a different yet just as special kind of trip: a shared adventure with someone I admire highly, and also happens to be Puerto Rican! Traveling one-on-one creates its own rhythm. There is more room for conversation, flexibility, spontaneous decisions, and a deeper connection to the moment. It was a reminder that meaningful travel does not need a large group or a packed itinerary. Sometimes it simply needs good company and an openness to enjoy what unfolds.
Then there was the solo transatlantic cruise, from Fort Lauderdale to Spain.
Traveling alone across the Atlantic was one of the most defining experiences of my year. It was a deliberate choice to trust myself, embrace my own company, and make space for reflection. Being solo did not mean being lonely. It meant being free to move at my own pace, meet new people, work from a different perspective, and simply listen to myself.
That journey taught me that independence can be peaceful and powerful at the same time. Read more: Crossing the Atlantic, Finding Myself: A Solo Journey of Growth and Connection
Work That Builds Relationships
This year has not only been about personal travel. It has also reinforced how rewarding it is to show up in person for the work and people I care about.
I traveled to Boston to spend time with a client—an opportunity that reminded me how much can happen when we step beyond emails, video calls, and calendars. Working together in person brings a different energy. It creates room for deeper conversations, stronger alignment, and the kind of trust that develops when people make time to truly connect.
In a world where so much work is digital, I continue to value the human side of business. A client relationship is never just a transaction to me. It is a partnership built through consistency, communication, respect, and the shared desire to do meaningful work well.
I also had the opportunity to attend a large event in New York City with wonderful people I work with. They continuously impress me—not only through their talent, drive, and professionalism, but through the way they show up for one another and for the work we are doing together.
What has touched me most is seeing our relationships grow year after year. Professional relationships can become something so much more when they are grounded in mutual respect, care, trust, and genuine appreciation. The people I have had the privilege of working alongside continue to warm my heart, and I am grateful that business has brought such remarkable people into my life.
Still More to Come
And somehow, there is still so much ahead.
Next, I will be traveling to San Diego, California, for a business conference with entrepreneurs from around the world. I am looking forward to learning from people who are building, innovating, taking risks, and bringing new ideas into the world. There is always something energizing about being in a room with people who are willing to think bigger and keep moving forward.
Then comes Paris (hoping to pop up to Belgium for a day or two while there)—and the opportunity to see Celine Dion. Paris alone is a dream, but experiencing it alongside the music of an artist who has moved so many people worldwide feels incredibly special.
After that, I will be heading to Washington, D.C., to renew my South African passport at the embassy. It is a practical reason to travel, but it also feels deeply personal. Renewing my passport is a quiet reminder that my South African identity continues to travel with me wherever I go. While I am there, I will also reconnect with a lifelong friend, which makes the trip even more meaningful.
In December, I will be heading to Mexico on a cruise with a wonderful family to celebrate a birthday, and I am already looking ahead to the possibility of celebrating my own next birthday in Colombia in January. I love having places to anticipate—not because I want to rush through the present, but because looking forward is part of the joy of a well-lived life.
Learning While Living
This year is teaching me that growth does not happen in only one place.
It happens at home, when we remember where we come from. It happens with friends, when we make time to celebrate each other. It happens when we trust ourselves enough to travel alone. It happens with clients and colleagues, when we move beyond transactional work and create genuine, lasting relationships.
Travel continues to make me more adaptable, curious, disciplined, and open-minded. It challenges me to plan ahead, communicate clearly, maintain strong systems, and stay accountable—no matter where I work. It also gives me fresh perspective, which I bring back into my work, my relationships, and the goals I continue to set for myself.
Professionally, I am committed to mastering the skills I have developed over the years while continuing to learn. I want to keep improving my strategic thinking, communication, client service, digital marketing expertise, and ability to help people and businesses move forward. I also want to remain open to new ideas, new technologies, and new ways of creating impact.
The more I travel, the more I understand that professional growth is not only about the next title, milestone, or accomplishment. It is about becoming someone who can thrive through change, build relationships across distance, and remain curious enough to keep learning.
August feels like an important moment to pause—not because the year is slowing down, but because it is important to recognize how much has already happened.
2026 has already been full of homecomings, celebrations, work, friendship, adventure, learning, and connection. I am grateful for every flight, every conversation, every reunion, every new place, and every person who has made this year richer.
There is still much ahead—but today, I am taking a moment to appreciate the journey so far.