That first trip to Tanzania literally saved my life, and chose me to be it’s ambassador to help others who are experiencing grief and depressed break free and experience the peace and harmony of Africa. It’s a gift that I would have never thought would have come out of such tragedy. I found my way home and you can too.

Living to die vs. Living to live

In my darkest time, I was living to die, now I’m living with more joy than I ever have. Four years of misery, deaths, tragedy and misfortunes set me on a path of destruction, depression and heartache.  It was a path that I certainly didn’t choose for myself, but one that put me in the very darkest part of my life. And it happens to all of us, unexpected life change.

I was beginning not to know what the sun shining through the clouds looked like. I was beginning to lose my smile, and literally lose myself.  I shut myself off and I lived as if I was going to die, it was an awful time. I knew I wanted to get through it, but I didn’t know if I could.  Life then seemed to leave me in a desperate state of despair and without hope.

Sometimes You’ve Got to Get Away to Come Back Stronger.

Then one day out of the blue, I woke up and decided I needed to get away.  I desperately needed to change my environment, and get away from the memories.  I searched for a trip, available at a moment’s notice and as far away as possible. That trip happened to be Tanzania and yes, there was one space left.  Perfect!  I knew nothing of Tanzania, but, I knew it was in Africa!  Within a month, I left, alone and still in grief.  But when I got there, the people put me in another place and time; a time that would keep me from thinking about all I went through.  An environment that would push depression far from my memory. I woke up to the sound of wildlife, to the rays of sun shining through the windows of my ‘tent’.  Life was good. And I wanted that same feeling for the next stage of my life.  I wanted that adjustment to ‘the new normal.’

Hope. Always Move Forward.

It was after that Tanzania experience that life changed for me. From preparing myself to die to living with a purpose.  That purpose eventually became organizing, planning and escorting groups on safari, adopting and supporting a school/children’s home, to eventually partnering with a local guide and purchasing a safari vehicle in Tanzania. Soon after those first few trips, my new agency Destined To Travel was borne.

That is the short version of how I found myself in Africa. I continue to amaze myself thinking about the ‘then’ and coming to grips with all that happened to bring me to the ‘now’ in my amazing life.

May you find your way home like I did. – Kay Trotman, Destined to Travel.

For more information contact info@safarikay.com and visit http://destined-to-travel.com.