A reflective essay on travel, identity, and the quiet moments we label as “failure.” From my first trip to Thailand and the early days of blogging to questioning what it truly means to be a wanderer, this story explores how the journeys that don’t go as planned often become the ones that shape us most. A reminder that travel isn’t always about distance or dream itineraries — sometimes it’s about finding your way back to yourself along the map.

After months of constant travel and questioning my connection to the road, an unexpected detour led me back to the quiet streets of Boulder City, Nevada — and to myself. This reflective essay explores burnout, presence, and the healing power of wandering without a plan, reminding us that travel doesn’t need to be far or grand to offer clarity. Sometimes the road is not about where we’re going, but what we rediscover along the way.