July 19th: A Sabbatical Anniversary, a World Cup Final, and an Eight-Year Love Affair

Two things are coming together today that have prompted me to write a Wandering in Possibility story, my first in nearly seven years. Eight years ago today, on July 19, 2018, I was being dropped off at the Denver Airport with a one-way ticket to Madrid, an overpacked suitcase, and a truly blank slate for what the coming months would hold for me. Today, July 19, 2026 I find yesterday in my most favorite place in the United States, the San Juan Mountains outside of Creede in Southwestern Colorado, preparing to watch Spain play in the Final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Game. Thus, the bringing together of my 8 year love affair of Spain. 

As a brief recap, I embarked on a sabbatical in July 2018 after closing the door on a 23-year marriage, walking away from an established corporate career, and stepping into the terrifying, exhilarating expanse of the unknown. I was living out of plastic bins, my life packed into a tiny 5’x7’ storage unit, carrying a heavy heart that I wasn’t entirely sure how to heal. I called that leap Wandering in Possibility, a title that felt less like a strict plan and more like a permission slip to finally stop forcing order onto my universe and just let the world reshape me.

That first month in Spain didn’t just introduce me to a new country; it ignited a lifelong love affair. I remember navigating the winding, mystical cobblestone streets of Sevilla in scorching late July heat, learning to make paella in Valencia, and watching the thunderstorms roll over the white buildings of Cadaqués. Spain taught a woman who had spent decades managing every detail as a corporate executive, a wife, and a mother how to finally step back. How to take mid-day naps, how to listen to her body, and how to look forward rather than staring backward at what had already passed. Today, as I sit in the stunning embrace of the San Juan Mountains, counting down the hours to the start of the game, that same raw feeling of unlimited potential rushes back.

Since that first magical month, I have returned to Spain three more times, pulled back by a land, cuisine and a lifestyle that truly speaks to my heart.

When I went back the first time, I embarked on a road trip from Madrid to Porto, navigating my way to the northwesternmost tip of Spain to witness the historic beauty of Santiago de Compostela. From there, I drove across the country to San Sebastián. It was there that I felt a profound part of my heart break open. The city captivated me so deeply that I took the chance to spend five full weeks there in 2021, dedicating my time to exploring the rich, rugged coastlines and cultures of both the Spanish and French Basque regions.

I returned yet again around Christmas of 2023, turning my eyes to the southern sun for my very first exploration of the region south of Málaga. That trip was extra special because I didn’t navigate it in solitude. I spent it with an incredible partner with whom I have developed the most giving, heartfelt, and loving relationship, which is a beautiful testament to how much room I had finally made for love to be my first reaction.

In the eight years that followed after returning home from my time purposely wandering, the map of my life expanded into a brilliant tapestry of global adventures. I found myself navigating the temples of Thailand and Cambodia, standing before the ancient mysteries of Egypt, and traversing the vast landscapes of South Africa, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Morocco. Most recently, I found a different kind of quiet beauty in the crisp air of Norway and Sweden hand-and-hand with my love interest, as he so endearingly refers to me sometimes. 

Yet, looking back at the data points of my journey, the most profound miles traveled weren’t across borders, they were internal.

For decades, my dominant hardwiring as an Enneagram Type 8, first-born, Virgo, meant I hid behind a fierce shield of execution, control, and “kickassness.” I was always the one organizing the home, driving the business forward, and protecting everyone else. I thought that shield was keeping me safe from failure, but in reality, it was a wall that kept love, vulnerability, and true connection at bay. Stepping outside of my comfort zone forced me to repeatedly drop that armor. 

Beyond the physical travel, I committed myself deeply to the intentional inner work required for true personal growth, choosing to actively face the heavy layers of my personality rather than just running away from them. The road wore me down in the best possible way, teaching me the courage it takes to soften, to open my heart to love, and to accept myself as both fragile and incredibly strong. I learned that women will protect and lift each other up, that nature always moves through its own necessary seasons, and that true power lies in allowing yourself to be transformed by your experiences rather than managing them.

Eight years ago, I was a homeless nomad searching for a sense of self in the silence and solitude of foreign cities. Today, I am a woman firmly grounded in her own skin, living fully in the present moment, surrounded by deep love, and successfully executing a life of my own deliberate design.

Wandering in Possibility was the emergency exit I needed to find my wild woman, to learn to breathe, and to discover that I could survive the open waters. But as the final whistle blows on today’s match, it feels like the right moment to gently close that beautifully chaotic chapter. I no longer need to wander to find out who I am.

Now, the deeper work begins. It is time to sit with the threads of the stories I’ve collected, the patterns I’ve unlearned, and the gifts I am finally ready to fully embrace. The wandering has served its purpose. It’s time to step over the next threshold, pick up the pen with curiosity, and begin the untangling. Welcome to Me Untangled. Stay tuned for details on this next chapter. Perhaps it includes a move to Spain, or France. Or even a book exploring the beauty that is gained from thoughtfully untangling yourself.

Vamos España!