Happy June, Packs Light Crew 🌺
You might notice it looks a little different in here.
Welcome to The Exit Row.
This newsletter will stay monthly, but instead of being essentially a personal summary of what I did that month, I really want to make sure you're all getting value from being here and leaving feeling inspired to inch a bit closer to freedom each day.
Because if I’m growing, glowing, and going places, y'all are coming with me.
[No longer aligned? All good. You can unsubscribe from any emails from me here, no hard feelings. Or if you ONLY want to get emails about SeekPTO and Paid Travel Opportunities from now on, just click here]
Why The Exit Row 💺?
Because those seats have always make me think.
It’s the row with extra space and the emergency handle. Where, in theory, you could pull the door mid-flight and everything would change.
Obviously, chaos. But also… open sky.
Unknown. Possibility.
That’s the energy I want this space to have.
Not reckless. Just real. The moment where you start to question the version of life you were handed and wonder if there’s another way. The Exit Row is about choosing differently—through travel, through mindset shifts, through giving yourself permission to want more.
Because that's what Packs Light has always been about, really.
"She packs light. She brings what we needs and leaves behind what doesn’t serve her. Whether that’s her family's fear, society's expectations, or someone else’s idea of “success.”
I am still very much a journey in progress.
And this is the space where I share what I’m learning as I grow, glow, and go.
Because if I’m pulling the metaphorical escape hatch and stepping into something bigger, I want you right next to me in that row.
✈️
Time to Check-In
This month’s real talk, reflections, and revelations.
Last week, I flew out to Salt Lake City for a friend’s wedding. It was four days (!) of joy: hikes, themed events, late-night dancing, a stunning wedding, and the kind of love that fills your whole chest.
And somewhere between the bridal party events and resting in my king-sized suite, eating room service berry-french toast, I realized something:
There’s no version of my past self that could’ve made it here.
Financially, this would’ve been a hard no.
$500 a night? For just a hotel room?
Even just one of those nights would’ve swallowed my old paycheck whole. I would’ve stared at the booking screen, shut my laptop, and convinced myself I was being “smart” for saying no. (Not knowing that sometimes, fear dresses itself up as responsibility.)
Logistically, I wouldn’t have had the time.
Three days off for a wedding?
With my old 9-to-5 job, I would have burned through half my PTO in one weekend. The math never made sense.
Every trip meant asking, calculating, and over-explaining. It meant “I’ll see if I can swing it,” even when I already knew the answer was no.
I used to live on someone else’s terms, hoping I could borrow a few days here and there to actually feel alive.
Mentally? That’s where I was the most trapped.
Even if I had the money. Even if I had the time.
I wouldn’t have had the mental space to give myself permission.
I was overworked, burned out, and exhausted. I was living a life that looked good on paper, but didn't feel good on the inside. And trying to pretend it did and show up every day took all my mental capacity.
I lived in fear disguised as logic. And it cost me more than a vacation. It cost me peace. Joy. Friendship. Life.
✈️
Final Boarding
One piece of advice to take with you.
Everything changed when I stopped playing it safe.
Taking more risks led to more money, seeing more of the world, and ultimately more freedom.
I started asking better questions: How can I make this work? What would this look like if it were easy? What do I want to remember 10 years from now?
That’s how I found money to travel (side hustles, points, Paid Travel Opportunities, etc.).
Freedom. Time. And most importantly, trust in myself.
Here’s what I know now:
You don’t build a big life by playing small.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it: Take the leap. Book the trip. Use the points. Take the PTO. Say yes.
You don’t need more time or money.
You need to bet on you.
Everything begins the moment you stop waiting.
✈️
In-Flight Entertainment
ICYMI: Here’s what shined this month on Packs Light, or something exciting launching soon.
Packs Light Day is June 14th!
Yep, that means next week is Packs Light's 5-Year anniversary.
It's the day that I officially took my shaky, 22-year-old hand and officially turned Packs Light from a hobby into a full-fledged only community.
Considering the pandemic hit just 2 weeks after I quit my 9-5 engineering job to build Packs Light, I can confidently say I never imagined we'd be here, but I'm so glad we are.
So I think this is a cause for celebration!
One of the things I'm most proud of doing with Packs Light this year is launching SeekPTO as a standalone sub-brand after more than 4 years of running the PTO Dashboard as a jenky page on the blog.
SeekPTO is now the place for students and under-30 professionals to find fully funded opportunities to travel the world—$4M worth of travel grants, remote jobs, international internships, and travel giveaways.
One of my favorite long-term brand partners, Intrepid Travel, is helping me give away a free spot on an Intrepid trip, valued at over $2,000. Exclusively to members of SeekPTO.
Details drop exclusively inside the community on Packs Light Day (June 14), so be sure to join today if you want in!
✈️
Carry-On Only
3 things worth carrying into next month. (There may be affiliate links below that pay me a small amount at no cost to you)
- ⛑️ SafetyWing – I've been using SafetyWing for every trip I've been on since 2020. Travel insurance that’s digital nomad–friendly, works everywhere, and isn't confusing to book. I like that you can use it for 11 days or 111 days, and you pay for exactly what you need.
- 💃🏽 Rent the Runway + Nuuly – Renting clothes is soooo in. As a frequent traveler and event-goer, it's changed the fashion game for me these past few months! I've used both services and love them both.
- 🗺️ Notion – I consider it my second brain, and its perfect for life and travel planning. This is where I coordinate trip plans with my friends, organize all my TikToks and trends I want to do on our trip, and where I host my personal daily to-do list. I fr love Notion for everything!
✈️
Runway
What I’m manifesting, and where I'm heading.
What I'm manifesting: a magical, logistics-free 30th birthday trip planner 🥹
August is creeping up fast, and in true "I can do everything fashion" I… may have overestimated my free time to plan. If you know someone who plans unforgettable, stress-free trips, reply to this and let me know!
Where's next: Switzerland for the Montreux Jazz Festival 🇨🇭—one of the dreamiest music events in the world! I’ll be there July 6th - 11th soaking in the mountains and sweet sounds of saxophone. Any of the Packs Light Crew gonna be here? 👀
P.S. If you have:
- Thoughts on this new email format (Love it? Less than love it?)
- Ideas of what you'd love to get from me each month via email
- Thoughts or feelings from todays email
Reply to this email. I'd love to hear from you!
Gabby 🌺✈️❤️🔥
