Packs Light Crew, welcome to August! The Exit Row is a reminder to stay one decision away from adventure, optimism, and a sky full of possibilities – and so is this newsletter.

I'mgrowing, glowing, and going places, and y'all are coming with me.

✈️

Reader, people always ask me if I feel lonely when I travel solo.

I get it. The idea of sitting in a crowded restaurant for dinner at a table, completely alone?

It can sound gutting.

One girl even told me her biggest fear was hitting a once-in-a-lifetime milestone—standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower, or hiking all the way to the peak of Kilimanjaro—and having no one there to witness the world with her.

And honestly, I’ve felt that ache, too.

But after my (now!) 30 years on Earth, the truth is, the loneliest I’ve ever felt wasn’t on a solo trip.

It wasn’t in a foreign country or a hotel room by myself.

It was…

• being in a crowded room full of people who didn’t get me.
• shrinking myself into a 9-5 where I wasn’t happy to stay relatable and appease my parents.
• laughing when something didn’t feel funny
• celebrating my not-always-traditional wins quietly because I knew not everyone in the room, and even some "friends", would be happy for me.
• conversations where I had to explain myself over and over again, only to still feel misunderstood.

Being physically alone can bring up a range of emotions. From freedom to fear, and power to peace.

Solo travel has quiet moments, yes.

But it also gave me something I never found in those crowded rooms: a deep, unshakeable connection with myself.

I’ve cried alone in temples, belly-laughed with strangers I met 10 minutes earlier, and had sunsets all to myself that reminded me *I* was enough to witness them.

I’ll take alone over lonely, every single time.

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I've said it before, and I will say it again: alone ≠ lonely.

Solo travel isn’t about isolation. It’s about freedom.

Freedom to move. To grow. To stop waiting on other people’s timelines to start living yours. To make beautiful connections, if you want to. To venture on your own and eat dinner at that hole-in-the-wall restaurant that your best friend back home would hate.

This month, I want you to ask yourself:

“Am I really afraid of being alone, or am I afraid of growing beyond the people around me?"

Book the flight. Take yourself to dinner. Hike the mountain.

And when you get to the top? Take a picture. And send it to me!!!

You’re not alone.

You’re just ahead.

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After 5 years of full-time travel, I realized most people don’t skip the off-the-beaten-path destinations because they’re boring or unsafe.

They skip them because they’ve never seen someone who looks like them go first. Someone they can trust. And I get it.

The internet is loud.

When you’re overwhelmed with 30 search tabs and zero relatable examples, it’s easier to stick with what’s trending.

But those places? The ones no one’s really talking about?

They’re often more safe, more welcoming, and/or way more you than you’d think. Plus, venturing out of the same 10 destinations is how we travel responsibly and prevent overtourism.

So that's what my new series is here to prove.

This series is about highlighting underrated festivals, cities, and experiences that often get lost on the 5th page of Google, and bringing them to the forefront, exactly where they belong: at the top of your bucket list.

Check out the first video, and let me know what you think in the comments! Let's explore what else is out there, together. 🫶🏽

​WATCH HERE​

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• 🎧 My Bose Headphones: My ride-or-dies. I take them everywhere:flights, walks around the city, remote work cafes, even the occasional workout class. They block out chaos, keep the vibes right, and ensure you sleep soundly on a long-haul flight.
• 🌍 SeekPTO: Trips like Montreux remind me how this all started. I got my foot in the door with fully funded travel opportunities, and that changed everything. Now I built SeekPTO to help you do the same – because bucket list moments should be accessible, not aspirational.
• 🛡️ SafetyWing: Non-negotiable. I never travel without travel insurance, and SafetyWing has been my go-to for 4+ years!!! The world is unpredictable, but your peace of mind doesn’t have to be.

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Baggage I'm claiming: A CultureCon stage with my name on it 🎤✨

Speaking has been one of the most unexpected, joy-filled parts of this career, and I’m ready to step into that more, on bigger stages. I’ve got stories, receipts, and a suitcase full of lessons to share.

CultureCon, if you’re listening, I’m manifesting a mic!

What's next: I turned 30 on August 18 🥹 Just yesterday! 🥹

It feels wild, surreal, and exciting all at once. Someone just DM'd me this morning saying they've been following me since I was 24 years old!

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately about growth, learning lessons, and what I want the next decade to feel like.

And I want to create content that impacts, inspires, and connects with you, and my core self too.

💌 So Reader (yes, you reading this!) reply to this and tell me: what stories interest you most? Life lessons? Travel dating stories? Entrepreneur advice? What I’d tell 20-year-old me? Something else?

P.S. As always ladies, reply to this email with thoughts or questions. I'd love to hear from you.

Gabby 🌺✈️❤️‍🔥

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113 Cherry St. , Seattle, Washington 98104
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