After eleven hip surgeries, I once feared travel wasn’t for me. But I’ve learned limitations don’t mean the world is off-limits. Whether using a cane, pacing myself, or finding mobility-friendly options, every journey still brings freedom and joy. Travel isn’t about matching others, it’s about creating your own version of adventure, no matter your challenges.
May 25, 2022
For a long time, I thought my body might keep me from seeing the world. With eleven hip surgeries by the age of twelve, I could have easily believed travel wasn’t “made for me.” But then I realized something: limitations don’t mean the world is off-limits.
Travel doesn’t look the same for everyone. And that’s okay. Some people can trek Machu Picchu with ease, while others may need a slower pace, more rest, or extra support. What matters isn’t matching someone else’s version of travel. What matters is finding the version that works for you.
For me, that has meant traveling with a cane at times, listening to my body when it needs rest, and maybe only walking 4,000 steps around a new city and not 20,000 like some other avid travelers. And you know what? None of that has taken away from the magic. If anything, it deepened it.
The world is filled with options if you know where to look. Hotels with elevators instead of endless stairs. Tours designed for different mobility needs. Restaurants that take food sensitivities seriously. The key is having someone in your corner who knows what questions to ask, and how to find the right fit.
That’s part of why I became a travel advisor. Because I know how hard it can be to feel like travel isn’t built for you. And I want to change that.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that saying yes to travel, even with limitations, is saying yes to living a bold life. Yes to joy despite pain. Yes to connection with people from all over the world. Yes to proving to yourself that you are capable.
I’ll never forget standing on the cliffside of Arthur’s Seat in Scotland, wind whipping through my hair, cane in hand, hips in pain, but thinking: This is freedom and this is worth it.
My journey may look different than someone else’s, but it’s still beautiful. So if you’ve ever wondered whether the world is out of reach because of a health condition, mobility challenge, or dietary need, hear me say this clearly: it’s not. The world is still yours to explore.
