Jumpstart the Magic of Storytelling Through Uniques Travel Experiences by Sonia Marsh

Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler with Sonia Marsh/@GutsyLiving

“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it?” – Brian Jackman

 

This is such a treat for me to welcome my good friend and writing colleague Sonia Marsh back to share her latest adventure. Sonia and I met on online in 2010 and developed a lasting friendship and connection through our writing. Since we first met, Sonia has gone on to find her purpose as a travel guide for a Safari Company, organizing women’s writing retreats into the heart of Africa. .  Her true entrepreneurial spirit has led her to varied and unique adventures which she will share today.

 

Welcome back , Sonia!

Author and Entrepreneur Sonia Marsh

Jumpstart the Magic of Storytelling Through Unique Travel Experiences 

I finally found my purpose after my 28-year marriage fizzled in 2015.

I took the easy way out by escaping – something I’ve done several times when I wanted to start a new chapter in my life. I feel more alive when I’m out of my comfort zone, forced to rely on myself and make decisions that teach me to think differently.

So I followed my gut and applied to serve in the Peace Corps. This had been in the back of my mind since my sons were in high school. My roots were in Africa and Europe, where I spent the first twenty-five years of my life before settling in California in 1983.

My decision to apply for the Peace Corps was based on fear – the fear of staying in Orange County. At 58, looking for a job in familiar surroundings seemed far more challenging than moving to a hut in Africa.

During my marriage, I published a memoir and two anthologies, and blogged full-time, while taking care of my family. My husband considered my writing a “hobby” as I did not make a living from my book sales, despite all my social media endeavors.

After several months, an e-mail arrived offering me a position to serve in a tiny landlocked country called Lesotho. About 2.2 million people live in “The Mountain Kingdom,” which is the size of Vermont. Surrounded by South Africa, it lies above 3,200 feet, which meant adapting to high altitude. It even snowed in July, Lesotho’s winter. I lived in a tiny village, 6,000 feet in the mountains, and taught orphans and vulnerable children in a Catholic school. With no electricity, running water, toilet or shower, my only comfort was my laptop, and I started writing daily, sharing my life with all my friends and blog followers in the U.S. On Saturdays, I would catch the overcrowded taxi van to the capital city, squished between Basotho women, men and children as well as live chickens confined in plastic grocery bags. I’ll always remember the Saturday I had to scoot over as a live ram was propped in between our legs. Life was colorful, unpredictable and offered me insight into a culture and language so unfamiliar to my comfortable life in the U.S.

I returned to California in January 2017, after serving fifteen months, and was contacted by Jim Holden, an expert on Africa. He owned a small, boutique Safari travel company in Orange County, California, and discovered my blog. He happened to be looking for someone “international” who knew Africa, Europe and the U.S., to help with social media and to promote custom Safaris.

That was when everything came together, and I discovered my purpose. I wanted to inspire others, especially single and divorced women like myself, to travel and get out of their comfort zone. Africa may seem like a scary place to most people, but it can be a life-changing experience. I led my first group of ten women from Orange County to Kenya in October 2018. Several of them were going through a loss or other tragic event in their life and found that getting out of their comfort zone, and connecting with others, helped them find a new purpose in life.

Women on retreat in Africa

One of the women on my Safari to Kenya is a bestselling author, Janis Thomas. This was her first time in Africa and she was so inspired by the wildlife, elephants, leopards, lions, cheetahs and the unforgettable viewing of the pristine nighttime skies that I suggested we lead a writers’ retreat together in South Africa. Janis agreed, and decided on a theme: “Discover the Magic of Storytelling.” A transformative writing experience with Janis Thomas. Be moved and inspired in the midst of the Big 5 and the spectacular Smoke that Thunders, Victoria Falls. You can view the digital itinerary we prepared by clicking on this Writers Retreat link and hitting the “Enter” button.

This is how I started “We Travel With A Purpose” and I lead themed Safaris for small groups of ten people. I plan to offer writers’ retreats in different parts of Africa with well-known workshop leaders and would love to know if this sparks your interest. I cannot wait to lead a group, this September, on a brand new themed Safari: “An Elephant in My Kitchen, A Safari to the Home of the Elephant Whisperer,” based on the legacy of Lawrence Anthony, author of the Elephant Whisperer. I believe that we love to learn and engage in social responsibility, so I try to combine a learning experience with renowned elephant and rhino conservationists, local community interactions, visits to local schools where we interact with the children, and combine this with a memorable Safari experience.

I believe that “Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same.”

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Thank you, Sonia for sharing your latest adventure with us. You show us that the skies is the limit when we follow our dreams and make them come true.

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How about you? Have you ever considered traveling to Africa or stepping your of your comfort zone to find your purpose?

We’d love to hear from you. Please join in the conversation below~

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Next Week:

Monday, 2/4/19:

”Rejection: Dead End or Opportunity?”