Next steps post Africa

“I am so glad you came on this trip,” my sister Shay said, hugging me with one arm.

My sister Shay, who treated us all to this trip. Botanical Gardens, Cape Town

When she first invited me on this family trip, I said no. 

She was hosting her 4 siblings and 9 children, grandchildren, and significant others to an African safari in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia - 17 total. 

The thought of spending 3 weeks closely connected to family with no escape, just terrified me.

So at first, I used the excuse that my book had just come out and I couldn’t step away from my business.

That was a concern, but it wasn’t the real reason I said no.

A month or so later, I ask myself, “WHO would I have to be, HOW would I have to be to look forward to this trip instead of dreading it. To enjoy this trip instead of hating it.”

It was immediately clear that I would need to let go feeling like the black sheep, the scapegoat, the unloved and left out sister.

And instead, I would need to show up as curious, interested in others, caring, uplifting, lighthearted, friendly, playful, and joyful.

I wondered if I could let go of that old baggage I’d been dragging around for decades, making me feel less than, not good enough.

I figured it was a worthy experiment. And if I could pull it off, it could be life-changing. 

Two of the grandkids opted out because they had a six month old newborn.

So 15 of us met up in an airport hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa for the beginning of our three week adventure.

Here we all are inside a Baobab tree with our amazing trip leader, Mama G. 

The first few days felt a little rocky to me, as I experienced feeling uncomfortable, especially around my siblings, and wondering how this would all play out.

My three older sisters are great buddies and for decades have done all kinds of things with each other. Trips to France or Florida. Getting together every couple of months to play canasta for a few days with our mom. 

Shay, Jackie and Marsha

As of a year ago, they are all three now widows, so have even more reason to connect, support and even play with each other.

Even though our politics and many values are opposite and our lifestyles are totally different, I have still wished over the decades that they would want to include me in their travels and card games. (It’s a paradox because I don’t actually want to spend much time with them, but I still want them to want me.) 

Right away, I started doing what I always do, which is to take photographs of people, mostly candid, trying to capture their essence.

My brother, “Jimmy”

And having one on one conversations with each person, whenever I could – at an airport, in line for customs, in an airplane or bus or Jeep or at the dinner table.

At meals, after game drives in the African bush, we would share photos with each other in our WhatsApp group or via AirDrop – we all had iPhones.

I had just got the new iPhone 16, the week before we left on the trip so I could take some pretty cool photos.

Shay and her daughter, Nancy, sunset on the Chobe River, Botswana

My family began to comment on how cool my people photos were. They said I was a good photographer. . 

I kept saying it was all about volume, because I would take dozens of photos to get any one decent one.

But my niece Nancy told me, “No, it’s more than just volume. You’ve got an eye for layout and framing. You’re really good.“

Lindsay, her husband Michael (great nephew, mostly hidden), niece Nancy, nephew Mike, Mike’s fiancee Arianna, Chobe lodge, Botswana

I could feel things starting to shift, especially with my sisters. It happened one conversation at a time. One photo at a time. 

In my mind, they started to treat me differently, but I suspect the truth was, we started to see each other and treat each other differently.

It wasn’t just them, it was me too.

After that rocky start, my sister Shay told me every few days how glad she was I came on the trip. What a big change (for me anyway). 

Very quickly, stepping totally away from my life, got me seeing what was working and what wasn’t in my life and business. 

I started to dream of ways to improve, evolve, or dramatically change my lifestyle and my livelihood.

At first, I saw myself moving to Botswana and starting a virtual assistant business. I stayed in the lodge instead of going on an afternoon game drive to do online research and brainstorm. 

One of the things I loved most about the trip was how much time we spent in nature. Being on Safari is an outdoor life.

In Mufumbwe, Zambia. These guys could be very noisy in the night! 

We spent 4 to 8 hours a day in open air jeeps driving through the bush, in search of elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, buffalo, leopards, hippos.

We ate in open air lodges.

Hwangge National Park, Zimbabwe

We slept in tent-cabins with screened windows and fresh air flowing through.

I’m not sure exactly why I love this so much, but my mind and my body thrive on fresh air and being in nature.

So when I realized that hiking in most parts of southern Africa is out of the question (see list above LOL), I let go of the idea of moving to Africa.

We saw so many lions, I don’t remember where we were here - and the locations not named in my phone. Often they got THAT close to us. 

But when I got home, it was absolutely clear to me that I need more nature, adventure, meeting new and interesting people, change and challenge in my life.

Plus, I want a simpler life and business - with fewer expenses to need to work for. 

I realized what was driving my business decisions was no longer passion, joy and fulfillment, but the necessity to make the money to cover my expenses. 

What a valuable realization! 

So after the quick rise and fall of another Africa-based business idea, then exploring moving to Portugal, I stumbled upon the idea of living in a SUV or van in Portugal. 

I’ve done some camping and sleeping in my hatchback, so I already had a taste of living in a car.  And I’ve backpacked, kayaked and biked with only what was on my back, at my feet or in my panniers - and I LOVE the sense of freedom and self-sufficiency. 

So I asked myself, “How about living in a van in the US?” 

Ah, my body said YES! 

So after watching dozens of YouTube videos and reading various blog posts, my plan is to get rid of 99% of my possessions, buy a van, sell my house and take my life and business on the road. 

Just from a first pass at purging the bedroom. Jewelry, books, clothes, shoes.

It’s more clear to me than ever before how valuable it is to have an online business, have the skills to create online courses and attract an online audience.  This business is portable and I can do it anywhere, even with just cellphone coverage!

I’m going to be documenting my transition and sharing it with you here, plus on a YouTube channel, Facebook and likely other social media.

On the Africa trip, I posted every couple of days, pictures and stories from the family safari. You can read them here (not sure, but you may need to send me a friend request). 

Happy to be on this journey with you,

Natalie

P.S. If you, like me, value freedom and the ability to make money from anywhere, offering recorded digital courses or live group courses is a great way to help people while earning money from anywhere.

My next offering is a 6-week course just to help you come up with a profitable course idea.

This course is not about creating your online course, it’s the step you need before that - to make sure you’ve assessed your options so you can pick on that could sell. 

It’s about discovering and brainstorming and getting to know your possibilities to see what profitable course ideas are possible for you.

I’ve been home from Africa for a week, but I have still been just starting this new evolution of my life, so I haven’t yet created a full on sales page for this course.

That means I’m offering it to you for another week or so at the early bird 25% off pricing.

Grab your seat here for a limited time.