Margie Katzke shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Margie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
Joy is something I’ve work to create on a daily basis. For me, Joy isn’t in the big Hollywood moments. It’s created when we take time to pause. It’s in getting to finish my coffee while it’s still hot. It in seeing my dog so excited when I tell him we are going for a walk. It’s in seeing and feeling my kids laughter.
For a very long time joy felt scary to me. I thought if i felt joy something bad would happen. I’ve worked to slowing unwind that belief. It’s feels so good to see joy moments each and every day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Kate and Margie started Choose Happy Travels with a vision: to guide people into experiences that awaken their souls, spark deep joy, cultivate connection, and to create a sense of safety for like minded travelers to leave every journey feeling more alive, more authentic and more aligned with who they are.
With Choose Happy Travels, safety becomes the foundation, and joy the pathway to profound healing—an experience like no other.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I no longer believe I must betray myself or abandon my needs to belong or feel worthy. I honor my voice, speak my needs, and trust my intuition to guide what’s best for me—no longer seeking guidance or approval outside of myself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
My mother lost her battle with breast cancer when I was just 20. It shook my world in ways I didn’t know how to process at the time. But through that pain, I learned that every single day on this earth is a gift—to be savored fully, and to love those around us as fiercely as we can. I also learned that even in the depths of grief, when it feels like joy may never return, somehow grief and joy can find a way to live side by side.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
It may sound funny but I’ve always loved Dr. Mark Hyman. He is essentially the godfather of functional medicine and he is still so kind, humble and has a good sense of humor. He was a hero for me when I was helping my son heal from autism and he has always been someone i admired.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
There is a quote my Maya Angelo that I try to live by:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
My mom, Nina Sacco, had a gift—when she was with you, you felt like the most important person in her world. I carry that with me, striving to make others feel the same. I hope when I am gone people will remember me for how I made them feel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kateshipp.com/choose-happy-travels/
- Instagram: @choosehappytravels
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/choosehappytravels
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
