We recently connected with Kristi Carrara and have shared our conversation below.
Kristi, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Over the course of a few years, I experienced loss like I never knew was possible. My mother passed away, my husband and I divorced, and my son was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The doctors told me my son would be in a wheelchair by the time he was 13 and probably die in his 20’s. I was crushed. As I was muddling through this dark time, the unthinkable happened. My ex-husband died suddenly of a heart attack at age 39.
I have always been a strong person. Able to handle anything that came my way, but this was too much. I went to a very dark place. I was depressed and couldn’t fathom how I was going to get through. I couldn’t find any shining light to look forward to. Everywhere I looked I saw death and despair, and I cried a lot. After a year, I knew that I had to do something to shake this feeling. I owned a store but I was barely able to make myself go. I didn’t really care about anything. I was lost and heartbroken.
After a week long vacation to Portugal with my children I decided that we need to get away for an extended period. I created a co-op to run my store, I rented my house for the summer and I packed up my children and went to Europe with my best friend and her 3 children for 3 months.
To say this trip saved my life would be an understatement. The time I spent on that little island in the Atlantic breathed life into my soul. We explored every inch of the island and immersed ourselves in the culture. I read, I drew, I learned a language, I stared at the clouds, I memorized the pattern of the church bells. I began to see the beauty in the world again. I started to look at things from a different perspective and it changed my life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
After my summer away I knew that I had to start bringing people to the island. Six months after my return, I brought my first group to the islands for a retreat. The conversations that I had and the connections that were made helped me realize that travel was a healing experience for everyone, not just myself. Fast forward to COVID and I sold my retail business and decided to focus on just travel.
Revibe Travel was born out of a desire to help people see the beauty in the world again. We focus on group travel because I feel that sharing an experience with others creates priceless memories and lifelong bonds. Revibe Travel offers several group trips per year that offer a different “vibe”. Whether you’re looking for some peace and quiet, an eco tourism adventure, a women’s only holiday or a wellness retreat – we have something to suit your needs. We also work with yoga studios and wellness practitioners to create customized retreats.
I believe that travel can be a healing experience. Being away from your daily activities makes it easier to be present in the moment, and appreciate the beauty of the world.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Persistence, desire for connection and my exploration of faith have all led me to where I am now.
I never doubted my desire to travel and knew that no matter what, I could create the life I wanted.
I leaned on my people and let them carry me when I couldn’t hold myself up. Every new connection I made became a touchstone that gave me strength and reinforced my purpose to help people travel.
My desire to understand and connect with the Oneness, God, Krishna, the Universe – whatever you want to call it – put me on a path to healing and love and a sense of peace that can only be found within.
Of these three – faith has been the most important. I recommend that everyone get busy finding their connection to the Source within us all. Love.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love to connect with wellness providers to create retreats for their clients. Whether you’re a yoga or meditation teacher, artist, healer, grief counselor, addiction counselor, therapist, etc – I’d love to help you create a unique, life changing, healing experience.
You can reach me at [email protected] or through LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
Where will your healing journey take you?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.revibetravel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revibetravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revibetravel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-carrara/
