Last updated on July 3rd, 2026
Dear JourneyWoman readers:
July is my birthday month, and it also marks seven years since I was invited to take over JourneyWoman in July 2019. At the time, I knew nothing about the travel industry. I had never written a travel article. I had never managed a website. I had never gone on an expedition ship or a group tour. All I had then — and now — was a passion for travel, a desire to empower women and a love of writing. Those things are still what guide me today, as I work through the process of reinventing my life.
Here’s what I’ve learned: when it comes to reinvention, you have to follow your heart, and you have to make your own rules. As women, we are often told that ‘this is how it’s done’. I’ve never followed the crowd or worried about what others are doing. With more than 35 years of career experience, I try to do what feels right for you and for us — our readers and community. I know that my values are what guide JourneyWoman. I know that Evelyn felt the same way, and I’m forever grateful to her daughter, Erica Ehm, for inviting me to carry on her mother’s legacy.
I’ve just returned from our JourneyWoman trip to Iceland with an adventurous group of women, including Diana Eden, 86, our 2026 JourneyWoman Evelyn Hannon Award recipient. Diana and I spent a week together exploring the less-travelled Westfjords with Aurora Expeditions.
Diana is a wonderful example of reinvention, this month’s theme. A three-time Emmy nominee for her costume design work in Hollywood, Diana has designed numerous prime-time television series, movies, pilots, as well as stage productions in Los Angeles and New York. Her ‘so-called’ retirement and move in 2008 to Las Vegas brought her more costume design for films and stage shows and a professorship at UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) teaching tomorrow’s filmmakers about costume for film. She’s also written two memoirs. She’s an inspiration to me, and I hope to you too!
In this issue of JourneyWoman Magazine, we seek to challenge conventional thinking on reinvention as a lifelong journey, celebrate women’s stories and gather inspiration from other women who have been there, done that – their own way, on their own terms.
Diana Eden and Carolyn Ray in Iceland
We also invite you to share your story with us so that we can share it in Smitten, our bi-monthly newsletter that curates all the things we love and recommend. Smitten is issued twice a month on Monday mornings and features “Meet a JourneyWoman” and curated, first-hand travel tips and exclusive travel deals. Everyone published in Smitten receives a complimentary annual subscription. Click here to join.
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