It goes without saying that life has its ups and downs and there will be periods of time where you wonder how you are even surviving. Whatever the reason may be, if you ever find yourself in a rut and need a way out, solo travel may be the best medicine you were ever given. In today’s episode, we are joined by Her Bags Were Packed creator, Catherine Smith as she shares her story on how he has been able to put herself first and use solo travel as a way to release emotional baggage from life’s challenging moments. This episode includes a paid advertisement.  Use code Sara50 for 50% off a 1-year subscription to Tourlina. == About Catherine Smith == Catherine Smith is the founder of HerBagsWerePacked.com, a women’s solo travel site — with a spin. She focuses on helping women release emotional baggage and the many ways solo travel helps us on that journey. Catherine is also a freelance travel writer with a special interest in budget-friendly, quirky and off-the-beaten-path travel. She works for USA Today’s travel and lifestyle site 10Best.com and has been featured on Nerd Wallet, Forbes, You Oughta Know, and the New York Times. Follow Catherine on Instagram @herbagswerepacked Love the Solo Travel Woman podcast? Give us a rating and leave a 5-star review. It helps us reach more amazing solo travelers. ==About Sara== Sara Ann Straw, CMP is a travel design and destination event expert with over 13 years of experience in travel and destination events. With a passion for solo travel, Sara founded the Solo Travel Woman Society to bring together other women with similar interests and passions to form a community, share knowledge and empower one another. Sara is the owner of STW Planning, LLC, author of The Ultimate Solo Travel Woman Guide, and host of The Solo Travel Woman Podcast. Join our email list and receive free solo travel tips: https://mailchi.mp/c5fbeffec188/podlist Find female travel companions through Tourlina, a trusted and verified network of solo travel women. Use code Sara50 for 50% off a 1-year subscription. ★ Shop at the STW Boutique ★ Join the FREE Solo Travel Woman Society ★ Join a Solo Travel Woman Getaway ★ Take the Beginner's Guide to Solo Travel Course ★ Become a Travel Designer ★ Follow us on: - Instagram  - Society Instagram  - Facebook  - TikTok  Intro and outro music credit: Sand Patterns by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9 Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/solotravelwomanpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/solotravelwomanpodcast/support