Virtual trips around the world

While it was great to take a first step out into the world of travel by sticking close to home, Divine Destination Collection travellers also had the chance to take virtual adventures around the globe with the second Divine Live and Online series.

From a journey to Kyoto, Japan to see the cherry blossoms in bloom and meet a Zen Buddhist priest, a stopover in Egypt to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, catching up with migrating monarch butterflies as they travelled to Mexico from Canada, and a mystical trip floating down India’s holy Ganges River, to following Darwin’s footsteps in the Galápagos Islands and experiencing the magic of Morocco through the famous marketplaces of Marrakech these virtual travellers visited many exotic and captivating locations.

“What makes these adventures even more amazing is the fact that some of our participants were able to experience places they wouldn’t normally be able to because of physical challenges,” says The Divine Destination Collection Co-Founder Allison Frame. “Our virtual adventures gave us a unique, up-close view of fascinating cultures and majestic landscapes with the help of some incredibly interesting and passionate guides and hosts.”

If you didn’t have the chance to participate in Divine Live and Online, including the first series in 2020, you can still subscribe to the videos to watch at your convenience. Best of all, you can take advantage of some great Boxing Week pricing. This could be the perfect Christmas present for those travel enthusiasts on your list!

But there is, even more, to be grateful for

While it was wonderful to keep up our curiosity and thirst for new experiences, the second year of the pandemic reminded us that we all have so much to be thankful for – especially if we have been able to stay healthy and not experience extreme financial hardships during these challenging times.

“While we weren’t able to venture out as much as we would like, the pandemic gave us time to look in – and think about what is important to us and examine how we are living our lives,” says Allison.

Although she missed travelling with every fibre of her soul and had to dive headfirst into the uncharted technical and organizational territory to create the Divine Live and Online virtual experiences, Allison says she feels “truly blessed to have a community who truly supports me and has my best interests at heart – especially when they hold my feet to the fire!”

As we enter 2022, Allison says she is going to take more time for herself and not feel guilty about it. “I’m also going to get rid of the fear of not being good enough, as well as the need to look good and have all the answers.

“What I want to do in 2022 is create a community where like-minded travellers come together to experience truly soul-expanding and enriching journeys.”

2021 helped The Divine Destination Collection Co-Founder Deb Niven slow down with work, discover that long walks must be a part of her life, and appreciate the serenity and healing she gets from her beautiful home and cottage.

She was also glad to celebrate the 11th birthday of the In the Spirit Yoga Studio and Wine Lounge and the warm community it engenders and is proud that The Divine Destination Collection survived a challenging two years and is forging ahead.

“I want the upcoming year to be full of harmony, synergy, and balance, and I’m looking forward to creating a community that honours the sacred in us all.”

More thoughts on the past – while looking to the future

Allison and Deb decided to reach out to some of the people they worked with over the past two years to find out what they are grateful for and hope to achieve in the future.

Allyson from Chockablock Media puts together all The Divine Destination Collection videos and was instrumental in editing and assisting on many of the virtual experiences. She said for her, 2021 made friends and family even more important. She says she is grateful for the time she has been able to spend with her niece and all the laughter she has shared with friends.

As for 2022, she wants to get rid of the takers in her life who seldom give, and get better at setting boundaries. Her goal is to create a life with more joy and adventure.

Spending time with family was also what James, from Deb and Allison’s Japan team, is most grateful for. James worked on the Divine Live and Online trip to Kyoto in June.

James also wants to bring more patience and empathy into his life, and while he wants to look forward instead of dwelling on the past two turbulent years, he hopes we will all be more pragmatic towards COVID-19 in 2022.

Yolanda, from Allison and Deb’s team in South Africa, helped with the Zelda la Grange and Boyd Varty calls in 2020, and also interviewed our local Ugandan guide when Divine Live and Online had the chance to get up close and personal with gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

As an event planner, Yolanda’s world was turned upside down when the pandemic hit. She couldn’t stop thinking of what could have been if COVID had never happened. “I cannot stop myself from thinking what exceptional years we would have had as a company that we all worked so hard to achieve. To go from record years to worst ever years by no fault of our own – haunts me a bit.”

Time to let go

For 2022, Yolanda is going to let those feelings go and make the best of the situation, knowing her company will flourish again. “People will always travel, I see it as one of Maslow’s basics needs – and we must be there to make the magic happen and create the perfect experiences, as we have the best destinations in the world for life-changing and humbling experiences.”

Allie Chisholm-Smith who accompanied the group to Montebello this fall, as well as trips to Muskoka in the past, is going to let go of old patterns and habits she had to try to keep herself safe – which she has learned actually turned out to be highly self-destructive instead of safe.

She has also realized that “trying to meet everyone’s needs other than my own only drains my energy and burns me out. I no longer put others first. That doesn’t work for me anymore.”

For 2022, Allie is realizing long-held dreams. “Our house is getting finished after a dozen years in reno. I have amazing friends and family. I have incredible coaches and supporters.”

She wants the new year to be “grounding, centering, and full of slow and steady steps up the ladder of the success I am working toward.”

Alfonso Tandazo, the expert for the virtual experience in the Galápagos and offers adventure and eco-tours in South America, wants to stop being overcome by adversity and leave his comfort zone to make positive changes.

“I would like to create a culture of respect and self-confidence in people, create awareness in people to understand the essential things that propaganda is taking away from us, and create friendly environments with opportunities for everyone,” he says.

While 2021 taught him that we are fragile and sensitive and that a virus can change our lives – it also helped him discover the wonder of family life, and that we can adapt to a new way of life and stop and look around us to see beauty from another perspective.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE NEXT YEAR TO HOLD?

“A new year is a great time to do a little self-reflection and think about how you want to live your life. It’s a chance to think about all that you are grateful for and all that you would like to change,” says Allison.

Here are eight questions to ask yourself as we head into 2022:

• What can I release from my life?
• What am I holding on to that holds me back?
• What do I believe that really works for me?
• What is going on in my life that is terrific and wonderful?
• Where am I most content?
• What do I want to create?
• How do I want the next year to be?
• What kind of world do I want to live in?

“We are looking forward to another year of journeys close to home that satisfy our sense of adventure while keeping safe, as well as soothe our minds and bodies and rejuvenate our souls,” says Allison.

“On the heels of our uber-successful Montebello retreat, we are looking to extend our REVIVE series throughout the year…. join us winter, spring and fall for pure serenity and as usual a simply divine experience”

We will begin in March with a Winter Wellness Weekend…Oh Snow Much Fun at the luxurious JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa and then will continue the journey adding another luscious location in late Spring and then fall into the colours and crispness in the autumn. All retreats will be close to Toronto and within an easy drive. Crackling fires, spa, and the bounty of nature beckon.

“Until we meet in person again, Deb and I wish you all a year filled with abundance, joy, and connection!”