Written by Whitney Borruano

​My mental health struggles ultimately began almost eight years ago when I suffered a sudden and tremendous tragic loss.  From that day on, I had silently struggled and gone through life believing it was just my burden to bear and mine alone. 

In 2019, my sister, Chelsea, was launching her nonprofit, the You Aren’t Alone Project; helping to raise awareness and increase resources for mental health so that no one ever has to feel alone. That same year, she also found a travel company called For the Love of Travel. 

For me, those two paths would end up colliding in a very profound way. 

So in 2019, my sister and I were turning 30 and we booked a trip of a lifetime to see the Northern Lights in Lapland through FTLO Travel. I distinctly remember it was on that trip that I posted a picture of myself and someone commented, “Happiness looks amazing on you!”

I didn’t know it in that moment but looking back, eight years ago, I truly did not know or believe that I could feel true happiness again. Yes, I’ve been happy, I’ve felt joy and I’ve experienced exciting moments, but true happiness comes from within and, once lost, seems almost impossible to truly find again. And eight years ago, I also thought that meant finding happiness again with someone else. I now know that what I was longing for was happiness within myself. I found that happiness through the love of travel. 

I owe that life changing moment, that epiphany - that heart, soul and mind opening experience to FTLO Travel. They changed my life at a time when I didn’t even know I needed it. The things I’ve experienced and the people I have met through these trips have helped shape me and transform me into a better version of myself. 

I have a found that light again inside myself that I truly never thought would return. A light that tragedy stole but FTLO Travel returned to me. I don’t know where I’d be now had I not found this company, my new lifelong friends and most importantly, myself. 

I owe so much to FTLO, more than they will ever know. Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes because I know just how rare it is to find something that makes you feel so alive. I am so blessed and will forever owe my sincerest gratitude to FTLO and the beautiful gift they’ve given me and will continue to give me with each trip I book. 

I’ll end with a small glimpse into what it's like to experience FTLO Travel.
Picture this: You’ve arrived on your first FTLO trip, at a no doubt beautiful location. You check in, get settled and await the first meet and greet with your new travel companions. You walk down to the meeting spot and see a group of amazing people, all around your age and all eager to experience a new place, new culture and new adventures with you. You’re nervous and excited but rest assured everyone there is feeling a bit nervous as well. That feeling quickly passes with each new person you meet and story you hear. You introduce yourself, learn more about your travel mates and prepare for the best week of your life as your FTLO trip leader tells you all about FTLO and what to expect for the next few days. And the rest, well, you’ll have to experience that on your own but every moment will inevitably top the next and you will leave with a sense of fulfillment that not many other experiences can top. 
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And that’s the true magic of travel, that’s the magic of travel with FTLO. 

Learn more about how you can win a trip with FTLO while supporting You Aren't Alone Project initiatives. 

We know the holidays aren't always the happiest. And today, as wishes of joy fill the air, we want you to know that whatever you're feeling is valid and you are so very not alone. We want you to find peace and hope in the smallest moments, but we also know that this season can come with sadness and pain, especially as we close out a year of immeasurable loss.

As we ring in a new year, socially distant from a world we once knew, it may be hard to find a reason to celebrate. And if you choose not to, that's ok too. But you are still here, and it can totally be enough to just celebrate you. 

We've compiled some resources to hopefully make wherever you are on your journey a little bit easier.

Wishing you safety, peace, and a bit of hope this holiday season. ​

What we want you to know about grief:

• We may look happy and the truth is, we probably are, but we're also incredibly sad. And we are learning how to live those things in tandem for now.
• We have probably cried uncontrollable or just the briefest of tears not 24 hours ago.
• We feel guilty all the time for going on with our lives without them.
• Sometimes we feel everything all at once, and sometimes we try like hell to feel nothing.
• We do want to hear from you, even if we seem distant.
• We aren't going to do everything right, right now. We're going to make mistakes. And we're so sorry for that.
• But we're trying, and that trying takes up a lot more energy these days.
• So we're also just tired.
• And we want you to understand that.
• Even though it may seem like we're doing just fine on our own, we can't do this alone.

Sincerely, loss but not lost