Blog - Page 6 of 143 - Sonia Marsh

How Do You Keep Your Sense of Wonder?

September 23, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 1 Comment

In my mind, a sense of wonder starts with curiosity: something we’re all born with. The question I ask myself is: How can we keep that sense of wonder as we grow older?

Young children are constantly learning something new: how to read, how to tie their shoes, how to ride a bicycle. It’s not surprising that if we don’t make a conscious effort to keep a sense of curiosity and wonder, life may seem mundane as we grow older.

When I lived in Lesotho, I listened to BBC World on my small radio, and was interested in hearing how Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, reflected on her travels abroad. The interviewer commented on how brave Elizabeth was to uproot her life and move alone to Italy, India and Bali, for one year. Elizabeth replied that she didn’t think she was brave, but simply curious about life and other people.

Another person I admire is Maria Shriver. She recently wrote in her blog, “Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper,” about how she took a one-month break from work, and decided to focus on:

“Less busyness. Less intense thinking. More calm. More connection. More wonder.”

Shriver decided to travel to Africa with her youngest son, and her goal was to focus on:

the concept of wonder

“Wonder gets you out of your head. It feels less intense than thinking. It feels more stream of consciousness and more creative. It actually feels freeing and it allows one to connect more with oneself and others.

Wonder is what I felt as I drove across the vast, open Serengeti. I found myself wondering what it might be like to live there full time, either working in the conservation movement or working with the women I met who are trying to overcome deep poverty and build lives that their mothers could have never imagined.
The thing that I found interesting was how she found the right word to describe Africa. Wonder.” Maria Shriver

I feel a connection with Elizabeth Gilbert and Maria Shriver, in that I’m curious about other people, and always want to keep learning.

Some people are more curious, and thirsty for new experiences than others. I’ve always felt the need to get away from my daily routine in order to satisfy my sense of curiosity. I do this in the following ways:

On a small scale:

Speaking to someone new every day
Trying a new recipe
Reading a novel I wouldn’t normally read
Re-connecting with someone I haven’t spoken to in over a year
Joining a new group such as “Dining For Women”
Joining a TED Talks discussion group

On a larger scale:

Starting my new travel club
Traveling to new places
Leading my first trip to Kenya with ten women

I keep myself open to new opportunities.

How about you? How do you keep your sense of wonder? I’d love to hear.

Travel with a Purpose: A Writers’ Retreat

September 3, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 8 Comments

When I moved to Laguna Woods, five months ago, I had the idea of starting my own Travel Club. Initially I wanted to start “Women Travel with a Purpose,” , but then I changed to “Travel with a Purpose,” despite the fact that women often have the urge to travel, more than men.

Maybe the “Free” South African wine and the delicious appetizers, including the home-made hummus, enticed the large attendance of 72 people at the inaugural meeting of “Travel with a Purpose.” Our enthusiastic guest, speaker, Pat Lenahan, inspired many who are passionate about travel with her presentation, “How Travel to Africa Changed My Life.”

The reason I started this club is to inspire people to travel, and remove any fear of travel, especially to Africa.

Is it Dangerous to go on a Safari?

As Jim Holden states in his blog post:“Is it Dangerous?”

“I interpret the question, “Is it dangerous?”, mostly as a fear of the unknown. No different to finding oneself in an unfamiliar part of town and being unsure if it’s safe to be there.” Jim Holden

This is exactly how Pat Lenahan answered the fear of going to Africa. She also stated that she has strayed into the wrong parts of Chicago, and other cities in the U.S., which made her feel unsafe, however, she never felt fear on any of her seven trips to various countries in Africa.

In fact, I’m more afraid of driving in parts of Los Angeles than I am sitting in a jeep with a professional guide in the middle of the Big 5 in Kenya, or even standing 12 feet from the gorillas in Rwanda. I’ve experienced several countries in the last year: Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and South Africa.

When you travel in small groups to Africa with me, or even as a single or a couple, you are escorted by a professional tour leader and at no time are you left to fend for yourself. Not even at the airport in Nairobi or Cape Town; you will always be met by someone from Holden Safaris, escorted to a private vehicle, and taken to your hotel or lodge.

Sonia Marsh answering questions at Travel with a Purpose Club

When I talk about “Travel with a Purpose,” I mean learning something about the culture, the wildlife, the people, the foods, the flora, and also stimulating the senses with new experiences. As an author, who has attended many writers retreats, I’m designing a different writers’ retreat in Zambia and Zimbabwe where we will be instructed by a professional writing coach in a small group setting of no more than ten writers.

Writers’ Retreat in Zambia: A Transformative Experience

How can you not feel a transformative experience in Africa? Experiencing the beauty of Victoria Falls, the largest sheet of falling water on earth, watching the wildlife up close with your professional guide, having your morning coffee in the bush and your sunset happy hour in the bush during our twice daily game drives, watching the elephants interacting in front of the lodge’s water hole is unique. You will then have time to reflect and articulate your feelings in your journal– is this not rejuvenating? Your writing coach will guide you with a prompt, and you will have time to share your stories.

Designing a Writers’ Retreat at these Lodges

I am thinking of using these beautiful lodges in Zambia during this 8-day writers’ retreat. Pre and post extensions will be offered to those who wish to see more of Africa; after all, each country has its own unique landscape and wildlife.

Our first lodge perfect for writers to find nooks and crannies to write.

Our second lodge on the Zambezi River, is where we shall explore the Victoria Falls. Last year, during a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river, I saw hippos in the water and 80 or more elephants ambling down the slopes of the river bank to drink. This was my favorite birthday present.

The elephants that came down to drink when I was on a sunset cruise for my birthday on the Zambezi river.

Please let me know if you’re interested by leaving a comment below or send me an e-mail at Sonia@soniamarsh.com if you’d like to learn more about a writers’ retreat for May/June 2019, or any other trips I’m planning.

Dining for Women Helps Reduce Poverty Among Girls in the Developing World

July 29, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 2 Comments

I just joined a group called “Dining for Women,” thanks to my Peace Corps friend, Mary Broude. A new chapter was started in Orange County by Elizabeth Boretz, and the concept is: We get together, dine in, catch up with friends, expand our knowledge of the world, and donate to projects that reduce poverty and promote gender equity.

What exactly is Dining for Women?

Dining for Women is a global giving circle dedicated to transforming lives and eradicating poverty among women and girls in the developing world. Through member education and engagement, as well as the power of collective giving, Dining for Women funds grassroots organizations that empower women and girls and promote gender equity.

My first meeting was last week at Mary’s house and the concept is that members give what they can–usually what they would have spent for a dinner out–towards a grassroots project.

What is an Example of a Dining for Women Featured Project?

In July the featured project was to help the mission of Women’s Global Education Project (WGEP) with eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Tharaka-Nithi County region of Kenya where (WGEP) works. In that region, 71% of women aged 15-49, have undergone some form of FGM/Cutting. This can cause severe physical as well as psychological effects and this is intensified in rural areas such as Tharaka-Nithi County where local individuals, rather than medical professionals, carry out the procedure in non-sterile settings.

Research shows that girls who undergo genital cutting are more likely to drop out of school since they are considered ready for marriage, typically between ages 9-12. Although Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and 2001 Children’s Act outlawed activities such as FGM/C and early marriage, the practice continues. (WGEP) believes that education, gender equality, and empowerment of women are critical to a society’s development. It’s mission is to provide access to education and develop training programs that empower women and girls to build healthy and productive communities.

How Does Dining for women Work?

One host invites members and other women who would like to learn about the organization and share a meal together. Members learn about that month’s featured grantees through videos, educational documents and presentations, and discuss the project. Funds raised each month go to fund the featured and sustained grantees, as well as support the entire mission of Dining for Women.

Some members such as the long-time established Vienna/Fairfax Chapter (photo of group above) prepare recipes based on the country being featured. For example this July, the host prepared a Kenyan meal. The Fairfax group has 60 women on its roster. Anywhere from 12 – 30 attend the monthly meetings held in members’ homes. They start with socializing, then watch the video from the featured grantee and discuss the project. Afterwards, they enjoy dinner together, often focused on dishes from the grantee’s country.

Would you like to attend a Dining for Women dinner?

If you live in Orange County, and would like to attend a “Dining For Women” event, please e-mail me at: SoniaM@HoldenSafaris.com

Can You Create Your Ideal Life?

July 21, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 14 Comments

I found an old thumbstick in a purse I no longer use.

Curious to see its contents, I plugged it into my new laptop and found a one-page document I’d written 11 years ago. The title was: “My Passion.” I had no idea what to expect and realized that I had written it during a time in my life when I was searching for my own purpose. I did not have a career, my teenage sons were still living at home, and I wanted something concrete to look forward to. I knew what I liked to do, and what my strengths were, but how could I create a life that encompassed all my dreams?

This was a time when I read self-help books hoping for a solution. I didn’t really believe in visualization, and the ability to manifest dreams, but as I started re-reading “My Passion,” I shuddered: Was I reading a dream, or my life today?

Here’s what I wrote on March 13th, 2007.

My Passion

I love my job, it’s my passion, and I absolutely adore doing it. I wake up and feel happy that I can do what I love and what I’m best at on a daily basis. I control my own hours, and spend a good deal of time meeting people. I network with people of baby boomer age and older, and provide a service that is beneficial to my clients. I motivate them, one on one, and in small groups, to be positive and happy with their lives. I travel and experience new adventures.

People refer me to their friends and relatives and see the benefits of what I can do for them. It never feels like work, as it is giving part of what I already have and it is very natural for me to do this. I have one very good contact, the catalyst. The people I deal with are very well educated, interesting, and down to earth. It’s very easy. People request my services and soon I recruit others to help me. I select carefully to keep a good reputation going for my business, and to keep the “personal touch” with each one of my clients, whom I have grown to consider more than clients.

These clients offer me numerous opportunities to travel. I have a loving and peaceful job, and the answer is simply staring me in the face.

It is there, right in front of me, and I make it happen. This is what I see:

a service

word-of-mouth referrals

helping people

fulfilling a need for baby-boomers

writing articles

Now it’s 2018, and everything in this document has culminated in what I’m doing today. So who is the catalyst?

Gillian, the catalyst, far right and two ladies I met who are traveling with me on my first “Women Travel with a Purpose” trip to Kenya this October.

My hairdresser, and friend, Gillian, who mentioned that I was looking for a career and returning from Africa. I was fortunate to find a career in the Safari business through her.

Sometimes I think this is luck, and other times I believe we can create our ideal life.

The five goals that I wrote about in 2007 are now part of my life. I offer a service, I help people who want new travel experiences, I organize Safaris for Baby-boomers, I write blog posts, and I’m starting to get word-of-mouth referrals.

a service
word-of-mouth referrals
helping people
fulfilling a need for baby-boomers
writing articles

I’m leading my first group of women travelers on a purposeful Safari to Kenya this October. We’re visiting orphans and vulnerable children at a school in Nairobi, Kenya, and spending a day with them. We have ten ladies who are also passionate about visiting a school and helping. I plan to offer this trip again next year as well with my friend, Roz Berry, Director of the African Child Foundation. You can see the flyer for 2019, by clicking on the link below.

Women Travel with a Purpose flyer 2019

Women Travel with a Purpose flyer 2019

Have you had a similar experience where you’ve written down your ideal career or life and checked back to see if it materialized?

Please share your story in the comments section below.

The Elephants That Came to Dinner

July 12, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 1 Comment

How would you like to meet the elephants that came to dinner? It only happens once a year, in November, at Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia.

Wonky Tusk and her baby, Wellington, stroll through reception to feast on the fallen fruits from the large Wild Mango(Cordyla africana) tree in the lodge grounds. The fact that a large safari lodge is built around this delicious food store is of no concern to them. Why not take the shortcut up the stairs, through the tiled reception lobby, and into the garden? (Watch the video below)

This year, I’ve put together a Safari to experience, not only the elephants at Mfuwe, but also the largest mammal migration which happens to be the 4 foot wing-span bats in Kasanka, Zambia.

Here is the digital itinerary for 2018 “Iconic Zambia: Flying Foxes and Homecoming Elephants.” I plan to offer this Safari, which also includes Victoria Falls, in November 2019 for a small group of 10 people. Please watch the video below which shows the elephants and baby Wellington when he was just two weeks old. Incredible video that shows the level of trust between the camera crew, and the elephants.

Any interest in joining this amazing trip?

Please let me know.