Latina on the Move to Deepen Identity and Expand Perspective
How road trips, reconnection, and Latinidad expand the soul
In a fast-paced world where productivity is often prioritized over presence, taking the time to travel — especially across the diverse landscape of the United States — becomes more than a leisure activity. For many Latinas, like me, it becomes an act of reconnection, self-inquiry, and cultural affirmation.
As I set out on a cross-country road trip this summer, winding through the Northeast to Southwest, heading back to my home base in Sedona, I found myself reflecting on how travel offers not just a change in scenery, but a shift in consciousness. Each stop was more than a destination — it was a moment to expand how I see the world and, perhaps more importantly, how I see myself within it.
Travel as a Tool for Personal and Cultural Expansion
Travel stretches our perspectives — especially when we move through unfamiliar regions or engage with people from backgrounds vastly different from our own. It disrupts routine thinking and invites questions like: What does the world look like outside my immediate home? What does success look for people unlike myself and what I’m used to? How do others define community, balance, or ambition? Where do I see parts of myself in someone whose life appears completely different?
As a Dominican-born woman raised in the states, I don’t travel without bringing my culture with me. It’s in the inflections of my voice, the way I greet people, the music I play as I drive, and the snacks & spices I carry in my suitcase “just in case.” Our Latinidad travels with us — proudly, effortlessly — and becomes a bridge for connection in places where our stories may not be well understood.
But what’s most powerful is how travel allows us to redefine cultural pride. Instead of shrinking ourselves to fit in, we expand our essence to meet the moment as we introduce others to who we are in culture, values, and presence — and often inspire others to do the same.
Reconnection Through Geography and Memory
This journey was also about reconnecting with people from different chapters of my life — old friends, close family, and colleagues. These encounters offered something no GPS could: the opportunity to reflect on my own evolution, and how I’ve maintained connections in life. Reconnecting isn’t just social — it’s emotional and intellectual. It reminds us of who we were, what we’ve overcome, and how far we’ve come. As Latinos navigating both our heritage and our professional ambitions, these reminders ground us. They reconnect us to values and identities that hustle culture often tells us to leave behind.
A Wider Lens Means a Deeper Self
What I’ve learned on this road trip — and what I hope others feel encouraged to explore — is that travel doesn’t require a passport to be transformational. From the cobblestone blocks of Baltimore, Maryland to the soulful rhythms of New Orleans, Louisiana and the red rocks of the Arizona desert, the American landscape is filled with opportunities to observe, absorb, and reflect. For Latino professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives, making space for exploration isn’t indulgent — it’s strategic and eye-opening. It recharges innovation. It recalibrates intuition. It reminds us of the power of slowing down in a system that constantly tells us to speed up.
Why everyone should travel
We often talk about mindset shifts, leadership growth, and cultural inclusion in the workplace — but sometimes, the most profound learning happens on the road, not in the boardroom. As Latinos, we bring a unique lens to everything we do — rooted in resilience, infused with culture, and shaped by intergenerational wisdom. When we travel, we activate that lens even more. And when we return? We lead with greater clarity, empathy, and conviction — not just for ourselves, but for the communities we represent.
Related content:
Why Entrepreneurs Need the Transformative Power of Travel
