In 2012, I was working in a career that many would consider a dream. I was a publicist in the Country music industry. As a lifelong lover of music and a classically trained pianist at New York University, it was thrilling.
Every day was exciting, whether I was working a red carpet in Las Vegas or escorting music legends, like Dolly Parton and Carol Channing, to a media interview. I had the opportunity to travel all over the country, including touring with some incredible artists.
But behind the scenes, I could feel the burnout rising.
My dad died unexpectedly
That same year, the unthinkable happened: My family’s home on the Jersey Shore was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, and days later, my Dad would pass away from a heart attack in the aftermath. There are moments where your life is split into the before and after — and this was that. My mother, sister, and I were left to pick up the pieces. The rebuild process for our home and the town my family has resided in for decades was a long one.
Inspired by my dad and our shared interest in travel and theme parks, I began exploring how I could follow my passions and turn them into a career. I’ve since completely left the music industry and have created a career as a full-time travel journalist and author, with my first book debuting this year.
My Dad had always been my biggest inspiration
My family has always been close. And it was my dad who instilled in me a love of all things travel, writing, food, and Disney parks. It wasn’t just Walt Disney World — which we’d visit several times a year — but all theme parks, including another favorite, Hersheypark. My family vacations to theme parks are among my happiest memories, and I continue to visit them today with my now-husband, recreating many of those moments.
My dad embraced that “you only live once” attitude I strived for, and he didn’t care what others thought of him. And after he passed, something changed inside me. I was feeling burned out by the music industry and its constant behind-the-scenes struggles and politics. I knew a change was needed.
The healing process was a long one, and admittedly, not easy. It would be nearly a year before our family home and business were rebuilt. Our community came together amid the devastation in a way I could have never imagined. Even the Country music community rallied behind my family, supporting us in the rebuilding process. And while things will forever be different, the experience was transformative.
And during that time, I began to consider how I could change my career trajectory and reinvent myself.
I began writing about theme parks and travel
I have always loved writing, since I was a child obsessed with R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” and as an active member of Young Authors in my elementary school. And writing was my favorite part of working in the music industry, whether it was a press release or an artist biography for websites. I loved the creative process.
Maybe this was a way to cope with his death, but I sought out career opportunities that combined my two greatest passions: travel writing and theme parks. It may have been a way of keeping his memory alive, getting to write about the many places and things our family had done together.
Journalism is a tough industry with nothing promised, and I had zero clue whether this risk would work. I went after it with every fiber of my being, giving it my all. Thankfully, I had the full support of my husband and my family throughout all of this.
I think my Dad would be proud to see me now
My music career is long in the rearview mirror, as I’ve enjoyed a wonderful career traveling and writing, and, most importantly, living life to the fullest as I knew my dad wanted me to. I’ve had some amazing opportunities that I wish he could see, like sailing on a cruise to Alaska (cruising was one of his absolute favorites) and going on safari in South Africa.
My greatest accomplishment to date is getting to write my debut book, which is all about Disney and food, my dad and I’s greatest shared interests. While it does sting that he won’t be there to see it and experience this high moment of my life and career, I did dedicate it to his memory. My mom, sister, and I are closer than ever and continue to take several annual family trips to Disney parks.
I’m now 40, and what this taught me is that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and go after what you want. Also, it’s OK to completely change paths at any age.
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