I still vividly remember some of my first conversations and feelings when I landed up in Spiti 11 years ago. I was lost and confused, desperate to find a purpose, and in dire need of conviction that my gender wasn’t going to stop me from following my craziest dreams. I had somehow mustered up the courage to take an unpaid sabbatical from my steady, well-paying corporate job... and take my first solo trip against warnings from family and friends on the dangers of going it alone as a young woman. I guess it was the universe’s way of introducing me to @ishitaecosphere, the co-founder of @spitiecosphere. Embarking on what can only be described as a bold journey, she built one of India’s earliest social enterprises, using tourism as a means for sustainable development in the remote reaches of Spiti Valley - long before offbeat travel and sustainability became the buzzwords they are today. I was (and still am) in awe of her life, work, entrepreneurial spirit and social convictions - and began to dream of a life that would allow me to pursue my own definition of success, freedom, impact and fulfilment too. This month, 11 years ago, that journey to Spiti was the beginning of the journey I am on today... and I couldn’t be more grateful 🙏 Who / where has inspired you to take a different path in life? Or what kind of inspiration are you looking for?