From Trauma to Peace: One Woman’s Epic Australian Odyssey with Tess Millhollon

What drives a woman to sell everything she owns, travel halfway around the world, and jump on yachts with complete strangers? For Tess Millhollon, author and founder of Her House, it was the desperate need to reclaim her sense of self after surviving sexual assault in college.

Tess shares her remarkable journey of healing through solo travel in Australia, where she discovered that recreating her comfortable bartending life from Texas wasn't enough. The pivotal moment came when she spotted a hostel job board posting: "yacht crew wanted, no experience necessary." This spontaneous decision led to her learning to sail and "yacht hopping" up the Australian coastline—what she humorously calls "extreme hitchhiking"—creating the adventure of a lifetime.

Throughout her seven-month journey, Tess encountered what she calls "persons of peace"—strangers who became divine connections offering safety and community when she needed it most. One particularly meaningful encounter with a woman at an airport who later connected her with hosts became the inspiration for Her House, her current venture connecting solo women travelers for safe accommodations worldwide.

The conversation delves into the emotional challenges of long-term solo travel, including homesickness and the importance of bringing small comfort items like fuzzy socks or a familiar pillowcase. Tess beautifully articulates how solo travel teaches you to trust your intuition—knowing when to push forward and when a journey should end. "No one had done what I'd done, no one had felt what I felt...like I had me," she explains, highlighting how self-reliance during travel transfers powerfully to everyday life.

For women considering solo adventures, Tess recommends establishing connections in your destination before arriving—exactly what Her House facilitates through its community of background-checked members spanning all generations. Whether you're in your twenties like Tess was or a retiree seeking new experiences, this growing network offers both safety and authentic cultural immersion.

Ready to find your own healing journey? Download the Her House app, visit herhouseco.com to explore membership options, or read Tess's full story in her book "Sherbet Skies"—a testament that no matter how far you travel, you're never truly alone.

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