• Date: November 1, 2013
• Author: The Time-Crunched Traveler
• 5 Comments

Over the past two years, we have shared our travel tips and global adventures with an amazing group of readers from around the globe.

When I started this project, I could not have predicted where it would go. I could not have predicted that our readership would come from dozens of countries around the globe and number in the tens of thousands. I could not have imagined I would form relationships with travelers around the globe, who I have never met in person, but feel as though I’ve known for years. I never thought people would be touched by what I shared on this site. I didn’t really expect people to email me asking for travel advice or to tell me that my post inspired them to take a trip of their own.

But yet, somehow, all of those things happened.

To be honest, I started this site because I thought I could make money (and I’m pleased to say, I have!). Most of our friends and family probably thought we started the site to share our adventures with those we know. But to be honest, with the exception of our parents and a few loyal friends, no one we know ever really showed interest in this site. In fact, they kind of turned their nose up at it, not really understanding how blogging can be a business and probably a little bit annoyed that we had set up an entire website seemingly dedicated to bragging about our travels to the entire globe.

But it was never meant to brag and it was never meant to share with our inner circle. It was really just meant to serve as a forum to make a bit of money through advertising using content we would already have anyway since we travel a lot. Sure, I hoped that along the way people might find our advice useful, but I guess I had trouble believing they really would … so I didn’t hang my hopes on that. It wasn’t my motivation for working hard each day.

But something happened along the way, along this journey, that took me totally by surprise.

I began to find myself. I began to find my voice. I stopped caring about the money and started caring about the people reading along. I wasn’t content to just throw content up just for the sake of directing traffic to this site.

I started to see that our journey actually has inspired some people out there and I started to feel a responsibility toward those people.

I began to notice that people seem to want more than just travel tips — those are a dime a dozen. People want to know more about the coolest cultural sites around the world — which are becoming easier and easier for people to visit.

Instead, people are eager to learn how the themes encountered in travel — culture, history, current events, and social issues — are relevant to their daily lives.

So I began to share from the heart. I began to challenge readers to do more than just take from a place, but instead to give back. I began to focus on the social issues I encountered through my travels … and through this I found purpose in my writing.

I wrote about this change when I asked a few months back, “Are you living a story worth re-telling?” In that post, I said:

“Traveling is a privilege; a privilege that brings us face-to-face with the staggering injustices facing our fellow citizens of the world. Extreme, debilitating poverty. Human trafficking. Street children. Widespread, preventable disease. Systemic corruption. Natural disasters. Violent conflicts. I have seen with my own eyes what others are lucky if they ever even see on CNN.

I want my story to reflect that I have been a good steward of the privilege I have been given to travel. I want my story to show that I traveled for more than just my own self-interest. I cannot simply photograph what I see; I must respond to it.“

These thoughts are great, and I’ve only just scratched the surface in sharing them, but they’re not consistent with the original message of this blog: To help working professionals make the most of their limited vacation time.

So rather than completely change the tone and purpose of this blog, I have decided to share my thoughts in a totally different forum. The Time-Crunched Traveler site will still remain live, but not active. I will instead be posting over at EllenBillard.com, which will double as my professional portfolio and personal blog. The content of that site will focus on the cultures, events, and social issues that impact nations around the globe. Since moving to China, I have had the incredible opportunity to do international development consulting work throughout Southeast Asia, as well as to launch Road to Mafraq, a fundraising initiative to help Syrian refugees living in Jordan. I will be writing about my experiences with both of these projects on the new site.

So I write this for two reasons:

First, I want to say thank you for joining us on our journey and for encouraging us so much along the way. We have so enjoyed getting to know each of you.

Second, will you join us in the next chapter of our journey? Please take a moment to check out the new website and to like our Facebook and Twitter pages. I hope you will contribute to the dialogue on these important issues that, as travelers, we offer a unique perspective on.

We look forward to having some great conversations with you in years to come!