A swansong from Melinda Stevens, as she bids a fond farewell to her readers and her team in her final letter as iBestTravel’s editor-in-chief.
23 July 2021
And so this will be my last editor’s letter. My last editor’s letter for you and my last editor’s letter for me. Despite the challenges and pressures of deadlines, these letters evolved into a diary of my life—a testament to the decade spent doing this job while raising my girls. They serve both as a message to them and a reflection of the life of a busy working mum.
If someone had told me that I would enter into lockdown with children who would soon become teenagers and transition through life changes, I would have thought it a chaotic scenario. However, as I reflect now, I find myself embracing the unexpected. This experience has reinforced a vital lesson: that life is often surprising in ways we don’t anticipate.
During the transitions of the past 18 months, an idea came to me: ‘Walk the Test Way’. Though I have never enjoyed walking, I instinctively committed to this journey. It felt like a necessary transition—a quiet pilgrimage to reconnect with myself. This walk would symbolize a movement from the old to the new, a cleansing from the chaos of lockdown into a serene embrace of nature.
Growing up near the River Test, I spent countless hours at its banks, building memories with my father. This river represents both my childhood and the place that holds my deepest connections. It’s where I share memories with my brother who faced profound disabilities and where the essence of family bonds was built through shared moments of joy and care.
As I arrived at the train station with my rucksack and my dog, I spotted Allan, my father’s longtime cook. He was part of the fabric of our family, someone who brought understanding and support during our shared hardships. However, we struggled to find the beginning of my intended walk, and it was a frustrating moment filled with embarrassment. Eventually, to my surprise, I discovered that I was right at the start—eager and energetic. I began to write again instinctively, capturing the beauty around me and reigniting my love for exploration.
This is my final message, filled with gratitude for the team at iBestTravel. Their unwavering support has allowed me to flourish in a role I’ve longed for, filled with creativity and inspiration. This letter is not just a farewell; it’s a love letter meant for all those who helped shape these years, accompanied by overwhelming feelings of appreciation.
