Good friendships. Financial independence. A job you love. Feeling proud of the person you're becoming. ❤️ What does success look like for you? Post inspired by 6secondseq

You might not know her name. But you’ve almost certainly relied on her work. Dr Gladys West was a pioneering mathematician whose extraordinarily precise modelling of the Earth helped lay the foundations for modern GPS technology now used everywhere from the phone in your pocket to aircraft navigating across the world. Her achievements are all the more significant given the context in which she was working. Dr West began her career in US military research in the 1950s, when Black women faced widespread discrimination and opportunities in mathematics and science were extremely limited. Her contribution to GPS would remain largely unknown to the wider public for decades. Dr West died on 17 January this year, aged 95. So, next time you’re heading somewhere new, spare a thought for one of the brilliant minds who helped the world find its way. 🌍✈️

It's a question most child-free adults know by heart: so, why don't you want kids? 👀 Jennifer Lawrence recently offered a different way of looking at it. Speaking on the SmartLess podcast about the pressure to have children, she said that when someone tells her they're unsure about becoming a parent, her advice is simple: "Don't do it." Her wider point was that the surprise tends to land on the wrong side. Choosing not to have children is met with questions, while choosing to have them rarely prompts anyone to ask, "Are you sure?" The wording in the graphic paraphrases this idea and is from a BuzzFeed article about Lawrence's interview. Parenthood is often treated as the default, while any other path is expected to come with an explanation. In reality, both experiences (whether by choice or not) deserve the same sensitivity and respect. 📷 Joel Kowsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The breakup timeline… 📈💔 It’s not unusual for Flashpackers to book a trip after a breakup – even if they don’t mention it straight away. But there’s something comforting about landing in a ready-made community of like-minded solo travelers: people you can open up to and laugh with easily. In our latest article, Anna Brech explores whether solo travel can help heal a broken heart (TL;DR: yes. Yes, it can).

Someone asked me why I have high standards of romantic love, and I said how could I not? 🥺 Words by the @thepurpledoe

Dolly Parton will become the first woman to have a major U.S. airport named solely in her honour, as Nashville International Airport prepares to take on the country music legend’s name. ✈️ The historic tribute follows Parton’s death in August, and celebrates her extraordinary connection to Tennessee, where she was born and raised before moving to Nashville and becoming one of the most influential figures in country music. Calls to rename the airport gathered momentum among fans, with more than 175,000 people backing an online petition supporting the change. The move will give Parton another permanent place in the history of the city she helped put on the global cultural map, with Nashville’s airport set to carry her name for generations to come. Image: Dolly Parton in a 1977 RCA Records publicity photo. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

'Travel is not a reward for working, it's education for living.' Anthony Bourdain

"What's your reset recipe? For me, it's phone off, good company, and being immersed in nature" Holly Chidley Check out Flash Pack's Tanzania Trip | Group Travel for Solo Travelers in their 30s & 40s or 40s & 50s | Arrive Solo, Leave as Friends 🌍

"As a solo female traveler, I've always been afraid to travel on my own... until I found Flash Pack" ❤️ Faith Majors Check out Flash Pack's South Africa Trip | Group Travel for Solo Travelers in their 30s & 40s or 40s & 50s | Arrive Solo, Leave as Friends 🌍

What do female friendships mean to you? #Zootopia

Pack Leader Awards Ceremony 2025 xitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1yoKModvO…

What does friendship mean to you? 💛

"As a single 38-year-old Latina, solo travel felt taboo in my culture—especially since all my friends are married with kids. But Flash Pack showed me I’m not alone. I met so many women in the same shoes, and the experience was one of inclusivity, acceptance, and confidence-building. It changed everything for me!" Cristy, Flashpacker

“I always thought I had plenty of time to travel until my dad’s sudden heart attack and my mom’s cancer diagnosis changed everything. Life is too short to keep waiting. Once I knew they’d be okay, I finally booked my first solo trip with Flash Pack and I have no regrets. It was an amazing experience from start to finish!” Michelle, Flashpacker

A chocolate trend?! We couldn’t resist. But obviously with a travel twist.

The best and hardest lesson I ever learned was to stop waiting for others to do things. Go see the band, the movie, the world by yourself. You'll find your crowd on the way.

Imagine yourself exploring a secret island in the Philippines, glamping in the Serengeti, or dining with Sumo wrestlers in Japan - and getting up to $1,000 off to make it all happen! flashpack.com/us/deals/