Las Vegas, USA

Stop #1: Under the Neon Sky – Las Vegas the Journey Begins......

The first stop on my 9-month journey across cultures and continents began somewhere unexpected: Las Vegas. Not for the flashing lights or the ringing slot machines—but because, somehow, starting in a city that never sleeps felt just right for a woman who’s learning to live wide awake again.

I checked into the Plaza Hotel on Fremont Street, a place brimming with retro charm and echoes of old Vegas glamour. As I strolled Fremont under its shimmering LED canopy, I didn’t feel like a tourist—I felt like a quiet observer of joy. Street musicians played their hearts out. Strangers danced like nobody was watching. Laughter floated through the air like confetti. There’s a certain kind of freedom here, and I breathed it in gratefully.

No one knew my story. No one needed to. Yet I was surrounded by proof that life moves—loudly, boldly, unapologetically.

After a short rest, I rose before dawn. By 4:00 a.m., I was at the airport, suitcase in hand, watching the lights of Las Vegas disappear into the dark as my plane lifted into the sky. I felt a quiet thrill deep in my chest—not from the flight, but from the choice to begin again.

Next stop: New York City.
A new city. A new rhythm. A new chance to see if happiness, kindness, and gratitude still bloom in even the busiest places.

The journey has officially begun—and so has the book.

With love and gratitude,
Julia Hapkinful
Living Happy. Being Kind. Staying Grateful.