Here We Go: Lessons for Living Fearlessly from Two Traveling Nanas

Eleanor Hamby and Sandra Hazelip’s Here We Go: Lessons for Living Fearlessly from Two Traveling Nanas (Viking, 2025) is nothing short of amazing. I’ve read it twice, and each time I’m captured by one incredible fact: both authors are over 80 years old! This is their story of circumnavigating the globe in eighty days—at age eighty-one—inspired by Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in Eighty Days. As they write in their acknowledgments:

“First, we thank Jules Verne, whose novel Around the World in Eighty Days inspired us to embark on our own fantastic world adventure, circumnavigating the globe in eighty days, at age eighty-one.”

During their journey, Ellie and Sandy visited twenty-five UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, proving that adventure truly has no age limit. One of the most powerful themes throughout Here We Go is gratitude as a foundation for reinvention. The authors write: “For both of us—for anyone—gratitude can be the heart of reinvention, seeing beyond the shock of loss to the blessings that remain” (p. 17). Their shared philosophy of embracing the unexpected shines through every page:

“We share the same capacity to lean into the unexpected and to remain upbeat about resolving problems when plans go awry. In fact, we take it on faith that any new outcome may well be better—or at least more interesting—than the planned one” (p. 33).

Ellie and Sandy’s travels took them through diverse cultures, including meaningful encounters in Iran. They experienced firsthand the generosity described in the Qur’an: “The generosity of spirit and guidance we experienced felt like ingrained kindliness, reflecting a Muslim parallel to our Christian commandment ‘Love Thy Neighbor’: Do good—to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet)” (The Holy Qur’an, al-Nisaa 4:36) (p. 90). A conversation with a young Iranian offered profound insight:

“Americans view the people of a country and its government as one. You don’t like the people if you don’t like the government. But the rest of the world sees the people and the government as two. We don’t like your government, but we love Americans” (p. 93).

This led the Traveling Nanas to a powerful conclusion: “We’ve come to believe that conversation can heal the world, as an affirmation of what we share as human beings” (p. 93). One of the most inspiring aspects of their story is their commitment to staying active. When filming content for social media, Ellie shares: “They filmed the two of us, eighty-one years old, doing squats on the sidewalk!” She adds, “Aging doesn’t have to mean inertia—we hope that’s a positive message we can share. We’re great believers in staying active. Ellie swims and walks a few miles a day, while Sandy does the same on her treadmill at home. Exercise has kept us limber enough for more exciting activities, like traveling. If there’s a single secret to life, it’s ‘Keep On Moving,’ putting one foot in front of the other, until your baby steps become adventures” (pp. 191-192). What makes their partnership work is the balance between their different temperaments:

“There are two types of people in the world—risk-takers like me and those like Sandy, who, as she always says, ‘practice preventive medicine.’ It’s striking a balance between our very different temperaments that makes our friendship thrive” (p. 210).

They also share wisdom about handling challenges with grace: “Instinctively—and without a word spoken between us—we both went into ‘conciliation’ mode. Pitching a fit never helps matters, especially when you’re in the wrong” (p. 243). Throughout their journey, Ellie and Sandy discovered a deeper purpose: “Did we have something to offer—a capacity to uplift others and to inspire them to look to new horizons?” (p. 273). They believe strongly in our human capacity for connection: “Virtually all of us not only have the innate capacity [and] but the drive to connect with one another. What it takes is the willingness to shift focus from yourself—your self-consciousness and self-preoccupation—to the common ground that you might share with someone else” (pp. 289-290). The book closes with their current motto and an invitation to readers: “We have work we long to do, amazing places left to see, ‘awes’ left to experience, joys left to discover. That’s why our current motto is Eighty-Two and We’re Not Through. We’re going strong—and we can’t wait to see where life takes us next!” (p. 291).

In the epilogue, they leave us with this final encouragement: “Joy awaits if we summon the courage—and energy!—to fully inhabit all the seasons of our lives” (p. 295). Visit their website to keep up with their adventures: https://aroundtheworldat80.com/home

Happy Holidays! Be Safe Out There – Enjoy Life’s Adventures

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