Rebecca Manzi Lynn Stephenson, driven by the Covid pandemic, has decided to leave everything to explore the world: she aims to visit all the countries, for the moment she is stuck at 168
@daredreamdiscover1/Instagram
Lynn Stephenson is a 61-year-old woman living in Carlton, England, who has finally taken a leap of faith to turn her dream into reality-to visit every country in the world. This lady has been working all her life as an office administrator and part-time fitness instructor until she made the big decision in 2022: she sold her home, paid off her mortgage, and used the proceeds to fund her ambitious travel project.
For Lynn, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point. She recalled that moment in the following way:
“I had never imagined how the world could come to a full stop. It made me realize it was about time for an action.”
The moment lockdowns were lifted, Lynn boarded a flight to Italy, the start of her new life as an explorer. She has visited 168 countries in the last two years and hopes to complete her journey next year.
Iran: the most hospitable and welcoming country
She has gone on to visit such places as Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, and Taiwan. All the places she has been to have enriched her life, though some experiences have been more indelible than others. While in the Galápagos Islands, for example, she swam with penguins, sharks, and sea lions all in one day-something she referred to as “spectacular”.
The determination of Lynn has won her an increasing number of followers on social media, where she shares stories from her travels and inspires thousands. She said:
“It’s great to know I can inspire others to see the world”.
She also acknowledges that traveling is not without challenges, but all difficulties she has to face ultimately contribute to her hardiness. Of the countries she has been to so far, Iran is the most hospitable and welcoming, though; she says that the nicest people she has met so far are the biggest prizes of this journey.
The road ahead
Next, Lynn will be traveling to Australia, Timor-Leste, Brunei, and Bangladesh en route to Africa and ultimately the remaining few countries she has yet to visit. But one thing is for sure-the woman has no plans to settle down.
“Every day is an adventure. I will never stop seeking new experiences.”
