Friday 5 pm.
Life tends to “happen to us” while we’re busy checking emails, news and social media. To me, traveling is one way to bring you back to the moment and deliver that Friday 5pm feeling into your life.
This is the moment you find balance; when you stop focusing on what you should be doing and instead focus on what you want to do.
Hi, I’m Miriam Risager.
The travel writer, annoyingly enthusiastic foodie, and hopeful fear fighter behind Adventurous Miriam.
Since 2013, I’ve helped people like you dream big and back it up with meaningful travels to the world’s most beautiful and undiscovered places.
How it all started
The backpacking trip that changed everything
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to make a difference in children’s lives and loved the idea of developing young people into kind, thoughtful and contributing adults.
So, I went to university fully motivated to become just that. By the time I’d finished my bachelor’s degree, I decided to take a gap year to travel the world. That trip changed my life in a direction I never could have predicted.
I spent six months traveling through Asia, and during that time, my mindset, perspective and ultimately my dreams completely altered.
I used to be afraid of spiders. In fact, I was so anxious about spiders that I almost didn’t go to Asia because I was afraid to run into one.
And then in Thailand my worst fear came true. I was bit by a big, fat, vicious tarantula while sleeping and almost died from the following panic attack (that’s not completely true, but it sure felt like it).
That particular experience.. That moment taught me that despite my worst fears, I didn’t actually die. That moment taught me that facing my biggest fears isn’t the end of the world. In fact, I can overcome my fears.
From copywriter to entrepreneur
I came home and felt different. I had discovered new cultures, met new people, seen poverty, and gone off the path because I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.
I finished my master’s degree. But the thought of having a full-time job with the same curriculum year after year suddenly didn’t seem so enticing.
I was passionate about a multitude of things: writing, psychology, fashion, spirituality, photography, creativity, entrepreneurship, blogging and traveling, just to name a few.
After several failed attempts at full-time jobs and a lot of anxiety trying to fit into the 9-5 model and choose just one thing to be in life, I realised that I didn’t have to. My unusual combination of skills and interests wasn’t a liability – it was a strength.
So, I gave up the security of the 9-5, began freelancing and blogging to provide for our family while slowly building a copywriting business and travel blog from the ground up.
Today, I see myself as a multifaceted entrepreneur because I didn’t (and never will) fit into a conventional box.
I’m no Yoda and I don’t have all the answers. I make mistakes, have bad days and get mired in fear and self-doubt, just like everyone else. But my promise is to share with you the best of what I’m learning and living, while always remaining authentic and honest.
Solo travel and marriage
In 2009, I fell in love with Thomas. We got married in Thailand a few years after and traveled around the world, from Central America, Mexico, and Europe to UAE and Asia.
In 2014, I went on my first solo trip to Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Traveling solo for the first time was the most anxiety-inducing thing I’ve ever done, and once again, fear almost stopped me.
I didn’t let it, though.
And since then, I’ve traveled to more than 20 countries on my own.
Becoming a mom
I’ve always wanted to be a mom. If I could only experience one thing in life, it would be motherhood.
But life had other plans.
We went through five years of fertility treatments, which was exhausting and heart-wrenching to a point where I felt so lost and depressed. I almost couldn’t take it any more.
I went on a solo soul-searching journey through Europe on a trip I called the fairy tale quest. Because I needed to restore my faith in fairy tales and happy endings. Thomas met me in Romania and we traveled home together.
The year after, we welcomed our first-born, Theo, into the world. Never have I been happier than the day he came into our lives. Theo has traveled to distant parts of the world with me since he was a baby. I want my kids to experience the perspective, the openness and mindset that I didn’t learn until I was in my early 20s.
In 2020, we were blessed with another beautiful son: Toby. Traveling with two kids is a whole different story, so let me get back to you once I’ve figured that one out 🙂
About this blog
I created Adventurous Miriam in 2013 as a space to share my travel stories and inspire people to live a more adventurous life.
It has been a slow but steady journey, fitting in a full-time copywriting business, two kids and a pandemic along the way. But my blog is thriving and I now have 100.000 followers on social media and 60.000 monthly visitors on the blog.
There’s a lot to running an online business, and I had to teach myself everything: SEO, coding, design, UX, strategy, industry and target group insight, and much, much more. What started as a hobby has grown into a full-time job that I absolutely love. Every day, I’m grateful that I’m following my path and helping others plan their dream trips.
Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with Eastern Europe and post-Soviet countries. I also love exploring my own country, Denmark. That’s why you’ll see a lot of posts from Denmark, the Balkans (my favourite area), the Caucasus and other undiscovered places around the world. Both familiar and less visited destinations.
Work with me
Are you interested in working with me?
Visit my Work with me page for more information and to request a copy of my Media Kit.