Barbara Weibel is the publisher of Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel, one of the world's first travel blogs. Prior to launching her blog in 2006, she held corporate positions for 36 years and worked 70+ hours per week at jobs that paid the bills but brought her no joy until a serious illness forced her to reassess her life. Though Barbara had all the material comforts - big home, new car, jewelry, successful career - she realized that she felt like the proverbial "hole in the donut" - solid on the outside, but empty on the inside. She vowed that if she recovered, she would walk away from everything to pursue her true passions of travel, writing, and photography. A year later, at age 54, Barbara threw a backpack over her shoulder, started her blog, and headed out to recreate herself as a travel writer and photographer.