Hello

🌍 Encounter Our World, The Wright Way: My Story

 

Hello. Allow me to introduce myself again.  My name is Ethi Orvin Wright. And here at the ripe old age of 51, I’ve decided to add yet another adventure to my life — with the same passion and drive that I had when I opened Encore Allstars 21 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

💕 How It All Began

 

Back in October almost 23 years ago, I met my now-husband Steven while I was juggling life as a full time night-shift ER LPN nurse and nursing school full time for my RN during the day, and mama to my daughter Bailie.  We had our first date on Valentine’s Day 2002, got engaged by the end of May, and were married that October of that same year.

 

At that time, “travel” for me meant a trip to the Dollar Store, Freds or the grocery store.  I had not been anywhere, but the bathroom!!!!! Hospital cafeteria food and Huddle House was my jam— I hadn’t even been to an Olive Garden. Steven, on the other hand, was already well-traveled, with Europe, Japan, and many U.S. states under his belt. He tried to convince me to explore, but I was resistant. That is… until our honeymoon in Las Vegas, where I took 9884747374759 pictures of the airplane wing alone. ✈️

 

From there, I started slowly warming up to travel — trips to Colorado, New York, and North Carolina followed. By our second anniversary, he had coaxed me into my first international trip — an all-inclusive in Mexico. And just like that, another love blossomed… I fell in love with travel.

 

💪 Building Encore

 

Fast forward to January 2005: while still working as an ER nurse, I got what many called a “crazy” idea — to buy land, build, and open a cheer, dance, and tumbling business in our small town. Everyone told me it wouldn’t work. Banks turned me down for loans. I heard “no” over and over again.

 

But if you know me, you know I don’t like to be told no. I said to myself, “Watch me.”

 

So, I poured concrete, put expenses on credit cards (I know, not smart) and launched Encore Allstars (a cheer, dance and tumbling studio/gym) in September 2005. God had a funny sense of humor, because while I wasn’t a coach, I found myself traveling all over to train with some of the best — even Olympic-level coaches. God placed the right people in my path.  I left nursing to build this business and, 21 years later, we’re still thriving as one big Encore family.

 

💔 A Shift in Perspective

 

In 2014, my daddy was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I put travel on hold to keep building Encore and, most importantly, to be with him. I watched the strongest, wisest, funniest man I knew — who loved life, people, work, and Jesus — begin to decline.

 

In 2016, I lost him… my biggest prayer warrior and favorite person in the world. That loss shattered me. I was broken, angry, and searching for healing. It forced me to see how short and fragile life is. From then on, I prioritized what mattered most: making memories.

 

Travel stopped being a luxury and became a way to live fully, celebrate milestones, and honor the time we are given. For me, that meant celebrating birthdays and anniversaries with new adventures, new places, and new memories beyond the walls of Encore.

 

I’ve always believed that God allows us to walk through valleys, weeds, and mud so we can discover the beauty on the other side. Every time I’ve let go — whether I’ve climbed, crawled, stumbled, or walked — He has revealed Himself in breathtaking ways.

 

I’ve found Him on mountaintops, in canyons, on sandy beaches, cliff sides, and even quiet alleys of small towns. Each time, it gives me chills. Seeing God’s creation — and meeting the beautiful people He’s placed in this world — gave me a new sense of purpose.

 

I believe God made this world, and the people in it, to teach us about love, culture, and understanding. I’m deeply thankful for my senses — sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch — because they’ve opened my heart in ways I never expected.

 

To me, laughter, smiles, hugs, and even tears are universal languages. And hugs don’t just come from people. They can come from a place, a sunset, or a walk on the beach — anything that makes you feel at home.

 

That’s what traveling does for me. And my hope is that when you read or see what I share, you feel a little of that same embrace too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🌟 Why Travel Now?

 

Over the years, I’ve gone from someone who had never left Georgia to someone who has now explored over 25 countries, 4 continents and countless states. Travel has given me joy, perspective, friendships, and memories that I’ll cherish forever.  It truly helped heal me!  We hit the ground running with new places, new countries, and even new continents — they were out there waiting for me, and I went after them full force, and hitting up all of the continents is on my bucket list too.  I have 3 more continents to go.  I will hit up my 5th continent by the end of this year and hopefully the 6th one too before 2026.  Doing all of the research and planning of our trips, well, that’s  when my passion for researching destinations truly began to take root. Each time I dove into learning about a new place, that passion grew stronger and I began to water and feed that passion!

 

For almost four years now, I have “toyed” with the idea of becoming a travel advisor. But honestly? I didn’t take myself seriously. I was scared. Scared that I wouldn’t do a good job for someone, and worried about what people would say and think.

 

But here’s the truth that I finally embraced: fear doesn’t get to make my decisions anymore. Several months ago, I took the leap, and began the process of becoming a travel advisor.

 

And here I am today — slowly but surely rolling out all the details, sharing each step of the journey, and preparing to welcome my very first clients as a for real travel agent. I couldn’t be more excited.

 

Now, I’m channeling that passion into my new journey as a Travel Advisor with Fora and as the founder of Encounter Our World. As a Fora Agent I’m part of the prestigious Virtuoso network. This means that when you travel with me, you’ll have access to the same insider perks and luxury benefits that high-end travelers around the world enjoy — from preferred rates and upgrades to curated cultural experiences. It’s one more way I get to make sure your journey is truly The Wright Way. My mission? To help others embrace travel with the same passion I discovered — to create experiences that are more than trips, but life-changing journeys.

 

Through it all, I realized something about myself: I don’t like to sit still. I thrive on being busy, learning, meeting new people, and chasing new challenges.

 

✨ Legacy & Purpose

 

I also hope that when my grandchildren think of me, they will remember me as someone who went after her dreams, lived life to the fullest, embraced both the good and the hard, and held memories close while always creating new ones. 💕

 

I want them to see a woman who didn’t let fear dictate her life, but instead chased after what set her soul on fire. And above all, I hope my love of seeing and encountering all the world has to offer will be something they carry forward, too. 🌍✨

 

If I could leave one quote of mine for my daughter and grandchildren it would be this👇👇👇👇

 

💕 “When my daughter and grandchildren think of me, I hope they remember that I lived fully, chased dreams without fear, found things that set my soul on fire and found joy in encountering the world and all the people in it”– Ethi Orvin Wright

 

✨ What You’ll Find Here

 

This website and blog will be a mix of:

• My personal travel stories (the good, the funny, and the life-changing)

• Destination guides & insider tips

• Outfit and packing inspiration (because yes, travel should be stylish too)

• Lessons I’ve learned so far from 25 plus countries and counting, several continents, and almost all 50 states.

 

This isn’t just a travel blog or website. It’s my heart, my journey, and my way of helping you Encounter Our World — As We Encounter and Embrace It Together.

 

💌 Thank you for being here at the start of this new adventure with me. I can’t wait to share the world with you.

 

✨ Until next time, embrace the journey — The Wright Way. Travel well, live fully, and always carry love, adventure, and gratitude. 💕

xoxo 💋💃🥾👠🫶 — Ethi

 

✍️ About the Author

 

Ethi Orvin Wright is the founder of Encounter Our World and an Independent Travel Advisor with Fora. With over 25 countries explored and more than two decades as a business owner, Ethi blends her passion for travel, people, fashion, and storytelling into helping others create unforgettable journeys. Her philosophy is simple: “Embrace the Journey, The Wright Way.”