I felt that connection last month in Vietnam and Cambodia, travelling with AmaWaterways on my first Mekong River cruise. Not only did I enjoy trying new foods and visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites like Angkor Wat, but I was honoured to hear the stories of survivors of recent history in this region.

More than anything, it reminded me about the importance of community, family and the profound resilience of the human spirit – this gives me hope today. Even at our darkest moments, we must believe that good will prevail, as it has done in so many countries around the world.

Right now, it’s more important than ever that we, as women, sustain our optimism, our mental health and forge friendships with other nations. We need to be ambassadors of goodwill, and this can only happen if we are out in the world. When we travel, we have the potential to lift up others and change lives, including our own. This is the true joy of travel — when there is a mutual exchange that benefits everyone. As I was told many times by my Cambodian guides, “When we smile the world smiles back.”