Travel Crush Tuesday: Brittany
Photo Source: Instagram and Brittany
Welcome to Travel Crush Tuesday!
Since the onset of the pandemic, essential workers have been in overdrive serving our communities and ensuring our well-being. It goes without saying that essential workers are people too, though often times they aren't given the space to act as such. Our TCT, Brittany, want's to change that. The DC police officer and travel entrepreneur created a travel business curated for essential works and documents her own travels in the hopes of inspiring essential workers to prioritize their wellness. Read all about Brittany and her travel business below!
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Tell us about yourself! Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do? What inspires you to travel?
My name is Dr.Brittany Shakir. I’m a mommy of two beautiful queens, and a wife. I was born in Washington DC, but I grew up in Virginia and currently live in Maryland. I literally am the epitome of a DMV native. Full-time, I am a police officer in Washington DC and part-time I am a travel business owner. I was inspired to travel by my military parents who valued culture and family by taking me and my siblings on family trips every year since I was born to experience new cultures, which I then enacted into my and my families lives.
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Why have you chosen to focus your business niche around essential workers?What is important to you about catering to this group of people
I chose to focus my travel business niche around essential workers because I am an essential worker and I have recognized that 1) often times we get so caught up in prioritizing everyone else’s needs instead of our own so our needs go by the wayside especially, our mental health. Our career is very demanding and can be very heavy to the point where we don’t think about our mental health and how much it is affected from dealing with peoples low points. 2) Our leave is taken away all the time because of different events that occur in the district and 3) I had a tragic event happen to me while on duty which had affected my mental, so it made me realize how much my me time is needed and valuable. What is important to me about catering to this group of people is showcasing that we are just as much as a priority as the communities we serve. I want to be an inspiration for them so they can feel like if she can do it, I can do it too.
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How did you make the shift from police officer to Travel designer? What was the moment you knew you wanted to pursue your travel business.
I wouldn’t really consider it a shift as I do both jobs and incorporate both. I knew I wanted to pursue my travel business when I was traveling, people would inquire about my travels, all the details, and then I went on social media and was seeing people were getting paid to travel and collaborate. I knew I needed to start monetizing.
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Share with us your favorite trip you've designed? What was so special about it?
My favorite trip I ever designed was to Costa Rica. I did soooo many cool things and saw many different things that I had never seen before, such as an active volcano. I enjoyed the beach, jungle, and city all in one trip. What made the trip so special was it was for my dirty 30, I was proposed to there, and to top it off I conceived my youngest daughter my proposal night. I will forever remember Costa Rica.
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If you had ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
If I had a ticket to go anywhere in the world honestly it would be to Bali and I would love it to be a one-way ticket to never come back. Bali is the only place I have ever been where I felt so at peace from the moment I got off the plane. When I went to Bali I realized the material things and stress that was in my life didn’t matter, I was very present and relaxed there. I have never not wanted to go home so bad in my life lol.
Where else can folks find you?
Everyone can find me on my website which has everything from my blog posts, to booking travel and consultations with me, to seeing photos from my explorations that aren’t on social media. My website is www.Letsgetstamps.com. I’m also on Tiktok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, as @Letsgetstamps. And many times you can see me pop up on the news in police uniform singing for the communities. Google me!!
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