April 23, 2012 In News & Updates

stop making me wait woman!

…(that’s what a friend and reader said to me yesterday about not seeing the site changes here yet.) Believe me- I am very eager to share, but we have been working hard on getting it all just right. Beauty takes time people! 🙂

I just got the wireframe design/outline for the new site from my awesome web guy Bobby and I squealed when I saw it. It’s so cool to see hard work come to a visual life- especially when you’ve been working at something for years and finally feel like you’ve etched a great little spot for yourself. When I started Blue Lollipop Road in 2008 I never imagined It’d grow into what is is now. I also never thought I’d spend thousands and thousands of hours essentially running a full on entity for free, but It’s been worth every minute and then some. Growing and changing into this next phase of the BLR is the most exciting time yet for me!

You will see here:

*New tagline, mission/vision and BLR look

*Surprise big news about the BLR 8/18/12 Reunion Soccer Weekend in Vermont

*Launching of a fundraising campaign so I can keep this puppy running. (Yes, that means this site.)

*Introduction to a client I’ve been coaching through her process of  huge life change; Corporate high-powered burn out career to following her passion for working with animals.

*More

So yes, long waits and promised updates that have been delayed. Fear not. BLR is here to stay and growing bigger and better each day!

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April 20, 2012 In Videos

lots of dirty jobs

I’ve always been a big fan of Mike Rowe.

Prompted by a book I am reading this week, I just watched Mike’s TED Talk On celebrating all kinds of jobs:

The fact that he’s hot and funny are just extra icing bonus points to how smart and real he is. (I so dig that.) My favorite part of this video is just after minute 12 when Mike talks about Pig Farmer Bob in Las Vegas:

“He stepped back and watched where everybody was going, and he went the other way.”

Well there’s something for us all to chew on for today!

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April 17, 2012 In Illinois, Inspiration, Live the life you want to live, Photos

there’s no such thing as aimless wandering

I wander around alone in silence a lot.

I always feel incredibly powerful, capable, and hopeful when I take the time to.

People don’t believe me when I share that most of my hundreds of thousands of road miles have been spent in silence with only the sounds of the wind passing by my ears, but that’s the truth. There’s something that’s magical and empowering that happens when you let yourself wander and see your surroundings without interference.

Last week I was sitting at my desk, attempting to knock out a mile-long list of to-do’s and assignments and I was just not feeling in my groove. So? I got up and left my apartment to wander and get air in hopes for an energy boost. After a mile or two of walking, I became enamored with the bright sun, clouds, and blue sky reflecting off various buildings:

Downtown Chicago buildings with blue sky

Downtown Chicago buildings with blue sky

Downtown Chicago buildings with blue sky

Downtown Chicago buildings with blue sky

Downtown Chicago buildings with blue sky

Chicago street springtime flowers

(…and some bright spring flowers too.)

I got that energy boost I hoped for and then some, to go back and knock out that pile of work I had. Quiet wander time relieves me when I am stressed, inspires me when I can’t seem to get creative, and it gives me giant injections of anything is possible feeling.

As adults, we don’t encourage or allow ourselves to be curious, or to wander to take in that zap of often needed healthy energy. Why? What’s the cutoff age for curiosity anyway? Why do we push kids to try, try, try everything, explore that field of flowers, play that game for hours, or look up at that plane in the air to imagine where it’s going, but never look up at it ourselves?

Blue Lollipop Road promotes travel for education and self-empowerment. When we allow ourselves to be curious and wander (aka travel), we learn heaps of valuable information, and we become incredibly smart, resourceful, confident, and self aware. (Talk about a rock-solid foundation to build off!) Travel doesn’t have to mean far off lands around the globe. It could simply mean just getting up and out of whatever place you’re sitting in when you feel like you’re not growing or being productive. Just taking some time to step out and feel passion or re-energize. Like I did last week when I took this photos.

All who wander (and let themselves be curious) are definitely not lost.

 

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