Blue Lollipop Road

how does this author know so much about me?

A friend sent me this blog post today and as I read it, I kept thinking; YES! YES! YES! That is totally me.

DON’T DATE A GIRL WHO TRAVELS

She’s the one with the messy unkempt hair colored by the sun. Her skin is now far from fair like it once was. Not even sun kissed. It’s burnt with multiple tan lines, wounds and bites here and there. But for every flaw on her skin, she has an interesting story to tell.

Don’t date a girl who travels. She is hard to please. The usual dinner-movie date at the mall will suck the life out of her. Her soul craves for new experiences and adventures. She will be unimpressed with your new car and your expensive watch. She would rather climb a rock or jump out of an airplane than hear you brag about it.

Don’t date a girl who travels because she will bug you to book a flight every time there’s an airline seat sale. She wont party at Republiq. And she will never pay over $100 for Avicii because she knows that one weekend of clubbing is equivalent to one week somewhere far more exciting.

Chances are, she can’t hold a steady job. Or she’s probably daydreaming about quitting. She doesn’t want to keep working her ass off for someone else’s dream. She has her own and is working towards it. She is a freelancer. She makes money from designing, writing, photography or something that requires creativity and imagination. Don’t waste her time complaining about your boring job.

Don’t date a girl who travels. She might have wasted her college degree and switched careers entirely. She is now a dive instructor or a yoga teacher. She’s not sure when the next paycheck is coming. But she doesn’t work like a robot all day, she goes out and takes what life has to offer and challenges you to do the same.

Don’t date a girl who travels for she has chosen a life of uncertainty. She doesn’t have a plan or a permanent address. She goes with the flow and follows her heart. She dances to the beat of her own drum. She doesn’t wear a watch. Her days are ruled by the sun and the moon. When the waves are calling, life stops and she will be oblivious to everything else for a moment. But she has learned that the most important thing in life isn’t surfing.

Don’t date a girl who travels as she tends to speak her mind. She will never try to impress your parents or friends. She knows respect, but isn’t afraid to hold a debate about global issues or social responsibility.

She will never need you. She knows how to pitch a tent and screw her own fins without your help. She cooks well and doesn’t need you to pay for her meals. She is too independent and wont care whether you travel with her or not. She will forget to check in with you when she arrives at her destination. She’s busy living in the present. She talks to strangers. She will meet many interesting, like-minded people from around the world who share her passion and dreams. She will be bored with you.

So never date a girl who travels unless you can keep up with her. And if you unintentionally fall in love with one, don’t you dare keep her. Let her go.

Confession:

I’m amidst one of the worst winter-duldrum/when does this end and get warm again already/why am I not living in the tropics/on the road full time right now- times I’ve ever had. I’m sure you’re probably thinking boo-hoo, Diane- don’t you travel enough? Haven’t you been to enough spots? Aren’t you thankful for what you have done and where you have gone? Well, no, no, and yes. Travel is simply a part of my heart & soul. I can’t explain it. The above blog post makes me want to run- not walk, and do more.

I’ve tried so hard to shake this pesky bug, this lifestyle, this insatiable hunger for all things exploration and travel, but I just can’t. Sigh. I want to (I really do!) I want to be “normal” but I just can’t be. I’ve realized more and more lately, that probably the only thing that will ever keep me happy is living light and free; Free to stay if I want, to go if I want, to embrace the full “Me-ness” that is me, the forever overly curious, fight to feel truly alive everyday, wanderer.

At the moment I’m under a big blanket feeling cold, stuck, pretty uninspired, and not really myself. In an effort to ditch those yuck feelings, I just perused a bunch of my goofy, fun, and slightly ridiculous travel photos:

The above photo should actually say; I just love everything…TRAVEL. 

Ok, now I feel better. I guess when those blah, endless feeling wintery days strike- It’s best to fight back with memories of all the awesome that has been a part of my life already, and all that is still to come.

The reason I started my current BLR 365 project (have you seen it and gotten on board yet?) is exactly for days like this. I really do believe we can feel totally alive and make everyday an adventure, even when we are feeling glum/stuck/yuck. It’s all about taking a minute during your standard day, to look back, dream forward, do something creative, or let your mind wander about all that’s possible in the future.

What makes your soul burst with excitement?

#LifeOfATraveler #Wanderlust #StayUnstuck

PS~ A huge THANK YOU! To my always supportive, fellow lover of all things travel & adventure, fantastic friend, David who sent me Don’t date a girl who travels.

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 27

1.27.14

I’m not the biggest fan of the cold weather (by that I mean, if I never had to wear anything but flip-flops and sundresses ever again in my life I’d be happy) so, I haven’t necessarily been run, run, running out to find snow and ice to make any of my own etches on windshields this winter during the Polar Vortex. Fortunately a friend in Colorado who is much more brave with snow than me, sent this submission today:

BLR love in the chilly west, while I enjoyed a Monday of 60 degree and sunny temps. in the east.

Thanks David!

This is what my road looks like today. What’s happening on yours?

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #IcyWindshields

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 26

1.26.14

Today is my Mom’s birthday!

Because #1 she’s the best Mom a kid could have, and #2 she gave me life, this BLR is in celebration of her:

To all the amazing Mom’s out there who teach us to live authentically, those who cheer us on to believe that absolutely anything is possible, and those who support us to never give up on any of our dreams…we thank you!

Love you, Mom. Thanks for being the best. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

This is what my road looks like today. What’s happening on yours?

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #MyMomRocks

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 25

1.25.14

One of today’s BLR’s is by far my favorite of the first 25 days of this project. Check out this submission, by Sydney, Ema, & Nathaniel (left to right) from Louisiana:

How cool is this pic, made from the Comic Book! iPad app?! Love it. Gives me an idea for another BLR creation with people for later. (Yes, that means you’ll have to stay tuned to see what I come up with. I might just recruit you to be a part of it!)

So not only did these super awesome kids pose for this photo, but they sent 2 others too! Sydney & Ema made this one out of bottle caps, clothes pins, and Wikki Sticks:

(I totally just had to Google “Wikki Sticks” to see what they were. I guess I’m not as cool as I thought)…and Nathaniel made this one with his toy trains:

He wanted to make sure I knew that the “R” is made up entirely of boxcars. How cute!

Thank you Sydney, Ema, & Nathaniel for my first kid submissions! Feel free to send in more BLR’s anytime. The more the merrier, so keep staying curious and crafty!

Who else is ready to make a BLR?

Send me your submissions: Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #CraftyKids

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 24

1.24.13

Mexican Fiesta indeed!

Oh I wish I was on a beach in Mexico right now. Brrr!!! Since when did North Carolina adopt Vermont winter weather?! I guess for now eating Mexican food is what will have to keep me warm. Don’t tell anyone, but this was basket and bowl of chips & salsa # 2 for me and my friend. (#ReasonsWhyIGetUpExtraEarlyToRunInThePolarVortex.)

Mmmm…chips and  fresh salsa…and pretending I’m in a Corona commercial (this one cracks me up) as I sip…

Ok, back to business:

I’ve just gotten a couple really cool submissions from a few cutie & creative kids in Louisiana that I’ll post this weekend. Send me your submissions: Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com

This is what my road looks like today. What’s happening on yours?

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #TGIF

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 23

1.23.14

Hello submissions! We are on a roll!

This just in from a new Blue Lollipop Road reader, Grace:

Here she is!

She makes maps for a living. (Um…how awesome is that?!) She’s been stuck at her desk all day today, so she said she was happy to participate in the BLR project fun.

Here’s to getting creative, even when you might feel stuck, and to letting yourself daydream about anything and everything during the middle of a work day.

Thanks Grace!

Who else is ready to make a BLR?

Send me your submissions: Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com so I can share here!

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #CubicalCreations

PS~ If you ever get to Wilmington, NC– you should definitely go nosh at Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn. It is gooood…

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 22

1.22.14

*Technical difficulties yesterday. (Boo!) Day 22’s post is coming in far after midnight, so I’m doubling up today. (There’s a very good chance no one out there even pays attention to the time/date stamp on these posts, but I do, so I’m calling myself out here:)

Day 22 of BLR 365 is a submission from a chef friend in Virginia:

…before she started chopping for dinner. Mmm! Comfort food on cold days = yummy!

Have you made your BLR yet?

Send me your submissions: Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com so I can share here!

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #ComfortFood

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 20

1.20.14

I’m completely obsessed with maps. I’m completely obsessed with travel and adventure, so I’m pretty sure that’s how my map obsession started. I always want to travel and be on the road, but especially this time of year. I can’t help those get-me-outta-winter-dodge-yesterday-please, wishes.

Sometimes I pull out my collection of maps just to dream, like tonight:

The problem is, then I get all these itchy, I want to go, see, do, be, even more, feelings. So? I put those pesky maps away to avoid that instinct to just pack my car and go. I’m told I have to be patient.

Sigh.

For now I will dream of all those places there are to go explore that I haven’t been to before. Watch out, day I figure out how to live on the road and make a living too. I (or hopefully we)- are going to tear you up, world! Just you wait…

This is what my road looks like today. What’s happening on yours?

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #NomadAtHeart #Maps

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