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December 13, 2011

Owning Your Voice

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This site, where I have shared so much with you and in turn have learned so much from you all, has turned 3 years old.

To think that in December of 2008 I simply started writing with the intention of staying connected to our family out-of-state and share with them what our new lives back in NYC from Wisconsin, and with me as a stay at home mom (yes, this was what I was supposed to do) was going to be like.

I was excited to share, but lacked the confidence in my voice, in my ability to interest anyone – even my family – in what I had to say. So, I hid behind the 3rd person. In my very first post I give an insight into my new life; the playground cliques, the changing scene in New York, and my favorite place to visit nearby, Fort Tryon Park, all while hiding behind this persona I had created to shield me from criticism and ridicule.

I thought it silly at the time to be sharing my life via a computer with everyone. I mean, not to date myself, but when I was a kid we called each other on the phone or (gasp!) wrote letters. I had NO IDEA there was this whole world of blogging out there, I had no idea the life changes that have taken place were even possible for us, and I had no idea you would ever care enough to read, and respond, and come back for more.

I wrote about the time I met Barbara, from the fabulous travel blog a Hole in the Donut, and how her words of courage and pride as a female writer forever changed how I would write on this blog. I will never forget it. This is what I wrote in the post where I detail our meeting:

In talking about our paths and what has lead us to travel writing and in sharing with her how I came to blogging, she asked, “Why do you write in the third person?”  I paused.  I realized even before I answered that those ancient reasons seemed silly to me now, 7 months later, but I told her anyway. 

“When I started writing I felt weird about it being all about I, I, I. It didn’t seem believable to me, at the time, that anyone would be interested in what “I” had to say.”  And she looked at me, sharing with me in essence, the importance of women being confident in their writing, how it was this lack of confidence that lead, for example, to such low numbers in female submitted editorial pieces to such giants as The New York Times and others.  She encouraged me, in short, to own my blog and come out  from behind it. – From previously published Adventures at BlogHer 2009

Today, I sit here writing as I have since I met Barbara in 2009, owning my voice, my writing, happy and proud to share my words with you, humbled and honored to have you here reading them all.

It’s been an incredible year for us. Just today Babble named this blog, NYCityMama, one of their Top 100 Mom Blogs in 2011, one of several accolades we have received. And we again, we are humbled and honored that you are here, reading.

But in moments like this I am reminded of all the amazing people, like Barbara, who have inspired me, motivated me, encouraged me, pushed me, and given me the opportunities that make this site what it is today. It is because of them bloggers, writers, travel and public relations professionals, marketers, family and friends, both new and old – and even some I have never met – that I am here. It is because of their friendship and faith in me and in my work that I have the many wonderful stories that I do to share with you.

It remains our goal to inspire you to live life to the fullest. To travel and explore. To taste and discover. To take nothing for granted or look past the details.

Whether a traveler, or not, with kids or not, plan on visiting NYC or any of the places we visit and share with you here, or not, we thank you for reading, commenting, connecting, and caring.

It’s an amazing thing to own your voice. It doesn’t have to be loud. It doesn’t have to have a blog. But speak it. Use it with pride. Allow it to bring you forth in all your adventures and through all of life’s challenges.

My family and I look forward to sharing many more adventures with you! Thank you all for an amazing year!

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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9 Comments
  • wendy
    December 13, 2011

    Congratulations and happy blog birthday! I started writing my own this year, and your confidence and spark inspired me from the beginning. I love this community for its very real, lovely and strong women. I love their stories and their authentic voices– and look forward to hearing more of yours!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      wendy
      December 14, 2011

      Thank you so much Wendy! I am excited for your journey as well : ))

      Reply
  • Patty at A Day in My
    December 14, 2011

    Congratulations Carol! I love your voice 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Patty at A Day in My
      December 14, 2011

      Thank you so much Patty! I love yours too!

      Reply
  • Charu
    December 14, 2011

    Congratulations Carol! It's an honor to read you and to know you! You have a lovely, warm and open voice and it's no surprise you are a big success.May all your dreams come true in 2012

    Reply
  • isaida (mami dearest
    December 14, 2011

    Happy Blog Birthday! I started my blog in 2007 with much the same idea as you, to keep family and friends updated on our lives here in NC. It's fun to look back and see how much you've grown! I've grown alot!

    Love your blog and look forward to reading more.

    sn – my favorite post of yours is when you and little man were walking to school, all the adventures he had. You remember that post? i loved it, so cute 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      isaida (mami dearest
      December 14, 2011

      Thank you Isaida! I just tweeted it to you, but here you go…you mean this one: A Morning in The Life of a NY City Mama https://girlgonetravel.com/2010/01/a-morning-in-th… Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  • Barbara
    December 14, 2011

    Love it — and I value your voice a great deal, kiddo! 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Barbara
      December 14, 2011

      Thank you Barbara!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! @travisjcain will be painting MARK YOUR CALENDAR! @travisjcain will be painting a beautiful new mural at Elmira’s Mural Fest this year (weather permitting on Saturday, if not on a less rainy day)! Last year he painted this board which was recently on display still at @communityartselmira. 

Hopefully we have a sunny day and you can come out to support Travis and all the muralists that day! See you there!

#elmirany #painter #artist #communityarts
Sometimes it’s like I never left. #newyork Sometimes it’s like I never left. 

#newyork
SHOUT OUT to our oldest, @davidacain_, who carries SHOUT OUT to our oldest, @davidacain_, who carries with him the entrepreneurial spirit he’s inherited from his parents. 

While successfully working in supply chain management for a global corporation based in NYC, he continues to manage and operate his own product, @getcalma, a comforting heated eye mask that is currently on the Amazon top seller list for two years in a row and has a growing consumer following! 

We are so incredibly proud of David and his growing success as an entrepreneur and in his career, and know the future will continue to be bright for him!

To learn more about Calma and make a purchase, visit his website at GetCalma.com. 

#proudmomma #getcalma #entreprenuer #smallbusiness
The time has come to move on from my role as a bar The time has come to move on from my role as a barista at @the_garage_at_rye and towards my next adventure. 

I started this journey with a curiosity for a craft I admired and wanted to learn more about. It turned into a job. Then a serious passion. And now here I am, launching Café Cómodo (KOH-moh-doh), which means “Comfortable/cozy” in Spanish, a pop-up café serving espresso and seasonal drinks at local farmers markets and private events! (@cafecomodony)

Starting yet another business was never my intent…and yet, I fell further in love with the craft, the industry, and the culture.

I owe so much of what I have learned to @seschieber, who took me under her wings and taught me so much (and still does) and who embraced my nerdiness and eagerness with patience and kindness….and in the process became one of my dearest friends. Working alongside her has felt like winning the golden ticket. She further instilled in me a respect for the craft, the industry, and a commitment to always strive for a quality product, even in a world of Dunkins and Starbucks. 

Grateful for @abbdawes, @hannahmariee93, and Amanda who tolerated my clumsiness at the start while I fumbled my way through the register and the various drink recipes!

I wasn’t sure where this journey would lead, and as I look back at these clips I realize how much I have changed in the process. It’s not always a place that impacts you, but rather the people in it.

I will miss the regulars I’ve gotten to know whose names and drink orders I memorized and who I looked forward to serving. 

I’m so grateful for everything I learned, beyond just making coffee, because I know it will help me to further grow as a leader, an entrepreneur, and a team member wherever I go and in everything I do next.

I won’t miss the dark morning wake ups and long drives before sunrise though! 

I’m proudest of myself for wanting to develop a new skill and ✨DOING IT✨ even when it felt awkward, nerving, and impossible. I hope you will follow me on this next chapter and come say hi at the market (and hire me for your next event)!

Thank you to Charlie Hunter, owner of The Garage for this opportunity.

#coffee #cafe #popupcafe
Recently took a moment to slow down and enjoy the Recently took a moment to slow down and enjoy the sounds of this beautiful place I call home. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #upstateny
Barista training = Trial by fire. 🔥 This is the Barista training = Trial by fire. 🔥 This is the way. 

@shellyk_025

#baristalife #barista #coffeeislife

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