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January 1, 2012

20 Lessons from 2011

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Resolutions for the New Year? I have none. But I do have lessons from last year that I am carrying over to this one. If I must resolve to anything, it would be to not forget them and remember them as I venture into what I expect to be an exciting time for me and my family.

Time has a way of passing by so quickly. It’s so easy to forget so it’s important for me to write them down.

Most memorable lessons from 2011 for me are:

  1. I learned to better reject negativity and embrace love.
  2. I learned that opportunities are never really lost and that a “good” opportunity is relevant.
  3. I learned the value of quality in friendships and that quantity has very little to do with it.
  4. I learned to accept that I am not a follower – I learned there’s nothing wrong with that.
  5. I learned to ignore the chatter and trust my gut. Some of my best decisions came about this way.
  6. I learned that I can develop a better opinion about places, people, and things when I shut up about my own, shut out other people’s and just observe and listen.
  7. I learned that I don’t always have to share my opinion…no matter how strongly I feel it.
  8. I learned that I really love living in New Jersey (and that it doesn’t suddenly make me a NOT New Yorker) and that where I live is faster to get to than most boroughs of NY and yet still it terrifies people – I learned that those people are stupid.
  9. I learned to respond to the question “Are you going to be NJ City Mama now?” without throwing death darts from my eyes.
  10. I learned to laugh about it.
  11. I learned to take breaks and disconnect – I learned that I really, really love that.
  12. I learned that even some of the most well-read blogger have no clue and even not really all that liked, but no one will tell them. (I would, but see lesson #7).
  13. I learned that the least read blogger is usually the most interesting overall.
  14. I learned to eat smaller meals throughout the day and drink more water.
  15. I learned to tell my family and friends that I love them more.
  16. I learned that I hate attending conferences – I learned there’s nothing wrong with that.
  17. I learned the importance of flossing…after I learned I had the first cavity in my life.
  18. I learned that I really love being in a space where no one blogs or uses Twitter, at times more than I love being in the space with people who do.
  19. I learned that I am lucky in so many ways. This lesson keeps me grounded and grateful on a daily basis.
  20. I learned that even at this age I still have so much to learn.

Happy New 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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6 Comments
  • Alma Pacheco
    January 1, 2012

    Carol,

    This is a great list of all the things you've learned. The NJ comment made me laugh. Congrats on getting voted in the 100 mom blog, that is a great honor. You were the first blog I started following. I found you on Twitter. It open a whole new world for me. Now i have started one on my own. I recently lost my job and found more time to spend with my kids and alone. I started it less than a month and i realized i have a lot to learn. I hope to write a list like this this time next year. You are a great writer and have a beautiful family. Feliz Año Nuevo!!!

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    January 1, 2012

    That's wonderful Alma! Congrats on starting your blog, will definitely check it out. Thank you so much for your kind words and continued readership and support : ) Happy New Year to you as well!

    Reply
  • Elisa
    January 1, 2012

    Much as it happened every time we had conversations in real life (man, do I miss you!), this post made me nod, and smile, and sometimes laugh out loud (#12? True story :-)). Those are fabulous lessons, most of which I am still working on, myself 😉

    Happy New year, Bella! May this be the year that I manage to fly to NY and hopefully enjoy the pleasure of your company again!!

    Reply
  • cancan
    January 1, 2012

    thank you for being completely who you are this year.

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    January 1, 2012

    Thank you Elisa!!! I hope you do make it to this side of the world this year! Fingers and toes crossed : )

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    January 1, 2012

    Big hugs and love to you Cancan! xoxoxo

    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 and 2 puppies. 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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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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