• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

Travel
/
January 1, 2012

20 Lessons from 2011

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

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!

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
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.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
A Girlfriend Getaway TO Travaasa Austin, TX
Next Post
Planning a Romantic Trip without The Kids in Tow

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe54 Post(s)
  • North America318 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

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

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Spending the next couple of days on assignment in Spending the next couple of days on assignment in Rochester, which always feels like such a special treat - to be able to work in a city I love being in so much. Excited for all the good coffee and favorite eateries I will try to fit in as much as possible while here. Such a great city.
An afternoon in the Finger Lakes National Forest, An afternoon in the Finger Lakes National Forest, New York State’s only national forest, which spans over 16,000 acres. The trail takes you through forests, gorges, and pastures, some still crazed by cattle. The camping is rustic and space is available at first-come, first-served. And winter is filled with activities such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, while the warmer months welcomes horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. 🌳

One of the many gems of the Finger Lakes.
Today is all about celebrating my partner in life, Today is all about celebrating my partner in life, in love, in work, in all the things on his birthday. Few couples could do as much as we do together, experiencing the rollercoaster of life as we have, and still remain so madly in love and committed to each other and I will be the first to admit that this is in great part due to Travis’ kind, loving, and patient 😅 approach. Not just as a partner but as a father and as a friend. We LOVE Travis and are grateful for every day we get to do so. 

He deserves the whole world and all the goodness it can gift him. So we try our best, because we are so happy to call him ours. Happy birthday, my wonderful man. Te amo. ❤️
Josie things. Josie things.
Josie update: her most recent vet visit was stella Josie update: her most recent vet visit was stellar. She’s healthy and happy and has gained 5 whole pounds, which is great because she came to us a little underweight probably from stress. 

She is a huge fan of cuddles and likes to start calming things down around 9PM - seriously, she INSISTS. She’s a big fan of sneakers, which has really encouraged everyone to not leave theirs just laying around (thanks, Josie)! She is a quick learner, quicker if treats are involved and an absolute sweetheart with other pups. 

She’s a big fan of pup cups, car rides, and long walks in the park, but not of lakes, motorcycles, or crickets. 😂

And we love her a billion.
These last days of summer to me feel like the swee These last days of summer to me feel like the sweetest. I hurry to take in every warm sun beam even as the days become shorter. I check my local farmstands for the bounty of the season, even as the early harvest plenty slowly take over. I want to dip into the lakes one more time before they chill up again, and I want to see all my friends outside before we slowly retreat into hibernation. Don’t get me wrong, autumn is my absolute favorite season, but the warmth of summer, the sounds of children still at play, the beautiful long days it gifts us are things I appreciate. 

So as eager as we might be for what’s to come let’s not take for granted what still remains. And that we are so lucky to experience it here in this beautiful place we call home. So many people have to leave soon. We’re the lucky ones who get to stay. 

#fingerlakes

Copyright © 2026 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice