• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

Travel
/
May 19, 2020

What if we don’t go back to normal?

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

I hear it. The fever pitch of excitement over mandates being lifted, businesses reopening, reconnecting with loved ones and friends, going back to work, and no longer living in a stressful sense of limbo and uncertainty. Yes, I hear it and I get it. The excitement over going back to normal.

But what if we don’t? What if, we reject normal and things as they were and instead aim for something better?

What if we don’t forget the things this pandemic lifted the veil off of. Things we tolerated and ignored before we were all brought to our knees in panic, sadness, and fear? Exposing a society that values some lives over others, and isn’t set up to help the less fortunate among us.

What if we stopped idolizing those whom have for so long been celebrated as accomplished and successful but during this time have never given back to their communities, not even once?

What if instead of being so eager to get away, we stayed home and supported the local businesses, the essential(ly) underpaid employees who never got a break during the pandemic so that we could have our foods delivered, our garbage picked up, our subways cleaned, our sick cared for, our children educated, our safety guarded.

What if we took all the frustration with our failing political system and instead of escaping it, we joined in to change it – as activists, protestors, volunteers, community advocates, voters.

What if instead of trying to improve our SEO skills, our Instagram poses, our TikTok moves, we improved our skillsets or learned a trade? What if we ignored the endless self-serving opportunities, set our ambitions to be more than trash famous and did things that actually mattered to others, who need it most and to society as a whole. What if, as creatives we created to contribute something meaningful instead of superficial nothingness. What if, in the process, we gave room for others to tell their own stories, instead of thinking we were the only ones worthy of sharing it.

What if we were more selective in whom we follow? Or better yet became the leaders we need? What if we rid ourselves of bad leaders in politics and in the work place. What if we stopped tolerating mediocrity and made space for those truly deserving of the mic.

What if we valued people not by what they have or how many countries they’ve traveled to, but what they do in their own communities?

What if we took all we’ve learned during this incredibly profound moment in our lives and turned those lessons into generators of good for generations to come?

What if we aimed to be known not for how many followers we have, but for the good deeds worth repeating?

What if we didn’t go back to abusing the environment? Respected wildlife, signs, and barriers, and warnings – even if ignoring them made for epic selfies.

What if we didn’t go back to making what you do for work be worth more than who you are at your core?

What if we accept that the normal we lived isn’t much to aspire to? That to want to go back to normal isn’t an ambitious enough goal that leaves too many others forgotten, abandoned, unseen. What if this is an opportunity not to go back to our lives as it was, but to go create a better version of ourselves and society?

What if we don’t go back to normal? Rejected it for all the ways in which this pandemic has proven to us how broken normal is.

That’s something I can get excited about – to aspire for the courage to not only demand better, but be better in the process. To not wait for someone to change what normal has been, and instead, take the steps ourselves to help make that happen.

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
5 Comments
  • Carolina
    May 19, 2020

    Thank you so much for this post. I’ve taught of this so much: a “new” normal. All the “what if’s” you stated above; us taking advantages of this odd “opportunity” to do something more with our time and life.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Carolina
      May 20, 2020

      Yes! Change is hard, but maybe this was a good kickstart for it.

      Reply
  • Maria
    May 22, 2020

    Beautiful.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Maria
      May 22, 2020

      Thank you. xo

      Reply
  • Georgia
    April 18, 2021

    We have now more time to discover our countries and be with our families!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Carolina Cancel reply

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

Previous Post
From Travel to Politics And Back: Lessons Learned
Next Post
How We Hiked Mount Mansfield By Accident

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

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America315 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Hubby and I recently went to check out office spac Hubby and I recently went to check out office spaces for our business. We (I) started getting caught up in the perceptions of what other people might think about our business, or rather, how successful or serious it was with us operating it from our home. So, in order to keep up with the Joneses, we went out and searched. And immediately were like, "Nope."

One, it was an additional expense that we were taking on to convince other people of whatever we (I) thought they needed to be convinced of. And two, it felt like....well, like working out of an office, something which I personally haven't done in over a decade (almost two now) and which my husband just escaped from!

And lastly, we like to go out into the communities that our clients serve, but also that we live in, and get to experience it all ourselves. It makes us a great agency.

I share all of this because I am slowly coming to accept that there will always be those who will make a determination of who we are as people, as professionals, as a business simply from what they think they know, not from actuality...and..we (I) am still working on breaking down the toxic traits of corporate / professional influence and narratives.

As once a full-time travel blogger, I experienced first hand what it is to be dismissed and not taken seriously. But, because of my travel blogging work, I have visit over 40 countries (and still counting) and have been published and spoken on stages around the world. That doesn't just happen.

All this to say, as I (we) move away from renting an office in order to be taken more seriously by the corporate world...and save ourselves some money in the process...we are reminded to work on ourselves and on being our own biggest cheerleaders and advocates. Sure, we seek out support and mentorship and always work on learning and refining our skill. But can't pay attention to what others might be thinking. It will never be an accurate portrayal.

And a lesson to never, ever spend more money than we have to just to convince others how serious we are in our commitment to our work. In the meantime, our current office spaces are working out just fine.

#entrepreneur #smallbusiness
A band of misfits on a beautiful Finger Lakes nigh A band of misfits on a beautiful Finger Lakes night.

Life is too short and time too precious, so make sure to spend it with people who bring you joy and make you laugh. Whether it’s one person or more…it’s not the number of people, but the quality and kindness of their hearts that counts.

Here are some of the kind, sweet friendships we’ve been so lucky to have cultivated in our new home. Kisses and hugs @haejones32, @sarahloublagg, @nevetsretlaw, and @jerakahheady.

Till our next gathering! 

#friends #fingerlakeslife #fingerlakes
My happy place: the farmers market. It’s the sea My happy place: the farmers market. It’s the season for all the fresh, local, delicious goodness of the Finger Lakes to take center stage.

The region has a lot more than fried and fast food to offer locals and visitors. The vast amount of organic and locally sourced food is something that is really celebrated here. Even more so the fact that it is accessible and not exclusive to the privileged.

From cider to cheese to meats and veggies…all local, all from a passionate farming community. 

Oh, then, the artisans. *swoon* So much handcrafted beauty. For example, this beautiful hat from @easylivinghats. I have been wanting one of her hats forever and finally got not one but two! And her team, seen here, is so sweet and helped me find the right fit. Support local, shop small, be happy in the process. 📸@ithacafarmersmarket. 

#fingerlakes #myflx #farmersmarket #shoplocal #shopsmall
Hey, wanna come to a cool event in one of the cool Hey, wanna come to a cool event in one of the coolest places I know in Ithaca? (Read on!)

Today I took a stroll into the pavilion of the @ithacafarmersmarket. There was no market today, and though still a lovely space when empty, nothing compares when the market is buzzing with food purveyors and food-lovers! It is exciting and a favorite pastime of ours. Even more fun is when there is a special event happening!

And with that, I want to let you all know about the upcoming @tasteoftheflx taking place on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the Ithaca Farmers Market and offer you a discount code for your ticket! Use BRAVE20 for $20 off of either ticket tier.

The event will feature 50 + vendors, music in 3 acts, and a full evening of celebration! Taste of the Finger Lakes serves the dual purposes of showcasing the dynamic Finger Lakes food and beverage industry while raising funds for 3 non-profits doing the important work of improving access to healthy food across the region. Local, good food for a good cause...the best combination!

If you already have your ticket or plan to take advantage of this discount code to purchase it, let me know! I hope to see you there!

#fingerlakes #tasteofthefingerlakes #flxfood #flxeats #farmersmarket #ithacany
Cheers and Happy Pride to this beautiful, inspirin Cheers and Happy Pride
to this beautiful, inspiring, proud community full of people that I love so much.

To my LGTBQIA+ family and friends, know I adore you, would fight for, and support you always. You make my life and the world a more beautiful place. I celebrate you today, this month, and always. 

Thank you for being you. 🌈

#pridemonth #loveislove
What a stunning day to be on the lake with my fam. What a stunning day to be on the lake with my fam. We missed spending time with each other and it was time for us to slow down and bond. Even the surly teens eventually gave in to the fun and smiled a few times. Have I told y’all how much I love our new life here?

#lifeintheflx #fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #soflx #thisissoflx #Lakelike #myflx #keukalife #winecountry

Copyright © 2022 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice