Keith of The Velvet Escape and I have been supporting each other since the spring of 2009. We also co-founded the Global Bloggers Network. Yeah Keith! You're amazing!
On my return from the TBEX travel bloggers conference Sunday night, I decided it was about time.
One of These Days
Coincidental to me thinking that it was about time, I heard “One of these Days” by Neil Young. Listening to it I knew, it was not just “about time”, it was time.
So, today I sat down to write a letter to you, my traveling readers who make my life's work so rewarding and to my fellow travel bloggers who support me as I try to sort out this amazing online world.
I thought you might want to listen to the Neil Young tune as you read my letter, so I grabbed this from Youtube for you.
And now, my letter to you…
Dear traveler,
You are a wonder to me. Every time…
…I travel and meet amazing people taking on the world in their own way,
…every time I'm with travel bloggers who live lives rich enough to garner a following of readers eagerly awaiting the next episode in their adventure
…I am overwhelmed with love for the community I so serendipitously found..
At a time when my life couldn't be darker, there you were, the travel community, online and in your youth, welcoming me to be part of it. You are filled with exciting, growing people. And each of you, whether blogger or reader, care about the world you move about in and the people you meet along the way. You are fun and kind and generous. You teach me. I learn from you all the time.
My travel blogger friends, you inspire me to be a better traveler, a better writer and a better photographer. Reading your insights I learn not only about destinations, but how to enter them with consideration and respect. Every time I go to a bloggers conference, you motivate me to do better with this blog and you share tactics to help me do so.
My travel/reader friends, you give me reason to write. Some people may take pleasure writing in a vacuum but most of us like to be read. You not only read but you provide wonderful feedback and comments. You have allowed me to combine two of my favorite activities – writing and traveling.
Thank you all for being so kind. For giving me the privilege of this life of writing and traveling. I am indeed fortunate and I HAVE ALL OF YOU TO THANK FOR IT.
Love,
Janice
P.S. Below are just a few photos of some of the wonderful travelers and travel bloggers I have met. Really, it is incomplete. My apologies for the omissions.
I traveled with Penny (UK) in India. Here she's learning the art of solo photography.
This is Noemie from France. We met on the Navimag ferry and then camped and hiked Torres del Paine together Patagonia, Chile
Deb – half of “thePlanetd” on route to TBEX in Colorado.
Jodi Ettenberg of Legal Nomads ready for takeoff. We enjoyed helicopter rides over Assisi at the Travel Bloggers Unite conference in Umbria.
Travel bloggers have serious discussions… (Melvin of Travel Dudes is on the left and Simon of “Wild About Travel” on the right. Location: in Costa Brava)
And not so serious discussions. That's Kash of Budget Traveler having fun beside Meg of “Landing Standing” in Umbria.
And then Diego of “Viajando con Diego” is known to get into some pretty silly discussions with those of the canine persuasion. Location: Costa Brava.
Sarah and Terry Lee of “Live Share Travel”
Me, Melvin of Travel Dudes, Kash of Budget Traveler, Michael of Go, See, Write, Yvonne of Just Trevelous and Keith of Velvet Escape.
Matt of Nomadic Matt
Jeff Jung of Career Break Secrets delivering the keynote address at the Travel Bloggers Unite conference.
Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere speaking at The Future of Tourism
Kirsten of Aviators and a Camera and Isabelle of Isabelle's Travels.
Andy Hayes of Sharing Travel Experiences and Oliver Gladwell of Travel Bloggers Unite
Abby of Inside the Travel Lab
