Spring is around the corner, and I saw the forum prompt for us to write introductions, I thought I would also edit and share my reply in that forum thread, and share it with everyone as a post as well.
Below is a little bit about me. 
Nice to meet you fellow Guides!
1. Name: You can call me Exploreaholic. This name signifies one who is addicted to exploring and discovering new places.
2. Location: Arizona
3. What I love about being a Local Guide:
In my initial introduction when I first joined Guides Connect, I mentioned how seeing the views rack up for my photos and reviews can be motivating. I still enjoy seeing the impact of my contributions. It is also good feeling to know that our edits help to provide accurate information to users. For example, during the heat of the pandemic, I was able to flag a few places as temporarily closed or permanently closed. On the other hand, some of my added places helped users discover locations. One time. I was walking around a small plaza in Tempe, Arizona and after I snapped the photos and was ready to upload to Google Maps, I noticed a small business (though open) was not showing up. I was able to get that business added along with photos, and I was able to add rudimentary information such as the website and a phone number. This not only could help Google Maps users to be able to find the business, but it also helped promote awareness of the business to potential customers as it was now searchable on Maps. It’s amazing all the different ways we can help users and businesses as a Guide!
On top of that, the Local Guides program has helped me power through a lot of tough times. It has been a shining light, and the program has always been something that I could look forward to each week. Knowing I could help others as a Guide as well as the fun points/level system, I had a reason to get up and go outside. The hardest part was getting out the door, but once I was out and about exploring, more often than not- momentum would carry me to other nearby places. Although there were a few hiatuses where I took a break from the program, I always turned to Local Guides to get me out of those funks. To this day- although there are still low times, I can count on the Guides program to remind me of what I love- to get outside and explore
I’m so excited that I reached Level 10 November of last year (2021) and I look forward to continuing to add more contributions. Additionally, I want to continue to build awareness of the wonderful Guides program through my Youtube channel and Instagram.
4. My favorite thing to explore:
I would say playgrounds. Through my 6 years as a Guide, I have visited 100 plus playgrounds.
But why the seeming obsession with playgrounds?
Often, you get caught in the hectic flow of adult life- the stress, fatigue, feeling down, etc. Playgrounds, with their bright beautiful splashes of color and fun whimsical equipment, chase those clouds away. They remind you of simpler times. They invite you to be goofy, to laugh, to smile. When exploring playgrounds, I wake up early (in spite of being someone who loves her snooze button), because I want to get there before the crowds arrive for clear photos and to have the play area to myself. There have been many times when I’ve gone to a playground with a headache or feeling meh, but I as I start climbing and walking around the play area to get my photos, I feel myself forgetting whatever it is that was bothering me in the first place. I get physically challenged with the Ninja Warrior-esque climbing bars, and my heart beat gets up on the tall climbing walls. I climb up stairs, skip across bridges, and slide down long and super tall slides. I leave not only with photos
I want others to experience this too. As such, I take my time to take detailed photos and write detailed reviews of the playgrounds. My photos capture the slides, swings, monkey bars that double as calisthenics workout machines, the accessibility ramps, facilities, etc… and my reviews describe all of that in extra detail.
5. Fun Fact about me:
I enjoy dancing! Not many people would think that of me since I can come across as introverted in social settings. I haven’t done as much of it with the pandemic and sometimes I’ve honestly been just so drained from work that I don’t feel like going out. However, when I do drag myself up from the sofa to go dancing- whether it be to a zumba class at the gym or salsa dancing- I instantly feel energized. The music just flows through me and the best part is just losing myself in it. I feel the emotions of the music and I can’t stop moving. A smile spreads across my face and into my heart.
