Every person has that tipping point in their lives. That moment you get to a cross road and realise that something needs to give…to change.
Most of us will have several of those points in our lives. We must if we are to continue to develop and grow as individuals and human beings.
I must have been a wandering gypsy in a previous life. Why? Because travelling, exploring and experiencing different things brings out the best in me and takes me to a truly happy place - ME! Part of my journey to self discovery. Be kind to the universe and the universe shall be kind to me. And she has been! I’m so many ways for which I am grateful.
Having reached this stage in my life I have realised that I sent so much time collecting things over my years of travel - fridge magnets, tea towels, shoes, clothes, linens, vases, chocolates and the list goes on and on. All on display so that with pride we can lay claim to the travels we’ve done when friends ask with envy (at least we hope) whether we have been there and what was it like! That’s when we brag beaming with pride and enthusiasm as we recount the event and draw them into our experiences.
However my Nirvana is reaching the point where ‘things’ don’t matter as much as experiences do. As much as memories count and how they made me feel. I have reached that point several years ago I’m pleased to say.
In my photography (I am not a photographer but I love taking photos that have meaning to me!) I capture the experiences which have been sensory and unique to me. These are important as losing a father to the horrid disease of Dementia my greatest fear is that I too one day may ‘forget’ but at least I will have my photos to admire and wonder who that lucky person pictured in them was to see and do so much.
A good friend nudged me several years ago about how I should be sharing all my experiences on Google especially given how open and inspiring my social media posts posts are. People have told me over the years they can’t wsit for my next post or my next holiday. I thought they were having a bit of a go at me.
“Share with the world what you see. You see things from such a unique angle. You should be a Local Guide” she said.
I paid little attention at the time just continuing to do my own thing until a friend in a Greek Village asked me whether I was a local guide and if not why not….
Well that set me into a tail spin didn’t it……….so really…. Why wasn’t I a local guide? Why wasn’t I sharing what I already did with a small circle of social friends more broadly? What was stopping me?
So to satisfy my own curiosity I set up my profile and the rest is history.
I have spent so much time going back into my memories and photos and recapturing those experiences which I hold dear to me in my travels. And have so much more to go.
In my reviews I try to be fair and well balanced as what I say represents my experiences at a given point in time. That all depends on my mood, my expectations and my thoughts at a particular point in time.
However the importance of what I do came to light through a conversation I held with my dentist of all people only just recently:
Friend:“Vivian you’ve been to Marcianos Pizza in Concord haven’t you?”
Me:“How do you know that? I didn’t post that on FB”
Friend:“ No you didn’t. But I looked for a nice place to take the family to eat and searched Google for reviews and saw your rating. I figured if Vivian rates this place a 5 then it must be good. I didn’t even need to read your review because I trust you”
Powerful or what!! My tipping point… again!
So what does the Local Guides programme mean to me? Well it means several things:
It means that what I write matters. It matters to the person reading it and to the place being reviewed.
it means if I can transport someone even in their imagination to a place I have been then I have shared my Nirvana.
It means that I can share my experiences with other people not so they can have the same experience as I did but that they too then have the opportunity to create their own memories
It means that I can share my thoughts more broadly than just my immediate circle of friends. I can share with so many more people whom I’ve never met before but can be somehow connected to with my review.
It means that I have to take responsibility for what I write and what I write impacts other people and businesses.
It means that I am trusted and being a values driven person that’s so important.
Most importantly It also means that in this age of Covid19 we can help support businesses and places by directing foot or online traffic and helping them get back on to their feet as soon as this pandemic is over!!
Trust… we earn it and we work to keep it!
i promise I won’t let you down …