So what’s new with me?

Well I’m alive and well and have been very busy.  I am enjoying this new career choice immensely.  I am still learning a lot but feeling a lot more confident.

I have a big event this weekend.  I will be vendor at the Good Sam Bike Jam on September 16^th.  I have my own banner and will be handing out all kinds of travel information.  If you are in the Lafayette area, stop by my booth and see me.  The event is across the street from the Good Sam Hospital.  I hope to get a lot of inquiries and hopefully will book some biking trips.

I will be leaving for France in a few weeks and I am soooo excited.  I will try to blog each day from there as I expect to have an adventure each day. I will be visiting the South of France as well as Paris.

Lastly, I am still working on becoming a Hawaii specialist this is a very hard course I think because there are so many vowels and I can’t remember all the words. 

Personally, I don’t know if I will ever get used to not having my boys in the house on a regular basis but It is sure nice when they come home to visit.  I miss the way they make me laugh.   I have been working out and trying to loose these last few pounds before I venture to France.   It seems like I have reached this stubborn plateau and I’m not quite sure what else to do.  If you have any suggestions would love to hear them.

Lastly, I would like to give my sympathy to all men who have had to deal with a woman in menopause.  I HATE IT, no one ever really told me how terrible it is, Hot then Cold, Happy then Sad (all in 15minutes). I would hate being my husband.   Hopefully it won’t last too much longer.  I would rather go through 9 months of pregnancy because at least you can see the end and you have something to hold in the end.  Menopause is just a long dark tunnel with curves that you can’t see and you run into walls consistently and never can see the light at the end.  I guess it’s all a part of being a woman which I would never want to change that. 

I hope that you enjoy my updates, I would love to hear your comments and feedback.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin. 

God Bless

Happy and safe Travels

I am learning how to fly

Well I got pushed out of the nest and actually I love it. I’m not flying yet but I am flapping my wings very hard and I haven’t hit the ground yet. I still have a lot of anxiety but the confidence is building.  I am learning all the little ins and outs of the travel business, a lot of rules and regulations but I’m sure they will become second nature as time goes on.  I think I have decided to specialize in Europe and the Mediterranean.   I am going on a trip to France in October, when I finished my France Expert and South of France Expert classes they gave me the opportunity to go over and see firsthand what I was learning about.  So now I am brushing up on my French, it’s been a long time since I use the French I learned in high school.  I am going to be taking classes on river cruising through Europe and classes on the different cultures and countries, so that I will someday be able to answer questions to any travel in Europe.  

Being my own boss has also allowed me time to start exercising and concentrate more on my health.  It’s amazing how those things get passed over when you are working 9 to 5 or longer.  So all in all I think this has been a very good move for me.

I am also becoming more educated in social marketing. So you will be seeing a lot more writing on my blog and info for you to follow on Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and twitter.  If you haven’t received my newsletter let me know so that I can get you on my mailing list, it provides a lot of destination information, promotions and travel tips that I am learning. 

I have to thank my family and friends for giving me the strength to make this move, as it is helping me grow in so many ways.  They have empowered me to pursue this dream I never thought I could reach. I hope that I can motivate everyone, no matter where you are in your life, whatever your age, whatever your economic situation is to fly. Find your passion, follow your heart and have faith in the good Lord.   

Thank you for following me, and don’t forget to comment.  I will try not to disappoint you all.

Happy and Safe Travels

God Bless

Fear and a new way of thinking

I have been facing a fear over the last couple of weeks and wasn’t sure how to address it.  Since I am now a full-fledged Independent contractor and within a month will have to rely on this career to help pay the bills, I have been in a slight panic.  I now feel like a bird that has been pushed out of the nest and it’s either learning to fly or face the many dangers below.  Well, I want to fly, I want to soar, but deep inside I am so afraid, I am stuck on the edge of the nest.  Should I or Shouldn’t I, and the big one Can I or Can’t I.  Failure is not an option since at 52 this will probably be my last shot at a career and an income that will help me and my husband reach our dreams.  I have a great community of support around me and a wonderful mentor to advise me.  It’s this little voice in me that I wasn’t able shake.   I received some advice from my son Anthony this last week and for only 22 years old he has a pretty good insight.  First, he told me not to procrastinate, (it has always been a bad habit of mine and apparently he could see it) then he said Mom you will only get out of it what you put into it.  After discussing this with him, a few other people, my husband and the Lord, I’ve realized one thing I have to do is change my frame of mind.  I am a business owner, I am not an employee and I have to start thinking like a business owner.  This is very unusual for me and one hurdle I have to get over.  I am on my own to succeed.  Self-confidence, although a lot of people think I have it, is something I lack.  So my new mantra is, “I am a strong, intelligent, competent women”  I have the ability, (physically and mentally), I have the skills,(and what I am lacking in I am taking the steps to acquire), and I have the passion.  So with a lot of faith and a little luck and help from friends and family I am stepping out of the nest.  I may bump into a few branches but I am not going to hit the ground.  I HAVE TO DO THIS, I CAN DO THIS.  Thank you all for your support, referring me to your friends, and for listening.  I look forward to being the best travel agent possible.  Please write your comments and let me know how you overcome your fears, or found a way to motivate yourself into a change.  Watch for notification on my website, glkdreamtravel.com, I am going to update it and make it more useful.  Email me at gina.kemper@frosch.com for any travel questions/quotes.  Keep following my blog and see if I reach the clouds. 

God Bless and Happy and Safe Travels