Well, this is a first for me - my own blog! I decided to start this as a way of keeping in touch with many as I embark on my first ever Gratitude Tour. What is that you ask? Well, the idea started a year or more ago when I got the idea of taking an extended road trip to go to several of my son's college football games. Normally we fly, but I wanted to drive ... see some family, visit friends and along the way, do acts of service. I wanted this to be about more than me just indulging myself on a long road trip, but wanted to find a way to give something back and to perhaps challenge myself to step slightly outside my comfort zone. The goal is to live simply and frugally, to meet strangers who need help for an hour or a day and to feel like when it's all said and done, that I did something good.
Hence the name I suppose. I decided that my undertaking needed a name or a title. What to choose...... my husband, Brad, suggested Conniepalozza. Ummmm...... no. "Thelma without Louise" ........ no. Finally, I decided on "Gratitude Tour" because I think that is truly where this came from. There is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for the life that I have been given. I have a loving husband, two healthy sons, a wonderful life and an abundance of amazing life experiences. I have enough food to eat and a roof over my head. I have done a few things well and have made a few mistakes along the way, - and I thank those who forgave me for those mistakes and let me keep plugging away until I got it right! Through it all I have learned that the human spirit has an amazing capacity - and a voice that needs to be heard. So I am trying to listen to mine........ and it's telling me to hit the road!
I have planned out a route and know a few places where I can perform acts of service, but if you know of any other great opportunities, let me know! I would like to find some more things to do along the way , perhaps even for strangers. This is where you come in. I am going to try to map out my route and put up dates when I will be in what area. If you have friends or family who are in need and could use a helping hand for a few hours or a day, I would love to provide it. They may be family to you, but they are strangers to me! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated or any directions you can lead me would be wonderful. I don't need to have the whole trip planned out, but feel like I at least need a skeleton to start from.
So drop me a line if you have ideas along my journey! If you are close by, join me!
