As 2010 comes to an end, I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and relief, and if you are reading this, it is in part because of YOU. Instead of recounting travel-related experiences, the things that I’ve learned, or what I’ve overcome, what I feel most compelled to do is say THANK YOU!!!
WARNING! Those uncomfortable with mushy gushy thank you’s, should avert their eyes immediately 😉
Thank you for taking the time to read my posts (even if this is the first), for adding to the discussion by commenting here, for telling your family and/or friends about the site/me, for following me on twitter, even joining Twitter just to support me, for tweeting at me, re-tweeting my tweets, for direct messages, for tweep banter- smart & silly alike, for participating in my first contest, for agreeing to provide a prize and helping to promote it, for including me in your twitter #TNI fun, for #EcoMondays, #TravelTuesdays, and #FollowFridays, for *like*ing my Facebook page and making a comment or sharing a link, for Stumbling my posts, for sending or accepting a friend request through Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX), for welcoming me into the TBEX SMC group and all the support that comes with it, for helping me overcome a technical or creative hurdle and sharing resources, for forgiving my missteps, for offering future help, for featuring my work, including it in a best of, naming this your favorite travel blog in an interview, asking me to contribute content on your site, for linking to this site from yours, for expressing excitement to meet me at TBEX in Vancouver in June or while on the road, for sending me emails here, sending me words of encouragement, inspiring me, and for becoming my friend. These aren’t veiled suggestions- they are genuine thank you’s to those of you who have already generously done them- be it one or many, I’ve appreciated every act. You’ve made my leap of faith (in myself) in starting this blog feel like a leap well-taken. And I am SO GRATEFUL to and for all of you!
So cheers to YOU and here’s hoping that your 2011 is jam-packed with happiness & adventure!
What a nice way to thank your readers. I can only assume from your post that 2010 was a good year for you. Happy new year to you and I hope 2011 is just as good.
thanks natalie! to you as well! so happy to connect 🙂
Cheers to you and Francisco, Lorna! I’m totally into “mushy gushy thank-you’s” and am honored to assume that I am included in your message. I couldn’t have said it any better about my gratitude to you and other Twitter, Facebook and TBEX friends.
I look forward to getting to know you better during 2011 and continued mutual support!
Happy New Year!!
thanks cathy! and YES you are a major honoree here! cheers to your 2nd to last line too 🙂
That is a very nice thing to do. It’s a pleasure reading you and I look forward to more of the same in 2011.
thanks inka! and the feeling is mutual 🙂
Thank you for all you do. May you have a wonderful 2011.
thanks caz! to you as well!
Thank YOU for sharing your travels and adventures with us! Happy new year and keep the travel stories coming in 2011!
thanks connie! and appreciate the encouragement 🙂
Happy New Year to you as well!
Lorna, in my crazy busy life, I read blogs but never have much time to really get into them. So forgive me for saying this but I never realized we lived so close! And I LOVE PBS – probably my fave channel along with ESPN! 🙂 Wonder if you’ve done a documentary I’ve watched?
thanks jeremy! yes- we’re nearly neighbors 🙂 happy to hear you’re a pbs fan! and you may have seen something i’ve worked on- planning to feature some
of the more travel/culture related films here soon 🙂
We love you Lorna and love reading your posts! From your dedicated readers in London
thanks gals! love you too 🙂
wow, that is one of the longest single thankyou sentences i have ever seen.
have a stunning 2011, and keep the adventures going!
ha! thanks jamie! yeah, definitely pushing the grammar limits with this one! 😉 and absolutely will do on the adventures 🙂
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us and for being part of the travel community! It’s been great to share with you too. Here’s to an even better 2011!!
thanks norbert! i love this community! i’ve met so many more of *my people!* the feeling is mutual and cheers to 2011 🙂
One of my favourite new blogging friends of 2010, feliz ano nuevo!
gracias amiga! the feeling is mutual! feliz ano nuevo para vos tambien! how’s that for some argentine-centric splanglish? 😉
Awww, thank you!! Love your blog and am so grateful to have you as my tweet friend, blog friend, and soon.. friend friend! Can’t wait for Tbex!
thanks kelly! me too! and we’re going to have a blast at TBEX!
Lovely post! I love New Years because it’s such a great time to just be grateful for everything that we have and endeavor to keep that feeling into the year. Can’t wait to see where 2011 takes you!
thanks amy! agree- i’m going to do my best to keep that gratitude up front and center this year! being a reader of your blog, it’s clear that’s something you’re good at. 🙂
thanks for the support & cheers to a great 2011!
WE MUST MEET IRL. I live in Southern Ca…. you live in Northern Ca… we can do this!!!
2011- the year I meet all my online lovely travel friends!!
thanks jade! i agree and we CAN! if not at TBEX then sooner! 🙂
I am totally down for the mushy thank yous! I am so glad that we had the opportunity to become friends. Shaun and I will be here to support you guys in your endeavors, and remember to MOTIVATIONAL POSTER! <3
thanks erica! me too! and don’t worry- i’m keeping that motivational poster close by at all times! 😉
Awww…. but nice try, still with dry eyes. We need more mushy! 🙂
ha ha! awww conrad, thanks! and don’t you doubt it- i can bring the mushy! 😉 will you make it to TBEX?
My pleasure! Hope to see you in Vancouver.
thanks ben! and YAY! see you there! 🙂
Oh What a lovely post Lorna! Thank you too – isn’t it weird how the online travel crew can make you feel so loved??? I think about this all the time. 🙂
thanks bethany! it’s true! i dunno- maybe it’s because doing what we all do, traveling the way we all do, there are a lot of people who don’t get it. so when we *meet* each
other, that understanding serves as a shortcut to the heart! and then the inspiration & encouragement just takes it over the top. i am SO HAPPY about it, whatever it is! can’t wait
to meet you IRL 🙂
Thanks for your support too! Keep up the good work and Happy New Year 2011!
thanks mark! and thanks for the encouragement 🙂
Happy New Year! Thank you for all your support as well. I hope your 2011 is great!
thanks christy! and of course 🙂 cheers!
Thank YOU, Lorna…have really enjoyed your posts and support this year! May 2011 be even better! =)
thanks andrea! and YES! let it be so for all of us 🙂
E-meeting you in this crazy world of social media was a definite bright spot for us. Your genuine compassion, your deep interest in others and your upbeat attitude make you such a stand out. We look very forward to meeting you in Vancouver (in just a few months!).
May 2011 bring the 2 of you as much peace and adventure as you can handle.
awww guys thank you! it’s been a tough one, and it’s so nice to hear that. we’re going to have a great time at TBEX! hope everyone here is ready, cuz i’m a mushball and a HUGGER 🙂
wishing the same right back to you in 2011!
i enjoyed your posts last year, i am looking forwards to more of them this year. happy new year
thanks zablon! to you as well! 🙂
So great of you to dedicate a post to thankyou’s! Lovely post 🙂 Happy New year!
thanks robin! couldn’t help it- exploding with gratitude 🙂
What a nice post to end 2010 and begin 2011 with! I have enjoyed reading your blog since I first came across it a few months back. I look forward to many more of your adventures. Happy New Year & safe travels in 2011!
thanks michael! that’s SO nice to hear. looking forward to reading about your 2011 adventures as well- cheers!
YIPPEE!
2011 is going to be an amazing year – I KNOW it deep down in my black little heart!
And I look forward to reading all about it!
thanks leslie! cheers to you being right! thanks for being such a loyal friend and fan 🙂
Hee hee, it’s a pleasure to read your posts! I keep missing you on #TNI since that first time we “met” and I followed the link to your blog, but it’s great to see your site taking off. Best of luck for 2011:)
thanks marie! you too! and let’s make a point of connecting on #TNI soon!
Great blog! Keep up the good work in 2011. Hope you have a great travel year.
thanks spencer! that’s so nice to hear! happy trails to you too 🙂
Can you message me with any hints about how you made your blog look this awesome, Id appreciate it!