When we set out on this road trip, we did it with two things in mind: spending time with family in some of the old places we’ve most enjoyed, and meeting new friends and exploring new places along the way. Both have been fun, and each is rewarding in a different way.

I’d love to hear about some of your favorite places — the old ones you’d return to if you had the chance, and the ones you’ve been planning to visit. Thanks!

New York City

Meeting New Friends, Exploring New Places is a post from: Quest for Balance

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Happy Friday, fellow travelers!

Today promises to be a spectacular day, as I’ll be visiting New York City for the very first time ever! I’m a fairly well-traveled person, having been to Brazil, Hong Kong, and several countries in Europe… but I’ve never been to “the big apple,” and today I get to go with the most wonderful guide, Nadia!

I don’t really know what to expect. I guess we will visit some of the must-see spots in town, maybe ride a subway, and eat a giant slice of pizza while watching a mugging or two. Who knows? Anything can happen in NYC.

One thing I know for SURE I want to see is the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty symbolizes so much history, opportunity, feeling, nostalgia, risks taken, fears overcome, and dreams pursued. Her torch stands for enlightenment, available to all who seek it.

To me, she doesn’t just represent America, she is an international beacon of hope and inspiration. People have come from all over the world in search of everything she stands for. Some have found what they were looking for. Others weren’t as successful, but are stronger for having tried.

I want to try.

I want to look up at Lady Liberty and know that so many others have stood there before me, thankful to be in her presence. I want to feel connected to everyone who ever truly, deeply wished for freedom and enlightenment… as I wish for it today.

Plus, as anyone who’s ever seen an end-of-the-world movie knows, the Statue of Liberty is the first thing to get struck by lighting, giant tidal waves, asteroids, and alien attacks. So I might as well see Lady Liberty while she still stands. Right?

Nadia and I will each post about our “meeting of the minds” some time next week, so you can get both perspectives about the day and a half we are spending together. I wonder which one of us will have more fun? Here’s a picture from last night, when Nadia and Jacob took us to their favorite Thai place for dinner…. yu-um!!!

If you haven’t had a chance to meet Nadia, please stop over to Happy Lotus and check out her beautiful, soulful blog. This will give you an idea of just how lucky I am to be spending this time with such a spiritual and unique guide. Lady Kindness is taking me to see Lady Liberty!

What about YOU?

Have you been to New York City? What are your favorite things to do there? Do you ever find yourself wishing for freedom, enlightenment, or the sense of being connected to those who have come before you?

(Photo Credit)

Fellowship Fridays: Liberty Enlightening the World is a post from: Quest for Balance

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Does size matter?

It’s the age-old question… at least in blogging. Just how long, exactly, should a blog post be? What is the ideal size to attract readers, keep their attention, and leave them completely satisfied?

I have read countless articles trying to answer that question in one way or another. Some say we should write around 250 words per post, in order to rank higher with search engines. Others say we should write 2000-word articles, so readers will bookmark them and come back to them later. I’ve read arguments for everything in between.

In 7 Secrets To A Sensational Blog Post, Tremendous News tells us the magic number of words is 732. By the way, under no circumstances should you click that link if you are easily offended by expletives or crude humor. I, on the other hand, visit that site regularly… ’cause I’m a classy gal, that’s why.

But back to the issue at hand… the optimal size of a blog post.

Since the answers seem to vary widely, and I’ve done my fair share of research on the subject (of blog post size, that is), I wanted to share with you two reasons why I know with certainty that size does not matter:

1. Raptitude

Raptitude, by my dear friend, David Cain, is one of my guilty pleasures. Its long, decadent, carefully crafted posts are like exquisite caresses. With material such as You Are the Greatest Story Ever Told and The Secret to Connecting with People, Raptitude never fails to deliver the slow, sultry reading experience people crave. Consider spending a languorous afternoon devouring each luscious post, admiring every last inch of its… implications. It is a scintillating journey, the anticipation building up to a delectable conclusion every time. Sensual and sensitive, Raptitude posts take their time, prolonging the experience. Explore David’s site and you will, undoubtedly, become completely enraptured.

2. Owl Sparks

Carlos Miceli is a fabulous guy from Argentina, for whom English is a second language. Owl Sparks, with its sexy Spanish accent, is the powerful, thought-provoking burst of passion that stays with you long after the brief textual encounter. Primal and provocative, Owl Sparks invites you to enjoy some mesmerizing moments. Posts like About Hard Work and Big Is For Losers leave you satisfied, yet wanting to come back for more. This quickie is the one-night-stand so good it turns into a standing appointment. What it lacks in duration, it makes up for in intensity.

The truth of the matter is… with blogging, it’s all in what you do with it! Whether it takes 20 words or 2000, a skillful writer knows how to apply each method for maximum effect.

All you have to do is ask your readers, “Was it good for you?”

If the answer is yes, they’ll keep coming back for more.

Ciao!!!

What do YOU think? Does size matter?

P.S.: This post was written in collaboration with my FairyBlogMother, who also adores David, and has recently become a fan of Carlos’ site.

(Photo Credit)

Fellowship Fridays: Why Blog Post Size Doesn’t Matter is a post from: Quest for Balance

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I learned what a blog was in January of this year (2009). From my very first post until my most recent, there has been one blogger always present, always smiling, always spreading love… Lance, from The Jungle of Life. He may not even know it, because we haven’t talked at great length, but I have watched and admired him for a long time.

When I first visited his blog I did what I always do with a new blog, I went to read his earliest posts… the ones before he knew for certain what direction his blog would take. His April 30, 2008 post “Are You Having Fun?” absolutely inspired me and helped me clarify in my own mind what I believe is important. From that day forward a change has been brewing in my household, one which I’ll post about on Monday. That post, along with all of Lance’s writing, and comments, and tweets, are clear examples of what a loving and compassionate soul he is.

In fact, this week, when I posted a letter from a reader who needed some comfort and words of wisdom, Lance was the first to jump in there and lend his support. The reader told me his comments had her in tears for all sorts of reasons, but mostly because she couldn’t get over how caring he was towards a complete, anonymous stranger.

But that’s just Lance.

And I’m not the only one who knows this. Bloggers and readers alike come out of the woodworks to show their appreciation for Lance’s writing. When he posts his Sunday Thought For The Day (which I have become completely addicted to, by the way), it may be just a tiny quote, but he has a TON of comments. Part of the reason for this is that he chooses great quotes, but mostly it’s because we all know he is a GREAT guy… who is sharing his loving and compassionate heart with the rest of us.

For example, on a recent Sunday he posted a quote by Mark Houlahan, “If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page.” This one received 60 comments from avid supporters. I rarely comment ’cause I’m more of a lurker, but I read it, and was completely inspired by it, particularly in light of our new life decisions.

Another one that spoke directly to my soul was by Steve Jobs:

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes–the ones who see things differently–they’re not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things–they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” (85 Comments on this one!)

Beautiful.

Anyway, for today’s Fellowship Fridays I just wanted to let Lance know how much I appreciate and admire what he does and, more importantly, who he is. I also would like to encourage you, if you haven’t already, to stop by and visit Lance’s Jungle of Life.

If you have met Lance, please take a moment to share your impressions with my readers, and help me thank him for all that he does.

Thanks!!!

Fellowship Fridays: Lance’s Jungle of Life is a post from: Quest for Balance

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For those of you who may not be aware, Ali is my partner on this blog, and we’ve been friends since 1991. That really is saying a lot because, since then I have moved from San Diego to Georgia to Costa Rica to Alabama to Austin and back to Georgia (nomadic tendencies run deep in my family) and Ali has visited me in all of those places.  I really don’t make it easy to be my friend, but let me tell you… she is not a quitter. She can keep up with anything I throw her way.

In fact, recently we were talking about how very complicated things can get for us at times because, aside from being geographically separated, she’s a Gemini and I’m a Libra. She sent me this quote recently which describes our challenge quite eloquently, from Linda Goodman’s Love Signs:

“Two air signs are fun to watch, like trapeze artists at the circus…
Since Librans can never make up their minds, and Geminis are continually changing theirs,
it’s hard to know what to predict will happen in an association between them.”

So, essentially, we are a multitude of women bound by a single friendship. Knowing this you can begin to appreciate why we are on a perpetual quest for balance. There really is no telling what is going to happen from one day to the next. But no matter what our moods, our thoughts, our current crisis and issues are, the friendship remains constant and indestructible.

Today’s Fellowship Fridays links are five wonderful women I have met since I started blogging, this year. These are some of my newest friends, all perpetually inspiring, caring souls. I look forward to reading their blogs when I can, and running into them around the blogosphere and Twitterverse. If you haven’t met them already, I hope you will visit their sites and get to know them yourself:

1. Sherri, at Serene Journey – @serenejourney on Twitter2. Nadia, at Happy Lotus – @happylotus on Twitter

3. Dani, at Positively Present – @positivepresent on Twitter

4. Lisa, at Mommy Mystic – @mommymystic on Twitter

5. Carla, at Living Happiness – @livinghappiness on Twitter

Do you have a favorite woman blogger? Is there a woman blogger that consistently brightens your day? If so, please include a link to her blog in the comments below. (Not to discriminate against the guys, I’ll have a male version of this next Friday.)

Happy Birthday, Ali!!!!

Fellowship Fridays: Wonderful Women is a post from: Quest for Balance

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