Adventurous Life Newsletter - Inviting You to Find Inspiration in Odd Corners (July/August 2005)

When was the last time you let someone make your day? Think back, and you'll realize that it doesn't necessarily take very much -- just a small and genuine gesture that reaches through the drivel of daily life. The hard part is letting it happen and believing in it when it does.

For example, I stopped for gas on my way to visit friends a few weekends ago. Twilight had just faded into darkness, and every bug in the state appeared to have been attracted to the windshield death lying in wait behind my tantalizing headlights. When I pulled up at the pumps, there was not a windshield-washing implement in sight. I pumped my gas, resigned to a mottled view of the long drive ahead, until the tall, muscular, tattooed man with a shaved head whose beefy truck had pulled up at the pump next to mine appeared with washer in hand. "Where did you manage to find that?" I asked, in awe of his sleuthing skills. "And can I borrow it when you're done?"

"I'll wash it for you," he said, his hard face breaking into a cheerful grin. I felt awkward for a moment, but managed to blink happily and chirp "Thanks!" He proceeded to scrub my windshield to perfection as we laughed amiably about the bugs. I thanked him, and he again smiled his fabulous smile, which emerged like a pleasant surprise from a persona that has been stereotyped into villainy. Then we both drove our separate ways, and that was that: Day made.

Which made me wonder: How much of having your day made is being willing to stand there and let it happen? Sometimes it's easy -- other times, it takes an active decision to stand in the rain and trust people. My timing belt broke the other night as I was pulling up to a stop light in a not-so-nice part of town. It was nearly 11 p.m. on a weeknight. It was drizzling. I didn't have a mobile phone. I admit that the idea of sitting in my car until official help arrived flitted through my mind, but luckily didn't manage to stick.

The instant I stepped out of my car, an approaching car stopped to see if I needed help. It was a family, and they waited in the rain with their windows rolled down while I used their mobile to call AAA to dispatch a tow truck. Their lapdog licked my hand as we exchanged pleasantries. They informed me with delight that the whole family had just gone out to see if they could spot a ghost they'd heard lived in a haunted house nearby, peering out the attic window at night. "We're in our pajamas!" they laughed.

They waited with me until they were assured I was okay, then drove home. Their good humor stayed with me while I waited. Several other cars pulled up to ask if I needed help. The tow truck driver arrived and carried on a cheerful conversation while he hooked up my car. A police officer stopped to make sure I was fine, then bantered and joked before leaving.

Sure, I could have sat in my car with the doors locked, but then I would have missed the rain on my face, the kindness of strangers, and the fact that a ghost lived in a house up the street.

When was the last time someone tried to make your day? When was the last time you let them? And when was the last time you took a chance and made theirs? Go ahead, delight someone today. It just might be easier than you think.

Q&A: Telecommuting -- What To Do When The Boss Says "No"

Q: I have a 3-month-old that we have put in childcare. We really can't afford it, and I would like to see him more than the two hours he's awake at night. I've gone to my supervisor and asked about telecommuting; then received a response of "no." Do you have any suggestions? I would really like to work from home, but not have to start my own business to do so. If the business failed, we would be sunk. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

A: I'd be happy to offer any suggestions I can -- each situation is different, though, so a few more details would be helpful. For example, what sort of work do you do? Have you broken down the functions that could just as easily be done at home? I'm guessing you found me through the series I wrote on telecommuting, but just in case you haven't seen it, the series can be found at http://www.judywolf.com/resources/telework_index.html and was designed to lead you through the thought process that helps to build a solid proposal...

Read the full answer on my web site. And I'm always happy to offer, share, or pass along any advice and encouragement I can, so keep your questions and suggestions coming!

Tooting My Own Horn

The Risks of Sunbathing Topless edited by Kate Chynoweth
"These funny and feisty women put humor back into travel," says Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun (well worth reading if you haven't already done so -- and the movie was darn good, too).

The Risks of Sunbathing Topless came out in June and includes an essay ("The Occidental Tourist") by yours truly. The book's back cover reads, "It's a good thing none of the women in this hilarious collection had the foresight to make sensible decisions during their travel experiences. If they had, we wouldn't hear the scandalous details of how unexpectedly wrong it all went..."

So hang on and enjoy the ride -- I know I did!

Stumbled across any books you've found particularly inspiring lately? Movies? Web sites? Share the inspiration! Drop me a line with your recommendations, and I'll pass them along to other readers.

Random Reader Suggestions, Take Two

Chambal.com
This suggestion was submitted by Max Lent, creator of www.travelconsumer.com: "I just received an email from a new company requesting a listing of their new meta-search engine for book prices. I checked it out and it seems to work great. No, I do not receive any kind of commission from them or even an exchange link. This is just a recommendation. They say: 'At Chambal.com, we compare new and used book prices across major online bookstores. We compare prices of books across major online book sellers in real time. Various other services provided by us are:

1. Rare Book Search.
2. Audio Book Search (We will be adding e-books also shortly).
3. Searching prices from eBay.
4. Spelling suggestions to users when they key in wrong spellings.
5. Search by both UPC code (13 digit) and ISBN (10 digit).
6. Search for multiple versions / releases of same title."

According to Max, Chambal is a meta-search engine of bookstores. You can input a title and find out what dealer is offering the best selling price. However, he notes, Chambal does not list shipping costs and these can vary greatly from one book source to another.

FreelanceWriting.com
Launched in early 1998 as a web site to help writers, journalists, public relations pros, and researchers succeed in their professional careers, since its inception, this web site claims to have "provided an endless stream of industry news, job opportunities, editorial content, and networking opportunities."

Seva.org
Looking for that perfect gift for someone who has everything? How about giving the gift of service? The Seva Foundation was founded in 1978 on the simple premise that 80% of the 42 million blind in the world could receive the incredible gift of sight for the cost of a night out at the movies with a friend. In the past 25 years, Seva assisted in giving sight to two million people in India, Nepal, Tibet, Cambodia and Tanzania. Its mission expanded to encompass the conquest of diabetes among Native Americans and community development programs for the Indigenous Peoples of Chiapas, Mexico and Guatemala. Seva Foundation has no religious affiliation.

Adventure Traveler
This online mag, targeted at students, highlights adventure/outdoor destinations and study/volunteer abroad opportunities. Complete with featured links, articles, video spots, and plenty of banner ads that actually tend to lead to interesting and even relevant places. See what you think...


	Welcome to this month's edition of Adventurous Life!
I welcome your thoughts, feedback & suggestions for stories. This newsletter can also be found online. Please don't hesitate to contact me or swing by www.judywolf.com to see what's new. Pass this newsletter along to a friend!			In this issue: Go Ahead, Make My Day Top 5 Ideas to Inspire You This Month Q&A: Telecommuting -- What To Do When The Boss Says "No" Tooting My Own Horn Random Reader Recommendations, Take Two Everyday Adventures

Go Ahead, Make My Day When was the last time you let someone make your day? Think back, and you'll realize that it doesn't necessarily take very much -- just a small and genuine gesture that reaches through the drivel of daily life. The hard part is letting it happen and believing in it when it does. For example, I stopped for gas on my way to visit friends a few weekends ago. Twilight had just faded into darkness, and every bug in the state appeared to have been attracted to the windshield death lying in wait behind my tantalizing headlights. When I pulled up at the pumps, there was not a windshield-washing implement in sight. I pumped my gas, resigned to a mottled view of the long drive ahead, until the tall, muscular, tattooed man with a shaved head whose beefy truck had pulled up at the pump next to mine appeared with washer in hand. "Where did you manage to find that?" I asked, in awe of his sleuthing skills. "And can I borrow it when you're done?" "I'll wash it for you," he said, his hard face breaking into a cheerful grin. I felt awkward for a moment, but managed to blink happily and chirp "Thanks!" He proceeded to scrub my windshield to perfection as we laughed amiably about the bugs. I thanked him, and he again smiled his fabulous smile, which emerged like a pleasant surprise from a persona that has been stereotyped into villainy. Then we both drove our separate ways, and that was that: Day made. Which made me wonder: How much of having your day made is being willing to stand there and let it happen? Sometimes it's easy -- other times, it takes an active decision to stand in the rain and trust people. My timing belt broke the other night as I was pulling up to a stop light in a not-so-nice part of town. It was nearly 11 p.m. on a weeknight. It was drizzling. I didn't have a mobile phone. I admit that the idea of sitting in my car until official help arrived flitted through my mind, but luckily didn't manage to stick. The instant I stepped out of my car, an approaching car stopped to see if I needed help. It was a family, and they waited in the rain with their windows rolled down while I used their mobile to call AAA to dispatch a tow truck. Their lapdog licked my hand as we exchanged pleasantries. They informed me with delight that the whole family had just gone out to see if they could spot a ghost they'd heard lived in a haunted house nearby, peering out the attic window at night. "We're in our pajamas!" they laughed. They waited with me until they were assured I was okay, then drove home. Their good humor stayed with me while I waited. Several other cars pulled up to ask if I needed help. The tow truck driver arrived and carried on a cheerful conversation while he hooked up my car. A police officer stopped to make sure I was fine, then bantered and joked before leaving. Sure, I could have sat in my car with the doors locked, but then I would have missed the rain on my face, the kindness of strangers, and the fact that a ghost lived in a house up the street. When was the last time someone tried to make your day? When was the last time you let them? And when was the last time you took a chance and made theirs? Go ahead, delight someone today. It just might be easier than you think. Q&A: Telecommuting -- What To Do When The Boss Says "No" Q: I have a 3-month-old that we have put in childcare. We really can't afford it, and I would like to see him more than the two hours he's awake at night. I've gone to my supervisor and asked about telecommuting; then received a response of "no." Do you have any suggestions? I would really like to work from home, but not have to start my own business to do so. If the business failed, we would be sunk. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! A: I'd be happy to offer any suggestions I can -- each situation is different, though, so a few more details would be helpful. For example, what sort of work do you do? Have you broken down the functions that could just as easily be done at home? I'm guessing you found me through the series I wrote on telecommuting, but just in case you haven't seen it, the series can be found at http://www.judywolf.com/resources/telework_index.html and was designed to lead you through the thought process that helps to build a solid proposal... Read the full answer on my web site. And I'm always happy to offer, share, or pass along any advice and encouragement I can, so keep your questions and suggestions coming! Tooting My Own Horn The Risks of Sunbathing Topless edited by Kate Chynoweth "These funny and feisty women put humor back into travel," says Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun (well worth reading if you haven't already done so -- and the movie was darn good, too). The Risks of Sunbathing Topless came out in June and includes an essay ("The Occidental Tourist") by yours truly. The book's back cover reads, "It's a good thing none of the women in this hilarious collection had the foresight to make sensible decisions during their travel experiences. If they had, we wouldn't hear the scandalous details of how unexpectedly wrong it all went..." So hang on and enjoy the ride -- I know I did! Stumbled across any books you've found particularly inspiring lately? Movies? Web sites? Share the inspiration! Drop me a line with your recommendations, and I'll pass them along to other readers. Random Reader Suggestions, Take Two Chambal.com This suggestion was submitted by Max Lent, creator of www.travelconsumer.com: "I just received an email from a new company requesting a listing of their new meta-search engine for book prices. I checked it out and it seems to work great. No, I do not receive any kind of commission from them or even an exchange link. This is just a recommendation. They say: 'At Chambal.com, we compare new and used book prices across major online bookstores. We compare prices of books across major online book sellers in real time. Various other services provided by us are: 1. Rare Book Search. 2. Audio Book Search (We will be adding e-books also shortly). 3. Searching prices from eBay. 4. Spelling suggestions to users when they key in wrong spellings. 5. Search by both UPC code (13 digit) and ISBN (10 digit). 6. Search for multiple versions / releases of same title." According to Max, Chambal is a meta-search engine of bookstores. You can input a title and find out what dealer is offering the best selling price. However, he notes, Chambal does not list shipping costs and these can vary greatly from one book source to another. FreelanceWriting.com Launched in early 1998 as a web site to help writers, journalists, public relations pros, and researchers succeed in their professional careers, since its inception, this web site claims to have "provided an endless stream of industry news, job opportunities, editorial content, and networking opportunities." Seva.org Looking for that perfect gift for someone who has everything? How about giving the gift of service? The Seva Foundation was founded in 1978 on the simple premise that 80% of the 42 million blind in the world could receive the incredible gift of sight for the cost of a night out at the movies with a friend. In the past 25 years, Seva assisted in giving sight to two million people in India, Nepal, Tibet, Cambodia and Tanzania. Its mission expanded to encompass the conquest of diabetes among Native Americans and community development programs for the Indigenous Peoples of Chiapas, Mexico and Guatemala. Seva Foundation has no religious affiliation. Adventure Traveler This online mag, targeted at students, highlights adventure/outdoor destinations and study/volunteer abroad opportunities. Complete with featured links, articles, video spots, and plenty of banner ads that actually tend to lead to interesting and even relevant places. See what you think...				"Why worry about things you can change. Why worry about things you cannot change." *-Shantideva*

				Top 5 Ideas to Inspire You This Month Make a promise to be absolutely in love with your body for an entire month -- lavish it with praise, refuse to see anything but its good points Buy (or borrow) yourself a guide to your region's hiking trails or biking routes and get out once a month to explore Learn a children's story or myth by heart and perform it at your local library (then join your local storyteller's guild and make a habit of it!) Take a Heifer International Study Tour for your next vacation Go for a 20-minute walk every day for a month -- follow the same circuit each time and note what subtle changes occur
				"I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once." *- Jennifer Unlimited*

				Everyday Adventures #487 The wind is pure adventure because it always has an unknown outcome. It peaks in gusts a little higher, flipping up a new leaf, or blowing down a weakened tree. Who knows what the next gust will bring? Let the wind remind you of the unknown outcome of your life. Live your adventurous day with the spirit of the wind; be an instrument of change, unpredictable, always about to gust a bit stronger and ready forever to go someplace new. This everyday adventure is from "A New Adventure Every Day: 541 Simple Ways to Live with Pizzazz" by David Silberkleit, excerpted with the author's permission.


		About the author: Judy Wolf is a world traveler, freelance writer, speaker, and whitewater kayak instructor. She's taken many long solo journeys around the world, traveling by foot, bus, jeep, camel, truck, boat, train, plane, elephant, and bicycle to over 30 countries on five continents. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Far From Home: Father Daughter Travel Adventures, A Woman's Europe, and The Risks of Sunbathing Topless. She's currently working on a book about her most recent adventures…that is, when she's not plunging off waterfalls or entertaining the dog. Learn more at www.judywolf.com.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you feel might find it of interest. If you cut and paste content, please make sure you include all attribution, copyright, and contact information. Thanks! To subscribe to or unsubscribe from Adventurous Life, go to www.judywolf.com/newsletter To contact Judy Wolf: http://www.judywolf.com or e-mail now (or snail mail to 3786 Dawes Ave, Clinton NY 13323). Copyright © 2005 Judy Wolf