I love the new Wanderlust and Lipstick logo! With an enticing backdrop of unexplored map lines and a tag line of “Be Bold”, our new logo epitomizes all that Wanderlust and Lipstick stands for. It’s about overcoming your fears, both big and small. It’s about traveling to new places, being open to new experiences, making new friends and learning new skills. It’s about sharing those experiences and inspiring others to follow their dreams.
For me, being bold means taking up challenges outside my comfort zone. Pushing myself to give my best while testing my limits. If you don’t push your own limits to stretch and grow, who else will? Three things come to mind when I think about venturing outside my comfort zone …
The first one was training for and doing the 4-day Inca trail hike to Machu Picchu. This strenuous hike needed both mental and physical preparation. It had always been my dream to hike the ancient trail of the Incas through the Andes mountains and see glorious Machu Picchu as the finale. Months before our trip, I started on a fitness and training plan that included daily exercise, strenuous weekend hikes and a healthy diet. It was tough, but keeping the end goal in mind really helped. On the fourth day of the trek, as we passed through the Sun Gate and I glimpsed Machu Picchu through the mist in the distance, I was exhilarated beyond imagination. I had done it!
The second one was training for and completing my first half-marathon. I had previously completed 5K’s and 10K’s with relative comfort and proudly received my finishers medals. Now I wanted something more. A half-marathon sounded like a great challenge. Having done all-day hikes in the past that ranged from 8-12 miles, I knew that doing a half-marathon (13.1 miles) would not be easy. But how would I know whether I could do it, without trying? So I signed up for one! My goal was to complete the half-marathon in the time given, my speed didn’t matter. Crossing that finish line felt wonderful and is something I’ll always remember. Doing the half-marathon gave me the confidence to sign up for the 10-mile Sirena run that included running on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco!
The third one was about putting myself out there as a travel writer. We tend to hold ourselves back for fear of failure more than anything else. Then I realized that no matter the outcome, what’s important is that I continue to write and travel, both of which give me immense joy. I took the plunge and was amazed at the number of opportunities that opened up. All I had to do was get started and as the saying goes, “the whole world conspires to help”.
Whether you decide to finally book those round-the-world flight tickets or start training for that epic hike to Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro or take that first step towards your dream, whatever it may be, you know you have it in you. All you need is to hear a tiny voice – your voice – saying, “Go forth and dream. Conquer your fears. Be bold!”.
Happy Travels!
~ Trupti