We recently connected with Lauren Stites and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
It’s funny because I feel like I’ve always been an optimistic person. I can remember when I was a child, trying to help others find the bright side or silver lining to sad situations. Optimism is almost like breathing to me; it’s a natural action, but if I don’t do it, I’ll die. Many people think being optimistic is also being naive, but I disagree with that. You can be optimistic and a realist. I just try not to focus on the negative or bad things that could happen. It takes too much energy to worry about every little thing! Of course, if I’m being honest, I’m not optimistic every moment of every day. I give myself time to get upset. However, I can’t let myself focus on the bad for too long – you need positivity to keep moving through life.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been dragging my family all over the place for years, and because of that, many friends and family would ask me for tips or ideas for kid-friendly travel. That’s when I decided to launch my first website, Where the Wild Kids Wander, where I focused on family travel. I also started an Instagram account to share photos and videos of the places we’d been to.
Fast-forward to the pandemic, and we began to get outside and hike more. That inspired me to launch my other website, Trails That Rock. Of course, I couldn’t stop there! I enjoy listening to podcasts, so I decided to start my own. Her Side of the Trail shares about hikers and their motivation and challenges for getting out on the trail. I’m juggling a lot right now, but I enjoy every aspect; I can’t imagine giving anything up right now.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have a BA in Marketing, which sets the foundation for developing my knowledge and skills. I also love learning, so I constantly look for information from experts in the field and my peers so I can continue to better my skills. Every day is a learning experience. Lastly, I love what I am doing! I share about things that interest me – I am my ideal audience! If I don’t find something interesting, why would I expect others to feel the same?
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents inspired my love of travel and spending time in the outdoors. They took us everywhere when we were growing up. We would visit National Parks, major cities, and new countries. If they hadn’t done that, I don’t know if I would have been as motivated to do the same with my family. They are also extremely supportive of my endeavors, which is something I have not taken for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wildkidswander.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildkidswander/
- Other: https://trailsthatrock.com/
Image Credits
Lauren Stites
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