Making Bold Choices

I was talking with a childhood friend recently about the paths we took after college. She reminded me how I packed up my little car the day after I graduated from University of Wisconsin and moved, by myself, to a mountain town in Colorado where I knew no one, and soon after started an eco-friendly clothing business that I ended up running for 14 years. I laughed and told her that while I have no regrets (I am genuinely glad for every choice I've made in my life, good or bad), I admittedly would never do anything like that these days. My exact words for V "I'm so boring now." And her words in response (bless her heart) were "You made bold choices then in outwardly bigger ways, but I see you continue to make bold choices these days as a work at home mom, and that's just as cool."

It made me feel really good that my friend said something so kind, of course, but it also got me thinking. And I realized that bold choices can come in many forms - whether moving across the country alone or starting your day with the boldest coffee around (more on that in a minute).

In my younger, pre-kids life, bold choices meant taking risks in my life and business. It meant buying a 1978 RV and traveling throughout America during entire summers for several years. It meant moving to a Buddhist center on a whim and living and volunteering there for three years. It meant taking trips (on relatively short notice) to Australia and Europe. It meant moving to new cities and new states, often sight unseen. It meant starting an eco-friendly clothing line with $200 and a sewing machine set up on a cardboard box that ultimately led to showing at several fashion weeks, exhibiting at Chicago's Museum of Modern Art, and being featured in prominent fashion publications like WWD. It meant excitement and uncertainty and lots of leaps before looking. It was great.

These days, making bold choices means something much different. But it's still great. Making bold choices in this stage of my life means closing my clothing company and taking the leap to work from home - as a blogger - in order to be with my kids. It means leaving parent meeting with my mama girlfriends to go drink peach margaritas. It means finding new adventures with my little ones that involve things like choosing to take hidden paths deep in forest preserves off the trail, or choosing to drive an hour when it's already almost bed time to get the best ice creams, or deciding on a Friday morning to take a four hour road trip to Indianapolis that afternoon. Sometimes it just means making the choice to stay in our pajamas for an entire Saturday or to have last night's pizza for breakfast or to decide last minute to spend an afternoon building tile towers instead of doing "responsible things" like cleaning the house or finishing work. And your know what? These "less exciting" bold choices can be pretty profound, in all honesty.

Another bold choice I make these days is to start my day with the boldest coffee around - 1850 Brand Coffee, a new premium coffee from the makers of Folgers. Yep, coffee. This delicious blend of ground coffee delivers bold yet smooth taste - it helps me start my day on a positive note, and inspires me to make bold choices throughout it. And it's so good. 1850 Brand Coffee beans are fire-roasted and ground to help bring out its rich taste and aroma. The second I smell it brewing I feel motivated. The story behind is really inspiring too. Back in 1850 (hence the name!), J.A. Folger started something new and innovative to help the prospectors as they sought their fortunes. And the Folgers company believes that there's still no better way to get going than with a bold-yet-smooth cup of coffee. Out of this philosophy, 1850 Brand Coffee was born - and they have declared it the official coffee of "bold people fueling original ideas, new commitments, and brave endeavors." In their words, it's  "more than a coffee; it's ally to the hustle." I agree.

Bold choices are a part of who I am, and I do solemnly swear to continue to make them for the rest of my life. I swear to continue to respect and acknowledge all bold choices - from last minute around-the-world trips to staying in our pajamas all day to starting my mornings with the boldest coffee around. Speaking of which, if you want to try 1850 Brand Coffee for yourself (and you should), visit Meijer from 5/6 - 6/2 and take $1 off any 1850 Brand Coffee Product with the mPerk digital coupon (while supplies last).

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and The J.M. Smucker Company, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #1850Coffee #1850CoffeeatMeijer http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

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