Just a few short weeks ago, I connected with Neil Pasricha, author of the soon-to-be-released The Book of Awesome. And, I was lucky enough to get an advance copy to peruse.

Interestingly, my first e-mail exchange with Neil actually happened the day after I was chatting with a co-worker about a company that actually hired a “Director of Awesome.” (Neil, can we add that to the book?)

The Book of Awesome is like no other. Its magical insights are not revolutionary – which is why I love it. It focuses on the every day and special moments that we might not regularly think about / take for granted and/or secretly love. Each page reminds us that these are what make up the awesomeness of life. It’s a book you can read straight through or pick up every day and open to a page – and almost each time, I’ll guarantee you’ll find something to which you can relate.

While I could list out my favorites – and will in the comments below – I thought it would be interesting to talk to the brains behind the awesomeness. Neil graciously agreed to do an interview about The Book of Awesome and I’m thrilled to share it with you here.

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Laura: So…The Book of Awesome. How did you come up with the title? The idea?

Neil: Well, I started 1000awesomethings.com on a chilly spring night in 2008 and never thought much would amount of it. But honestly, it was just dark days outside – ice caps melting, wars raging, forests burning, hurricanes swirling – and I wanted to remind myself of the simple things like bubble wrap, snow days, and the cold side of the pillow.

Laura: There are so many fab ones in there (I love the Scrabble one). What’s your favorite? I know you must have one!

Okay — my five babies of the moment are:

1. When cashiers open up new lanes at the grocery store
2. A long hug when you really need it
3. Getting called up to the dinner buffet first at a wedding
4. The smell of gasoline
5. The last day of school

I’ve had preachers write to tell me they recite these awesome things in their sermons and I’ve had teachers tell me they read them to their third grade class every morning. I’ve had heavier things — suicidal teens, cancer patients — tell me that focusing on things like hitting a string of green lights in a row and the smell of bakeries has reminded them of all the small, simple things we’re lucky to live with every day. And then I’ve got people saying “Hey man, thanks for the smile!”

It’s been absolutely incredibly and I’m pretty much always overwhelmed!

Laura: You have a fantastic acknowledgments section – really love how you called out all of the people who directly and indirectly influenced you. What’s the best advice you received from some of your mentors and inspirations?

The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating — in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. - Anne Morriss (from a Starbucks coffee cup)

It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt

Those two thoughts always keep me grounded and convince me that it’s better to push forward and push on anytime you hit a wall. After all — through all the fears and tears, chills and spills, we’re all basically the same, with the same insecurities, trying to do our best and live our days as full as we can.

Laura: In that same way, what’s your advice to aspiring writers – of any genre?

Number 1 - Follow your heart. I mean, in the beginning I just wanted to write about the thrill of finding money in your coat pocket or stabbing a spoon in a fresh jar of peanut butter. I never expected to start an awesome movement with 10 million people around the world visiting the site and talking about The Book of Awesome. I never expected to have a guy write a song about the site!

And now there’s this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_HkH8huuzA

Number 2 - Never stop. You’ll get better even if no one’s reading. You’ll learn about yourself. You’ll figure things out. It’s just…. don’t stop. Don’t quit. Keep going, keep pushing, keep powering. You can do it. You can do it. We all want you to do it and you can.

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Neil – I’m psyched, we’re psyched! Thanks for chatting with us.

Head on over to Neil’s site: 1000awesomethings.com and grab a copy of the book here for more genuine awesomeness.

Share something in your life – whether it’s an every day thing or a major event – that you would qualify as “awesome?” I’m sure you can come up with one – feel free to add it in the comments below!

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A few weeks ago, I tweeted: “Does anyone know of a fabulous travel photographer? Would love to interview.”

The idea for the Tweet came a few days after I had re-read my interview with one of the executives from National Geographic and had written about the storytelling power of images and my desire to learn more about it, particularly as I continue to write more and more about the different aspects of my traveling.

I received a number of responses – and based on a recommendation from my fabulously talented wedding planner in the Cayman Islands sister, I came upon Nick Onken.

In addition to his wildly cool career in travel photography, Nick (I’ll let his amazing site speak for itself) recently published Photo Trekking: A Traveling Photographer’s Guide to Capturing Moments Around the World. I bought it immediately after visiting his site and poking around on his blog.

Photo Trekking is a colorful compilation of his travels, images and real-life guidance for those who want to learn more about what it truly takes to be a travel photographer. From Asia to Africa to Australia and back again, Onken easily and effortlessly connected me  the stories he told of the people, places and things all over the world.

Nick’s real life insights about what the travel photographer’s lifestyle, the very worthwhile trade-offs and numerous tips to help novices get started and keep professionals on track.

I reached out to Nick – he graciously agreed to do an interview for the site about his experience as a photographer, creator and traveler. After reading Photo Trekking and Nick’s down-to-earth insights about what it takes to be a travel photographer, I coughed up the courage to ask him a self-indulgent question about my own potential dream career in travel photography (anything is possible!)

I’m psyched to share our chat with you.

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Laura: Was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to be a photographer?

Nick: Becoming a photographer was more of a transition than a lightbulb moment. I was originally a graphic designer and began shooting content for my design projects. I started really enjoying it, and ended up going to Africa to shoot an image library for an NGO client of mine. When I got back I realized the possibilities of doing photography as a career and embarked on the journey. Eventually I transitioned into photography.

Laura: What’s the most rewarding part of your work? The most challenging?

Nick: The most rewarding part of my work is the lifestyle. I get to create it for the most part. The best thing about the lifestyle is being able to “create” for a living. The commercial work I do pays for and balances the personal projects I do(like travel photography) Travel photography isn’t the most lucrative part of the business which is a big challenge. The other challenge is getting to the point in your career where you can suffice a good living doing it all.

Laura: I know you’ve traveled extensively and captured amazing stories with your work. Is there a particular story or place that stands out in your mind as the most memorable (or one of the most memorable?)

Nick: My favorite story/trip was a 2 month trip to Asia. Asia stands out as my favorite place to travel because of each culture’s diversity and vibrance. The dress, clothing, landscapes are the most diverse from one country to the next. Favorite countries: Mongolia, Thailand, Nepal, Japan. All so amazingly photographic and completely different from one to the next.

Laura: I’m definitely a novice photographer, but have a dream of marrying my love of travel and writing with photography. Any suggestions for those of us just starting out? Is there hope for me?

Nick: Everything is possible, you just have to figure out the puzzle pieces to make it happen. The path is different for everyone. (You should read Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuck. I think it could shed a good light into this world) Suggestions: take more pictures and show more people. All my vacations are oriented towards walking around and taking travel photos. Build a portfolio of images so you have something to show for. Write about your experiences along with the images. Try to find a way to build a business around it.

Have some of your own photography lessons, suggestions or advice for those just starting out? And, if you’re into travel photography, would love to hear about how you got started.

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A traveler at heart and by rigorous practice, I buy any book with the word “travel” in it.

Ever wonder why there is this niche of people that are obsessed with traveling? I’m one of them. Before I read this, I had no idea how to put my fixation into words. The Art of Travel (author: Alain de Botton) breaks it down.

Do you have to be a travel fanatic to love this book? Nope. The Art of Travel is a must for those who love to explore other lands as well as folks who don’t even have a passport.

It’s organized into five distinct chapters: Departure, Motives, Landscape, Art and Return. From these perspectives, the book describes from the author’s point of view and experience, why travel is one of those activities that promise everyone some form of happiness.

The book is not a guide telling us how or where to travel, but an examination of the role of travel, broadly understood, in the lives and work of a few eminent artists and writers. While De Botton does not provide full biographies, he provides examples of their insights, using their work and experiences as a backdrop. At points, he inserts his own traveling experience, yet it is less of a memoir than it is a commentary on exploration.

De Botton successfully presents a readers with a travel commentary combined with the introductions to eminent artists with which we may or may not be familiar. While others’ experiences are the focus of the book, the author writes in a style that is accessible to common reality.

The Anticipation of Travel: Reality v Expectation

My favorite part is what de Botton describes as the “anticipation of travel.” A new world, new people, new activities, new food – we have no idea what we’ll encounter, but we know it will be fabulous. We tell people about where we’re going (and sometimes they get jealous) and previous visitors offer abundant advice on what we should do.

In addition, the author reminds us that while many of us always anticipate my trips with great excitement, there have been those times when the reality doesn’t live up to the experience. Using experiences from William Wordsworth to Vincent Van Gogh, the author presents teachings that invite us to appreciate travel for all of its flaws and greatness by staying in the present and recognizing even the most simple elements of location (from motels to airports) and feelings (from romance to depression).

While I always anticipate my trips with great excitement, there have been those times when the reality didn’t live up to the experience. Here are a few:

Like the time I went to Moscow in the dead of winter.

Or the time I got sick in Buenos Aires and, not knowing much Spanish, had to mime my illness to the doctor.

Or the time my friends and I went to Tokyo and visited the World War II museum on the day they were honoring the Japanese war veterans. We were three of five Americans there and understandably got a few stares.

Those times can feel awkward.

The Lesson: Life is Still Life

Even when we’re traveling, life is still life. Travel will be fun, but it also could be hard.

When we return, the author reminds us that there is a natural feeling of disappointment, but also, it signals the time when the planning of our next trip starts the exciting cycle of anticipation all over again.

I’m working on planning my trips for the rest of the year – potentially Africa, the Middle East, back to South America. When I tell people, they say to me, “Wow, all that travel must be fantastic!” And it will be and is always worth it.

But the reality can sometimes be different. I’ve slept in mosquito nets where there is no hot water and I had to break out the bandanas because it will be 2 weeks of bad hair days. Sometimes the reality does not jive with the anticipation. And sometimes it does. And either way, that experience is exactly what it’s meant to be.

It’s not for the glamour or to boast list of places that I travel – it’s for the experience. I’ve learned some of my best life lessons abroad while traveling on a bus in Nicaragua, talking with a waiter in Patagonia and exchanging money in Korea.

For me, travel helps me learn about something outside of myself, using the world as my classroom. It’s about living in the present moment.

And there are many who inspire me to keep it up. I recently read Nick Onken’s Phototrekking, which is another fantastic book that captures the essence of why I – and many others – do what we do. I rely on Chris Guillebeau’s many “trip reports” and guides to bring back the lessons and experience of what it means to travel, explore and learn about one self and others.

What’s next on your list of places to explore? (remember: doesn’t have to be somewhere far – just has to be somewhere you want to learn more about).

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