Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

January 25, 2007

Change the World: Share a Mini-Vacation at a Favorite Place

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:58 am

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Meet Me in Tuscany — the Restaurant

Change the World!

When I commuted to Massachusetts, I often spent the weekend there. Every Sunday I was there, a couple of friends would plan a drive to show me one of their favorite spots in Maine or New Hampshire. We called it “airing out our minds.”

Last Saturday, I got the chance to do the same with two incredible women and blogger friends, Wendy Piersall and Jessica Duquette. They drove into Chicago, and I got to share a favorite place — a restaurant called Tuscany.

The cool thing about inviting folks to a favorite place, especially if they help choose which one, is that I’m inviting them into a part of my life, and they’re saying they want to come. I get to discover my favorite place again, this time with them and through their eyes.

Jessica and Wendy brought a feeling of family and an anticipation of a night that would be enjoyed. That was perfect because I had done the same. The change of scenery, the fine company, the laughter, the conversation, the food, the wine turned a simple blogger dinner into a mini-vacation.

Three bloggers talked about our blogs, our goals, our lives. We asked questions. We challenged assumptions. We told silly stories and important ones too. I doubt that any one of us could describe the other people in the restaurant — except the lovely lady who was our server. She seemed to understand that something important was happening between close friends. That’s right, we skipped the showier, more surface, poking-around sort of talk that comes before the authentic and real part. Bloggers are good at doing that.

We shared food off common plates while we shared moments of each other’s lives. Jessica and Wendy touched my world and made it better in so many words and smiles that night.

WendyPiersall, Jessica Duquette, Liz Strauss, Chicago 01-20-07

It’s that easy to touch a life.

We can change the world today — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.





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16 Comments to “Change the World: Share a Mini-Vacation at a Favorite Place”

  1. January 25th, 2007 at 9:36 am
    Char said

    Liz - what a lucky girl you are! Meals with good friends are the best. And to get to share it with Wendy, too.

    Thanks for sharing the picture of the three of you! You all look so happy.

  2. January 25th, 2007 at 9:39 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Char!
    I felt pretty lucky to have the opportunity to have a meal with them. I would feel the same way about meeting up with you, too.

    Jessica is the one to thank for the picture. She had the camera. I’m woefully bad about taking pictures and outstandingly grateful when other folks do. :)

  3. January 25th, 2007 at 11:09 am
    GP said

    Wow.. how great… I love when I can share a part of my life that’s significant with others so they get a glimpse of the lens I live thru. How awesome.
    Speaking of lens.. i’m woefuly bad about even bringing the camera! :)

    Hope you had a sauvignon blanc with your blogging buds :)
    GP in Montana

  4. January 25th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
    Wendy Piersall said

    Changing the world, one meal and blog post at a time!

    Liz, you are an amazing woman and I LOVED hanging out with you and Jessica this last weekend - the lessons and great insights from our dinner just keep on coming.

    I’m looking forward to doing it again soon - and you’re welcome out west anytime!

    W

  5. January 25th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
    David Krug said

    Looks like a bit of fun interaction. :)

  6. January 25th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi GP,
    It was a fine time and the wine was a delightful California Savingnon blanc!

  7. January 25th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Wendy!
    It was wonderful! Can’t wait to have an excuse to do it again! YEA!!

  8. January 25th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
    ME Strauss said

    You betcha, David! The lovely server even pretended that she knew what bloggers were!

  9. January 25th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
    eMoms at Home » Blog Archive » You Don’t Have to Be Nelson Mandela or Mother Theresa to Change the World said

    [...] And when lives change, so do the lives of the people around them. In fact, even more so than via blogging, because in person encounters are powerful indeed. I guarantee that each of those 51 people were nicer, happier, and more open with at least 3 people they know. [...]

  10. January 25th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
    jimdwalton said

    I have enjoyed meals at Tuscanys in Oak Brook, a fun place with beautiful people, see the picture on your post, music and great food, I always eat and sometimes drink too much. Go Bears

  11. January 25th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jim!
    Yes. I can understand how Tuscany would lead you to eat or drink more than you set out to. It’s a lovely, favorite place to share with friends.

    I haven’t met any of the Bears there yet or the Cubs either — though this one is close to Wrigley field . :) Yeah, Go Bears. :)

  12. January 26th, 2007 at 6:41 am
    Ariane Benefit, Neat Living said

    How wonderful you all got to not only meet but spend quality time “airing your minds”. The magnetism and positive spiritual energy in the air that night must have been palpable!

    This is the first time in a long time that I truly wish I still lived in Oak Park so that I could meet you all too!!! You are three of the most inspirational & dynamic women I know! Can’t wait to see how your connection changes the world in wonderful ways! (I’m getting a vision of a trip to Chicago in my future!)

    Hugz,
    Ariane

  13. January 26th, 2007 at 6:45 am
    ME Strauss said

    Ariane!
    I was thinking about you when I got up today!

    It would have been such fun to have you at that table. Imagine how it would have been exponentially moreso. You let me know the second you’re coming to Chicago . . . That would be so cool!

    Maybe I’ll have to plan an event to get everyone here!

  14. January 26th, 2007 at 6:58 am
    Ariane Benefit, Neat Living said

    You were thinking about me??? WOW! I hope you seeing good things! : ) From everything I’ve told him about my time living there, my husband would love to see Chicago - Just a couple weeks ago we were talking about planning a mini-vacation to go there! (We are thinking about July - my slow month : ) It would be awesome if you planned some kind to have a “business” related reason to go!!

    Love, A : )

  15. January 26th, 2007 at 7:03 am
    ME Strauss said

    You bet they were great thoughts, Ariane. I was thinking about when you first challenged my process post and what fun it was.

    We’ll cook up some business, after all we’re both bloggers. :)

    There must be a million ways we might work together. We’ll have to meet at tthe top of the Hancock building in the bar with some champagne to plan it out. :)

  16. March 7th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
    Shameless Self-Promotion: What Makes It Shameless? - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] I’ve been thinking self-promotion for months. Wendy, and Jessica, and I discussed it when we went to dinner in January. [...]

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