“Just be yourself,” a trusted friend once advised me. I’d been in a panic over a public appearance, caught up in a whirlwind of self-doubt, and certain of only one thing—that ‘myself’ was nowhere near good enough. What I needed, my inner critic assured me, was a razzle-dazzle multimedia presentation to hide behind and a pedigree that I did not possess.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. After 15 years as an independent content creator for travel and tourism, she has been enjoying extended stays abroad for the past decade, the inspiration behind her travel memoir, "I Could Live Here" (November 2023)A year ago, the intrepid mother/daughter team, Gail Mooney and Erin Kelly, returned from a 99-day journey around the globe, shooting a film, Opening Our Eyes, about people who are making our world a better place.
At the time they thought that the journey would be the hard part and that the film would be finished by Christmas. What they didn’t anticipate was how much work lay ahead. They had more than 150 hours of footage and 5000 still image captures.
After many long months in post-production, and with the help of executive producer, Angel Burns, they had their first “sneak preview” this summer, opening to rave reviews.
View the Opening Our Eyes video trailer.
Their goal for this film is to create awareness and to inspire and motivate others as to what they can do to make a difference. It’s not just a movie, it’s a movement. But these passionate women know that for their movie to have an impact and reach a larger audience they need to invest in PR, marketing, and theatrical runs in LA and NY which would qualify it for the Oscar race.
In short, they need to raise money to take the film to the next level, so they have launched a campaign on IndieGoGo.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. After 15 years as an independent content creator for travel and tourism, she has been enjoying extended stays abroad for the past decade, the inspiration behind her travel memoir, "I Could Live Here" (November 2023)Yesterday I received the sad news that fellow travel writer, Lorry Heverly, “had passed away after a long struggle with cancer.” Those of us lucky enough to have traveled with Lorry remember her passion, sassy smile, and never-say-no zest for living life to its fullest.
Little more than a year ago, I was kayaking with Lorry in Alaska, months before that we were skiing together in New Mexico.
On Lorry’s facebook page this week, friends from Fiji to Fairbanks, Portland to Perth, have shared memories and photographs of Lorry enjoying travel adventures across the globe - each reminding us of the joy and boundless spirit with which she embraced life.
If there’s anyone who turned their bucket list into reality, it’s Lorry Heverly. So it was with a heavy heart that I re-read a blog post, 5 TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR BUCKET LIST FROM DREAM TO REALITY, I’d written weeks ago, but which published the same day I’d learned of Lorry’s passing.
Is travel on your bucket list? In honor of Lorry and those like her who inspire us to embrace life fully, go now. Don’t postpone those dreams for a day that may come too late.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. After 15 years as an independent content creator for travel and tourism, she has been enjoying extended stays abroad for the past decade, the inspiration behind her travel memoir, "I Could Live Here" (November 2023)