My first “baby” is called Wildhive (well, technically its my fourth if you count my three real babies and one dog!!). Wildhive is a grassroots movement that began from a deep yearning to live with more adventure and meaning. And, as you might have guessed – full of wild celebration! My background in Human Biology and dance, along with a passion for Positive Psychology, culminated to create these mini-adventures that pop up all over the Twin Cities to build community and bring play back into people’s lives. Adventure / play and community / connection are at the core of everything I do.
Soon my passion for travel and Wildhive’s mission once again mashed up to create dance and service trips for women. Our first brought us to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for a magical and meaningful week of dance, culture and impactful work with Mayan communities installing clean water and safer cooking methods. Each one of us was out of our comfort zone in one way or another, but that only made the experience even more life-changing. We laughed, we cried, we sang, we danced…we connected with other humans who do not speak our language. We experienced how they live, but were in awe of their deep and genuine happiness. There are no words…it’s truly magic. Our next dance and service trip brings us to El Cuco, El Salvador where we will once again dance, experience culture and exploration, surf lessons and this time we will be renovating a local school with its staff, students and their families. My hope is that these will evolve into Wild Bum, expanding our mission to not only travel and broaden our minds and experiences – but, to take it one step further – to give. (stay tuned!)
There are those of us who totally geek out over travel research and many, if not more, who despise it! So, I decided to use my obsession to again, help others, encourage the benefits of travel (from not only someone who loves it, but also as a scientist who knows of its life-changing magic!) and to share an incredible experience for someone else to enjoy. I began to put my travel research together to sell as Guides and I also offer custom research for people. I would research their trip as if I were going on it myself! All in one comprehensive little (well, sometimes not so little) document.
…Little did I know that this would be the beginning of my next “baby”, Wild Bum! January 2018 – relaxing under the Florida sun – when time often stands still and, while in the present moment, everything seems to be more clear…it hit me! Why wouldn’t I create a platform to bring people like me (Guide Architects) together to sell their own travel guides from their own travels – which MUST be current, crafted and comprehensive, of course. It’s the tool that I had been missing in all of my own travel research. Not only that – it is adventure and it is community. I was so excited and of course, I had done this before…on a much smaller scale…you know, when you draft business plans, set up business entities, send emails, schedule meetings, consult your lawyer, and most importantly, take action when you are most excited and feeling courageous so that when you are doubting everything a moment later you can’t take them back!
Well…I had done some of these things, but had NO clue how to start a global e-commerce site. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years from starting Wildhive, to cultivating service trips and building my travel business it is that you have to start too soon or it’s too late. You have to be open and flexible and you have to be willing to change quickly. I have failed, I have learned, I have done things before I was ready so, I drafted that business plan, I flew to Chicago and hired an incredible company to help bring my vision to life, I surrounded myself with cheerleaders. And, now I meet and connect with people all around the world: Wild Bum Guide Architects. And, it has flowed. Do I work my booty off?! Absolutely. But, it has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. It feels right. (Just like the adventure of being married to my best friend and mom to my three kids).
I love my Twin Cities community. It’s everything to me. But, building relationships and connections around the world lights me up in ways that I can’t even describe. It has been the best part. When I meet someone via instagram on the other side of the world and they say YES to being a part of the Wild Bum community I want to shout (and dance) from the rooftops with excitement (and sometimes I do, ask my husband!). We span the U.S. to Europe, Hong Kong to Australia. What!!! It’s amazing. And, we’re just getting started. In addition to the community – it is the adventure of it all.
Cheers to Wild Bum – to leaving our mark and building one big global community.
Happy #wildbumming!
