Life Beyond the Roc

My niece moved to Rochester this past April and suggested I visit  once she settled in.  I planned a trip this past weekend to see her having low expectations of what to expect in this area unknown to me. I have since learned that one should not prejudge, there are many great American cities to explore and Rochester is high on the list. In fact, it was just rated as the top most neighborly city in the US.

Rochester was a very wealthy demographic in the early 1900s to mid-century and considered one of the first Boomtowns with industries including Eastman Kodak, Bausch and Lomb and many large flour mills.  as well as 2 major universities.  There are many great older homes that have been converted into apartments within the original structure.  One of my favorite places to visit was the George Eastman Museum (founder of Eastman Kodak).  He was an amazing inventor, philanthropist and visionary who has impacted each of our lives (how often do you take photos on your phone, these days?). Wandering the streets is a step back in time to the grandeur of the past century. 

As a former industrial city many of the older warehouses and factories have been converted into residential or commercial spaces featuring boutiques and upscale restaurants.   There are beautiful parks throughout the city and a great Public Market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to buy fresh produce and amazing apple cider doughnuts. If you are a foodie like me, keep exploring as you will be truly find nirvana. A few I examples include NOSH, BRANCA Midtown, and Locals Only (of course the name was a huge draw). The city is constantly being revitalized and amazing restaurants are abound. The cost of living is a fraction of lower New York and many other New England destinations although the quality of life may be much higher.

There is culture, arts, and wonderful places to walk around through the city and one can walk from a beautiful neighborhood to downtown safely with minimal traffic. Many corners boast local coffee shops and honestly I didn’t even seek or find one Starbucks.  I tried a few great roasts at Equal Grounds and Locals Only.  If you have read my book you know I am always on the search for new coffee connections although the venue with that name in Rochester didn't make my go-to list.

Perhaps the greatest discovery is how easy it is to get to Rochester. Direct flights take under two hours; if you have the time, it should be a fairly easy drive from most Northeast bases.  By planning ahead you can find great stops along the journey.  

Once arriving in Rochester, if you fly you may want to rent a car.  You can’t possibly see everything in a short time as there is a  lot to see beyond the city limits.  For instance, if time permits within less than a few hours drive are Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and Wine Country with over 200 small wineries.  Lastly

Toronto and Niagara Falls are perfect for weekend trips.  

I spent three days in Rochester and now know it is a place to return for a longer stay.  As such I am planning to plan a visit next May for the Lilac Festival and will hopefully visit some of the nearby wineries.

Perhaps the greatest thing I learned this past weekend was how many places there are to explore in our own backyards.  It is much easier to fill your car with gas and pick a new place to visit than many other tourist "fly to" destinations.  You may find other great places that truly "ROC" like Rochester and if so I welcome you to share them in the comments section.  

Wendy is a Realtor and Freelance writer residing on Cape Cod. She enjoys networking and writing to connect her ideas and curiosities with people she meets.   She welcomes your comments.  

As We Celebrate Mother's Day What Makes You Happy?

 

We are often asked this question as an ice breaker with new friends, during job interviews, or at random social gatherings.  This topic comes up frequently. There are numerous books and google searches for the secret to happiness. It is asked in one form or another at every networking event attended. Happiness appears to be a trendy status measure and thus we are quick to answer.  The expectation is that everyone around us is happy. We are inundated with shares of how great life is on all forms of social media platforms. On the surface, it is easy to say we are happy but what does this mean? There is so much going on in the world, and to navigate life’s daily challenges, I have attempted to better understand my path to happiness. 

As an avid reader and student of life's curiosities, I began exploring this concept several years back when I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  She looked at a multitude of things we normally do with ideas to be more intentional with focus. The goal is to make our lives more meaningful and fulfilling. My approach was to read one chapter per month as I tackled little things that made my day-to-day life happy. Examples included making time to listen to others, clearing physical space to be able to work, and exercising routines to clear my mind. I also read Maria Condo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and figured out how to find “joy” in the things I keep in possession. 

Last year I downsized and have started to begin a new life path that would allow me to explore this question in greater depth.  I am learning how to prioritize and say Let It Go to the things that weigh me down by setting boundaries and doing things I want to focus on. It takes self-awareness to learn to say no and that we can’t do it all.  There are only so many hours in a day and we need to figure out what will bring the most satisfaction for the effort expended. 

Over the past year, I have started to shift my career focus to freelance writing. I have been taking courses with the AWAI where this topic often comes up in writing prompts. Most recently as a writer, I began posting “happiness is” posts on Instagram as my form of a gratitude journal. I am trying to figure out what makes me happy on a more focused basis at the end of each day.

My passion has always been to help people find the right resources to achieve their goals.  I see myself as a connector.  I have been strong as a project manager and therefore my brain automatically thinks about the task at hand and the pieces needed to get the desired result.  This can be simple things like someone needing a helping hand with a household project or working with a non-profit to plan a fundraising benefit event. I particularly love things centered around the arts and have been a producer for over 30 community theater-based musicals. 

As I was thinking about this theme today as I just purchased tickets to see the revival of Funny Girl on Broadway this weekend. The song People had just come on Amazon music. I have always considered myself a people person. It clicked that this is what makes me happy. The opportunity for me to be around others to create a positive result from our connection makes me happy. 

In my new book Coffee Connections: Finding Common Ground Through My Daily Brew I use coffee to connect with others. The book's primary theme is how coffee meet-ups have served as a mechanism to find a common bonding before tackling a project. I flourish when I can be with others, and we connect for a mutually beneficial cause. This motivates and makes me happy. I guess I can answer the question as I better understand that “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world”. I hope everyone reading this will be inspired to figure out what makes them happy. Wishing all the great MOMS out there a Happy Mother's Day!!

Wendy is a Realtor and Freelance writer residing on Cape Cod. She enjoys networking and writing to connect her ideas and curiosities with people she meets.   She welcomes your comments.  

Coffee Connections and the Art of the Network

                                         

My younger daughter has often said "if you don't go to audition you won't get the part".  I believe this to be true to most things we want in life.  You can't get hired for a job unless you apply and put your best foot forward for an interview.  

At a young age, I observed the art of schmoozing and as my Dad would say "Kibitzing" which means making small talk in Yiddish.  My Dad was a manufacturers representative through most of his adult parenting life.  His territory was small Mom & Pop stores throughout the New England Region.  If he didn't reach out personally to these vendors he would not have made any sales.  To be top in his field he learned the importance of building a rapport with these customers.  

Throughout my life I have incorporated many of these skills into my approach to meeting with colleagues, real estate clients and contractors who provide service to me.  I have found the idea of building a common comfort zone important before engaging in the goal of our meeting.  Often I did this with a common thread of sharing a cup of coffee.  

Those who know me, also will remember that I am also a huge networker and always seek ways to connect my contacts to mutually benefit each other's needs. This is an area of joy for me.  

I am excited to share that my just released book  Coffee Connections: Finding Common Ground Through My Daily Brew reflects on these topics with a part memoir, part networking tips.  I would be honored for anyone interested to read and post a review.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham and freelance writer.  She enjoys her Havenese dog Delilah, reading, writing, travel, yoga and spending time meeting friends over coffee.