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Postcards and Pearls: Life Lessons from Solo Moments on the Road

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Postcards and Pearls by Gina Greenlee

On the surface, Postcards and Pearls appears to be a collection of vignettes by women who have traveled solo; hence, their "postcards." Enlisting submissions from many friends and combining them with personal anecdotes about her trip around the world, Gina Greenlee uses solo travel as a metaphor for stretching beyond one's comfortable boundaries. The postcards introduce women from diverse family situations, income levels and ages who share a willingness to embark upon solo travel despite their fears and who learn unexpected lessons about themselves and the world as a result.

In the words of wisdom Greenlee writes after each story, she crystallizes the symbolic message of each woman's adventure; hence, her "pearls." The stories flow gracefully as readers discover in each story yet another woman overcoming challenges and gaining confidence. In actuality, therefore, the book is a rallying cry for taking those risks that require courage and lead to greater self-empowerment. It's a page turner. You'll love it, and, hopefully, you'll follow its call.

Jeanne Dursi, M.A., B.C.C.

Writer, Editor, Chaplain, Spiritual Director

Postcards and Pearls is a lovely and lovingly crafted collection of vignettes woven together to create page after page of "aha" moments. Presented as a series of memoirs about travel, each postcard is accompanied by a pearl revealing a spiritual truth for those seeking the courage to travel deeper within themselves. Rather than coming across as a preachy "self help" book, however, Postcards and Pearls is a conversation akin to getting together with a group of girlfriends over a glass of wine to offer collective wisdom and support for those with the desire to expand their vantage point of life literally and metaphorically. An entertaining and insightful read.

A must read! "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan"-Eleanor Roosevelt

This is but one of the many jewels of great quotes and motivating personal stories told by "Postcards & Pearls".

If you want inspiration and ideas for travel this would be your book!

Gina Greenlee's book, Postcards and Pearls, gives a first hand portrait of courage and agency that I just adore. This is not just a travel book: It is a book about pushing oneself beyond the usual limits, norms and comfort zones to reach that longed for state of personal competence. Gina is a pioneer of personal development and a great writer. You get a real sense of her experience during each adventure, which Gina meets with aplomb. A must read for anyone contemplating growth through adventure.

As the engineer involved in recording the audio version of Postcards & Pearls, I may be slightly biased, but Gina's collection of stories and lessons are truly engaging and thought provoking for men as well as women. I too have made several solo trips over the years and the tales throughout this book resonate with my own experiences. Gina's "straight up" Manhattan-er gives balance to her quieter introspective self, resulting in a well-crafted book that teaches, amuses, soothes and inspires.

Here is a book that proves a woman can do anything. Not to the world, but to her toughest critic - herself. Through numerous personal experiences and those of a varied sampling of other women's stories, Gina Greenlee, has shown that a woman can set out to go where ever it is she wants or needs to go. Following the author on her adventures and the first solo journeys of the women in the book is so very freeing. It takes the fear out of being alone on a journey and replaces it with joy and a sneaking ambition to strike out on one's own.

Postcards and Pearls: Life Lessons from Solo Moments on the Road is a must read for women who inspire to take a trip alone or who have already solidified the plans. Gina, a most courageous woman, shares experiences around traveling alone, taking risks and staying in control of one's life. Invaluable lessons are to be realized within each powerful and enlightening story.

As much as I love to read the travel books of Paul Theroux and Bill Bryson, Gina Greenlee's Postcards & Pearls is proof that she's the new kid on their block. It's about time we have a female point of view on travel.

This book is not just a lesson on traveling alone. It's quite obvious from the beginning that the lessons learned from traveling solo can easily be applied to travels within. Taking into consideration the changes that have affected women's lives over the past century, this book gives invaluable lessons. Not every woman can experience a solo trip to India or Nepal, but many women find it difficult doing anything alone, and this is where the invaluable lessons in Ms. Greenlee's book can also be applied.

Among all the brilliant quotes used in this book is my favorite from Anais Nin. 'Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.' When all is said is done and when blame for one's present situation is placed on someone or something else, you must remember to look deep inside yourself and realize you do have control of your life. All the 'postcards' in this book show how women, young and old, take control of their lives. It shows how much courage they all have.

I'd recommend this book for women of all ages, including young women/teenagers. I'd also recommend it for men, who don't understand why their wives/partners occasionally need to go to a movie or travel alone. Postcards & Pearls is definitely on my gift giving list this year.

Postcards & Pearls is an amazing journey that both motivates the reader to take on risk and simultaneously lets the reader know they have the internal power to succeed. This is Greenlee's best book yet as she'll take you around the world and just down the street on multiple excursions of self discovery. The book is moving, inspiring, and encouraging all at once. Its a must read for anyone who wants to be a better human.

Actually I've read my friend Gina Greenlee's Postcards and Pearls: Life Lessons from Solo Moments on the Road in three forms. The first edition of this amazing collection of short essays arrived as "postcards" that she sent to the Hartford Courant, the paper where we both worked. Each card contained a lesson that she learned from a solo voyage around the world.

The essays then appeared on her web site with contributions from friends added to the mix.

Now enhanced with illustrations by Dana Robinson, the postcards and the pearls they contain are collected in print. In a few brief words Gina creates images of New Zealand, Vietnam, and Nepal (while the Maoists raged nearby but not that nearby). But mostly the essays are about seizing and enjoying whatever moment one is in, about being flexible, and about trusting one's instincts.

Each essay opens with a quote from such luminaries as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Zora Neale Hurston, Rumi, Steve Allen, Audre Lorde. Then Gina describes an event, or a conversation, or an interaction from which she has learned something, and the essay concludes with the lesson to be gleaned from the "postcard." My favorite is "Role Model," instructions how not to look like an American while traveling overseas. It opens with a quote from that expert in fabulousness RuPaul: "With hair, heels, and attitude, honey, I am through the roof." Then Gina describes an encounter with a Belgian woman in Galilee who explains how to choose colors, fabrics, shoes, and accessories to avoid that Gringo look. The essay ends, "Experience is a master teacher, even when it's not our own."

I could describe other terrific stuff, but everyone should buy this book: It's profound and entertaining, educational and light-hearted, global and minutely specific work.

Congratulations on a great job, Gina!