Today we’d like to introduce you to Elon Lockings.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ever since I was a little girl, I had dreams of traveling. There was a song called “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics and it would come on late at night back when they would do album advertisements on television. The part that stood out most was when they sang, “I travel the world and the seven seas.” As a kid, it’s just an imagination, a hope, a goal, but also, you’re just a kid so you have no idea just how you’ll make that happen. I also have my aunt to thank for being travel goals! She was always away at some fabulous destination. Luckily, she was sure to take me on a few trips as well. She is my biggest inspiration for my love of travel. She was the start of how I saw it becoming a possibility in the future.
Fast forward to senior year in high school, it’s now that time where everyone is discussing what’s next. I honestly have no clue what I really want to do but as I’m having this conversation with a friend, I literally quote Eurythmics and say, “I’m going to travel the world and the seven seas.” But here comes college, which also comes with no money to travel. I managed to take two girls trips one being Miami and the other to Washington DC. Keep in mind my major is education which seemed like a dream career at the time. Once I graduated and began teaching, I realized this was not the job for me. My soul was just aching for freedom to just be and explore. Life just felt so bombarding and overwhelming. I was honestly falling into depression from not doing what I desired most. I lasted in education for less than two years before the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself.
A good friend connected me with a family member to interview to become a flight attendant. I remember being so excited but also extremely nervous at the same time. Between college and after college children was all I knew. But my heart yearned for this so there was no way I was going to miss this opportunity. So, I applied, interviewed, and got accepted. I’m now approaching five years into my career and I would not trade it for anything in the world. It is better than I could have ever imagined or asked for. I consider it to be lifestyle before a career and it’s like having the entire world at your fingertips. I took one year and visited a different country each month. Life truly is the best teacher and there’s no better way to learn than to have those first-hand experiences.
From this opportunity came the idea to share my love of travel starting with social media and then it expanded to me creating my own brand which I call LONNIELAND. I feel like I’ve created this world of joy, positivity, humor, travel, love, and food all in one space. I chose that name because my usual responses would be “I’m living vicariously through you” and also lots and lots of questions when people were planning their own trips. I can talk about food and destinations all day long! My greatest pleasure is having the freedom I’ve desired and the opportunity to connect with people from different walks of life. I love creating memories and having new and exciting experiences.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moment of full transparency, the biggest struggle I faced was removing self-doubt which is still a work in progress. I get consumed with thoughts of how I want things to be to the point of my confidence being a bit diminished. So, it takes those boosts of confidence to lift you up and having a support team to get you through. That mental angel needs to be by your side to remind you that you got this! There isn’t anything you can’t handle or accomplish. If something seems too big handle it in smaller doses but don’t give up. I had to work on shifting my mindset by letting go of those things that scare me most. You never know what you can accomplish until you try so you have to be willing to take a few risks!
Please tell us about Lonnieland.
LONNIELAND is fairly new and in the process of expanding to cover more. Currently, the purpose is to share my love of travel filled with tips, experiences, and guides. I think what sets my company apart most is making you feel like you were there for the journey and preparing people to take on their own destinations with ease.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is getting to skip school (don’t tell anyone) and spend a few days in New Orleans with my mom. She wasn’t really able to afford it but she somehow made everything work. We also didn’t always see eye to eye so it was one of the first times where we truly enjoyed each other. There was good food and good times shared. We had a true local experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: lonnieland.com
- Email: info@lonnieland.com
- Instagram: lonnieland_
- Other: amazon.com/shoplonnieland_
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