Beach Days and Childhood Memories

Today, a friend and I spent the day at the beach, reminiscing and catching up. Our conversation drifted back to our childhoods and teen years, and we were surprised by how many shared memories we had of growing up at the New Jersey beaches.

I spent my summers at Takanassee Beach Club in Long Branch, while she went to Sands in Sea Bright. Back then neither place was anything fancy. Even though we belonged to different beach clubs, we realized that you don’t need a specific spot to feel connected to those memories.

Here are some of the things we laughed about. Chances are if you grew up on the NJ beaches or went to a public pool and are of a certain age, you'll have similar memories!

Bathing Caps

• Wearing a bathing cap in the pool was mandatory. They had chin straps that snapped at the jaw and they had this weird rubbery smell.
• Our moms wore them too—but theirs were decorated with big, colorful flowers.
• As we got older, we graduated to racer caps. They were definitely cooler.

The Snack Bar

• The snack bar was the heart of the club. I can still smell those burgers and hotdogs. Fries, ice cream cones, paper-wrapped push-up pops, frozen Milky Ways—it was all there.
• Once you were older, you hung out there with friends, played cards, or just waited out rainy days.
• The floor was like a boardwalk, and if you dropped your change, it was gone for good—straight through the cracks. Little kids would crawl underneath to collect coins and buy ice cream.
• When it rained, everyone huddled under the snack bar awning. It was the place to be.

The Hangout Area

• As teens, we drifted away from our parents and stuck with our friend group. We only circled back when we needed snack bar money.
• Our parents didn’t worry about us much—every now and then they’d look up to check, but mostly, they let us be.
• The locker areas became unofficial hangouts too.

 The Pool

• Mornings meant swim lessons in icy water. It was miserable—but we learned to swim.
• During adult swim, all the kids sat impatiently at the edge, waiting for the whistle so we could dive back in.

The Ocean

• We both had blow-up canvas rafts to ride the waves. Hers was blue and yellow and mine was blue and red.
• There were roped-off areas for swimming. I used to sit on the rope and do backflips into the water, dodging clumps of green seaweed.
• As little kids, we stayed in the water so long our lips turned blue—and we didn’t even care.

Biking to the Beach

• Once we got older, we rode our bikes to the beach on our own.
• Every so often, I’d get a ride home on someone’s handlebars—usually a crush. It was terribly uncomfortable, but I never complained.

Whether you grew up going to a beach club, a public beach, or your local pool, these kinds of memories stay with you. They remind us of the freedom of childhood summers—and how much we all really have in common.

Lessons in Learning and Development from a Viking Tour Guide

Reflections Inspired by a Viking River Cruise Experience

 

We recently returned from a Viking River Cruise—the Lyon and Provence itinerary—and while the journey was absolutely amazing (a photo-filled post is coming soon!), I wanted to focus this post on something different: learning and development skills, specifically those demonstrated by our exceptional tour guides. I was deeply impressed by the professionalism and skill of all our tour guides, especially our Avignon guide.

At the end of our tour, a fellow guest asked the guide how she became a tour guide for Viking and what she did to prepare. If you've ever experienced one of these tours, you know how knowledgeable and engaging the guides are. Their expertise doesn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of serious preparation and practice.

As I listened to her response, I was struck by how closely her process mirrors what we do as Learning & Development (L&D) professionals. Here's are the key steps she shared, in my own words—and how they align with effective L&D principles:

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1. Become a Subject Matter Expert

Immerse yourself in the content. Study it from every angle until you deeply understand it. Anticipate the questions your audience might have, and carefully curate the content you’ll present.

2. Find a Mentor

Shadow an experienced professional. Observe how they present, engage, and manage a group. Ask questions and absorb their methods—but don’t simply copy them. Develop your own voice and style, even while covering the same core material.

3. Create Compelling Content

Make your presentations engaging and memorable by:

• Sharing stories and real-life examples

• Incorporating visuals whenever possible

• Actively engaging your audience

4. Practice, Practice, Practice

Rehearse your material multiple times until it flows naturally. Confidence comes from preparation.

5. Seek Constructive Feedback

Ask for feedback on both your content and delivery style. Learn how effectively you’re answering questions and how well your message is being received.

6. Admit When You Don’t Know

If you're unsure about something, be honest. Take the time to research the answer and follow up. Your credibility increases when you show humility and follow-through.

7. Make It Interesting and Fun

Avoid being dry or monotonous. Keep your energy up and your delivery dynamic—your audience will stay engaged and retain more information. Our guide was warm, funny and enthusiastic!

8. Get Certified

In some cases, certification is required. In others, it enhances your credibility and demonstrates commitment to your craft.

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These principles aren’t exclusive to tour guiding or L&D—they're universal and relevant across many professions. What’s key is staying current in your field, being open to new techniques, and sharing what you learn. Whether you’re leading a group of travelers through ancient cities or facilitating a training session, the fundamentals of great content delivery remain the same.

Always be curious. Always be learning. Always be evolving.

The Eagle Pose and Change

Today in yoga, we practiced Eagle Pose—a posture where you wrap your arms and legs around each other while balancing on one leg. It’s a powerful pose that challenges your balance, focus, core strength, and stability. It’s not always easy! After holding it on one side, you unwind and repeat on the other.

Some days I can lift off and stay steady; other days, like today, I couldn’t even get my foot off the ground.

On the drive home, I kept thinking about Eagle Pose—how frustrating it can be, but also how it represents change. It requires moving in a way my body isn’t used to. Then, just as quickly, I return to what feels normal.

That got me thinking: in life and work, we’re often asked to do things differently—to stretch ourselves in unfamiliar ways. And while it can feel uncomfortable or awkward, if we don’t make those changes, we stay exactly where we are. When we stay where we are, we stop learning. Our productivity can stall, and we risk slipping into a rut.

Growth often begins with discomfort. Whether it’s on the yoga mat or in our daily routines, leaning into that challenge is what keeps us moving forward.