Vegas Round-Up
Here we go....
Vegas was awesome and not just in the “I partied all night long” kind of way. The trip had an unexpected and profound impact - friendships were validated and I learned a lot about myself. I guess when you're sincerely committed to having no expectations you're open to receiving more than you could have ever imagined.
Let me break it down.
Self Awareness:
As mentioned in the previous post, I was a bit cautious of this trip. The vulnerable side of me was slightly nervous I wouldn't be able to stick to my values in the temptation capital of the world. So before I left it was important that I identify what that meant for me on this particular trip. It would mean listening to my body and being kind to it by going to bed when I needed to, knowing my limits and abiding by the golden rule of treating others the way I wanted to be treated (EARTH SHATTERING, I know). As true with most things in life, you can only plan so much, so I banked on these basic principles to provide a solid base for whatever came my way.
The key was taking quiet moments to tune into this self knowledge. These check-in's kept me grounded and honest with myself. It's very easy to get caught up in our surroundings but the more you make the conscious effort to be present with yourself the more likely you are to stay on your path.
By that Sunday evening trip home I was fully aware yet again that your truest self comes from aligning with your values, which beats anything that could offer a temporary pick me up, because you won’t need it. You realize that you alone are always enough.
I highly encourage people to put in the time and honesty to be real with themselves. It's not always comfortable but this state of consciousness can drive incredible positive change. Without it you're like a boat with no rudder, it can work, but it will probably take a lot longer to get where you're going.
Friendship:
Where to start. Let me begin with the first night...
We had just landed and were out for a late diner. The conversation was already hilarious, appetizers were delicious and the wine was flowing. As the waiter found his way to me I thought "IT'S VEGAS BABY, WINE IT UP" but then the angel on my right shoulder said "child please, you're exhausted". Heeding that inner voice, I simply said "no thank you".
Not a few seconds later, post possible-coolness-sabatage, my friend said something to the affect of "do you girl." No one really noticed but it was pretty profound for me - right then I knew that all would be well. These women liked me for me. Not how much I would drink that weekend, how wild I'd get or how pretty I'd look on their Instagram feeds.
I don't know if she even remembers saying it, but that small gesture of acceptance packed a huge punch of relief and reminded me how lucky I am to know these women.
DATA DATA DATA:
What does data have to do with Vegas?
If I haven't mentioned this before, I'm an absolute data nerd. Not sure where it comes from, maybe my dad's side? Mom would probably say both. What a sweetie.
I've found that data can be a very helpful tool in learning about yourself and changing habits. It's a huge part of self awareness and if processed in a healthy manner, can be a catalyst of positive change.
As we experience life we take in a ton of information about how we think, feel and behave. If you take a step back and look holistically at your life, you'll most likely find trends. These trends help identify what is pushing you forward or holding you back which arms you to make healthy choices.
Being able to enjoy myself on my terms this trip was a huge data point for me. It's going up on my mental board of information that encourages me to make vlaue driven decisions.
So what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right? Yea definitely not. Here’s a taste of the weekend. Still pinching myself.
A big shout and thank you to the ladies on this trip, love you to the moon and back.
Lastly, thank you Las Vegas. You were a beaut my friend...
PS - Put the work in to get to know yourself and you’ll reap the rewards ten-fold. Be honest. Be relentless. Be committed.