How Important is it to have a supportive partner and to be one yourself?

How Important is it to have a supportive partner and to be one yourself?

Having been in a relationship where I had the support of a significant other and having been in another one where I did not; I can say that for me at least, there was a significant difference in the dynamics of the relationship.

In my opinion, when partners support one another in their quest, feats, ventures… they develop a connection unlike one where being uninvolved brings distance and gaps in communication. A relationship where there is support for one another creates a unique sense of bonding.

I don’t think the fact that someone wants a supportive partner means they are being co-dependent and are not self-motivated; but rather being further driven by the presence of someone who supports what they do and someone who shows that they are playing for the same team.

Being supportive can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. A partner can be involved in the projects that their partner is participating in, to increase visibility of their brand, promote awareness of the brand and/or taking a hands-on approach in the grassroots production of the project/product or service being offered.

If you watched the movie Brown Sugar, where the relationship between Sidney and Kelby……… played by Sanai Lathan and Boris Kodjo; do you remember the scene where she was sitting in the bleachers at one of his practice games? He couldn’t tell her anything about any articles she’d written, when asked; yet she was all in with what he was doing. It was a pivotal moment in their relationship-at least from the angle of the camera and the beat that was placed in that scene. And likewise, how Nicole Arie Parkers’ character did NOT support her fiancé, played by Taye Diggs. The two people who supported one another the most, loved and understood… are the two that ended up together in the end.

Remember the Movie, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, with Stella and Winston……. Played by Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs. Remember the scene where it was made known to the audience that he’d spent hours upon hours bringing her shop/hobby back to life after he saw that she had a passion that laid dormant.

And then, let’s take some real-life examples: Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Magic and Cookie Johnson, Boris Kodjo and Nicole Arie Parker, Dwayne and Gabrielle Union-Wade, Ciara and Russel Wilson, Alicia Keys and Swiss Beats, Marjorie and Steve Harvey. Just to name a few. Hell, I didn’t know about some of the side ventures, such as Nicole Arie Parker’s sweat bands being sold in Target, until I saw it posted on her husband’s Instagram page. I didn’t know about Jada Pinkett Smith newest Facebook TV Show, until Will Smith posted it on his social media.

Don’t be afraid of seeing your partner, thrive, soar, succeed and be great. Get behind them and continue to motivate them. Especially when that is all that’s required. Sometimes they just need to know that their biggest fan is the one they are sharing their heart and word with.

Are you the type of partner who knows everything about what your significant other is involved in, who effortlessly allocates time toward supporting them in the simplest ways as making a social media post to tell them how proud you are of them or to inform others to help spread the word about what you are most excited about in your partners venture? Are you the type who will run a few errands to ease the load and assist in meeting production deadlines of a project they are working on? Do you collaborate with your partner on ventures, so that they two of you can maximize time together while showing your support of what they are involved in?

Or, are you the partner, whom when asked about what your significant other does or what kind of business they have; you are at a lost for words yourself because you have no clue- you’ve never asked, you’re never involved, you’ve never purchased their product for you or anyone else, you’ve never told anyone else about the product. That’s exemplary of someone who’s not supportive.

Talk to your partner about your visions, your goals. Be open to criticism and constructive criticisms if they bring to the table a source of business knowledge that you have not been privy to. Be open to innovative ideas that would make it work. Share ideas and creative points on what you want to do and what you want to see. Write down the plan for them if you must and commit yourself to a time to meet again to go over it together to explain and make clear the mission and vision, so that they are able to see where they can fit in and perhaps fill in the missing pieces.

Sharing the passion in the purpose with your partner, lessens the amount of stress. It builds another highway in the relationship to a higher level of elevation. And maybe it’s just another kind of love altogether that I personally feel that you will experience, when you have shared a dream with your partner or have helped or have had the help and support from someone in this way. It’s sexy!

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What Would You Do For A Bon Bon

Strawberry Bon Bons are certainly one of my favorite hard candies. In fact, if I had to choose between a Bon Bon and anything else in this moment, then bring me one of those 1lb bags from the dollar store. As a matter of fact, you can bring me the 5lb bag while you’re at it. While I’ve always know that my dad enjoys them; I recently learned that my son has a sweet spot for them as well.

For those of you who are in the dark and are wondering what strawberry Bon Bons are; they are Classic hard candies filled with sweet strawberry flavor. Each piece is individually wrapped in a unique strawberry wrapper. They have been around for years.

The earliest bon bons were most likely created in the 17th century by the Parisian royal court, and the name originated as a child-like play on the French word bon or “good” in English (TheCandyWarehouse.com)

So anyway, the funniest thing just happened and while it had me dying laughing, I did have to stop for just a moment to address the innocence.

My son and I are home for the summer visiting my mom and dad; his nana and papa kenny. My dad, having passed down his sweet tooth to me, can also always be found in the kitchen on a late night looking for a snack or two. When in the middle of the night, is not the case; it can easily happen on any given afternoon, where he and I both rummage through the refrigerator, cookie jars and cake containers feigning to satisfy a late-night craving for sugar. It’ works best when we have what I call “Snacks on deck, snacks on hand, snacks on demand, insta snacks.”

That being said, my dad returned home one afternoon with a grocery bag full of candy. It was a variety consisting of bags of sweet-tarts, bags of bon bons, peppermints etc., oh yea and those orange, soft peanut-shaped candies that I didn’t think anyone ate.

He gave my son the pick of the litter. My son returns to the room with a bag of Sweet Tarts. I did not allow him to eat them all in one session, but I know he would have if I didn’t take them from him. Shortly after I’d taken the tarts from him, he returned with the plastic grocery bag of candy that my dad left sitting on the couch. I made him take the bag back, insisting that he only keep the tarts that my dad had given him.

The next morning, I dropped my son off with his grandparents on his dad’s side of the family so that they could spend the weekend together. Later in the evening when I returned to my parents’ home, I noticed the grocery bag of candy sitting on the couch. This is when I first discovered that there ‘had been’ some bon bons in the bag. But dang… My dad had eaten most of them but there were a few hanging around at the bottom of the grocery bag.

I kept eyeing the bag all weekend, waiting to give dad first opt to eat the bon bon before selfishly taking the remaining few for myself. He never ate them, so by the time Sunday evening rolled around I figured it was safe to take the last 6 from the bag. I pocketed 4 because I wanted my son to have some upon his return and I ate the other 2.

…. Meanwhile, my dad returns to the scene with a whole new bag out of nowhere. So, I did not feel too bad about having swiped the last 6.

Monday, following the weekend my son had been away, I asked him to come into the room with me and told him that I had a surprise for him. I reached under the pillow where I had stashed the 4 Bon Bons, I did the whole ‘close your eyes…. SURPRISE!!’ thing… placed them in his hands and said, “I got these from Papa Kenny so that you could have some before he ate them all.”

What happened next, I never saw coming. He happily took the Bon Bons of course. But then he said, “Mom, I got a surprise for you too.” What’s that? I asked. He reached under the bed and pulled out the entire bag of Bon Bons and said, “I got these from Papa Kenny too, so that you could have some.”

This child had already taken the bag of Bon Bons from the grocery bag before he went away for the weekend. He had hidden the whole bag under the bed but had the modest decency to leave 6 in the big bag for my dad, of what I later took, thinking I was putting them away for him. Lord help us.

In that moment, I knew I had not truly stolen anything- but since I presented it to him as if I went through an obstacle course to get them for him; what was I to say to him about how he went about getting them for me? Head in hand moment for me, it was. Next time, I know to say, “I asked Papa Kenny if we could have some of his candy and he said yes. So here, I saved these for you.” Hopefully, in that he will understand that there’s really no need to take them without Papa  Kenny knowing.

I guess the love for Strawberry Bon Bons don’t fall far from the vine.

Don’t Sleep On Small Surprises

I have read many articles about how we are all trying to figure out this thing called parenting. And we can all agree that no one has it all figured out. That’s because each child is different, though they may share similar interest. I think we can all agree that at the end of the day, if we can hear our child say, “Mom, you’re the best” Then we are still winning. We are not trying to blur the lines between parenting and being our child’s homie…. And we want to make sure that there isn’t just a fine line in between either. We want there to be a noticeable difference so that we can establish boundaries and respect.

While parenting is not all about pleasing our children and catering to their want and needs like we are their servant, we still want to hear those words, Mom, you are the best, thank you mom, I appreciate you mom, I love you….To hear those words are encouraging to parents. They are inspiring. They are just what you need to hear on some days when you are pressing on to be the best parent you can be. The simple things in life… in exchange for something so empowering.

It is true that we doubt ourselves at times, even when we know that we are doing the absolute best that we can. We do this because we are constantly trying to make sure that our children have all the essential things they need to excel. So, when they even so much as remotely show signs of unhappiness, we are back at the drawing board trying to figure things out. If you are a parent, just remember not to beat yourself up.

My son reminded me that I was the best and for the remainder of the day, I felt as though I was wearing a crown.

It was last week, leading into Independence Day, when I was online searching for some fun in the city. Something local and affordable, where he would be able to watch a fire-works show among other things to maximize our time together. I found out that there would be all-day activities for kids; including an inflatable waterslide, discounted prices for Museum Entrance, face painting, bean bag toss contest, food, drinks and more along the waterfront at one of the local attractions. I began to plan for the event that would also end with a fire works show over the water.

Upon our arrival to the park, the first thing that my son noticed was the inflatable water slide. His eyes widened, as I kept watch on his reaction. As we got closer and he was able to get a better look at it and saw the other children playing, he said ooh, mom! …then he said never mind. I asked, “What?” all the while knowing what he’d seen and what was going through his mind. He responded again, “Never mind… I would have to have swim clothes so it’s ok.” Just before we got to the water slide, I asked him to step into the bathroom. Once in there, I reached into my bag and pulled out his swim trunks and a tank. His face lit up! It was the highlight of my day. He said, “You the best mom!!!” These moments are what I live for. To surprise him with something so little and he be so grateful.

Spending time with my child this summer has been most rewarding, even when out of spite one day he told me that my dress made me look fat. LOL. It was a funny story and I wish I could remember what exactly it was that he wasn’t getting his way with that day, which made him say it. But it reminded me of that sour patch kids commercial… (First, they are sour then they are sweet) Whatever it was, he had me standing in the mirror second guessing what I was wearing to church that day. I took it with a grain of salt and laughed because he wasn’t totally lying. However, he did take full advantage of the moment to make his opinion known.

https://www.facebook.com/NDKENNY/videos/10215987556579714/?t=1

But anyway… We have a few weeks left in the summer. Here’s a few things you may want to keep in mind as you continue to make it the best one yet; while in the process, pull off a surprise of your own.

Always being prepared: Use your trunk for things like a cooler, an umbrella, one to two lawn chairs, a picnic blanket, a thermos for coffee or beverage of your choice and a cup for the kiddo. Take snacks with you to save on spending at fast food restaurants along the way or on expensive food trucks and food stands that are often set up at the park or venue and attraction.

Leaving ahead of time to give yourself ample time to arrive, park, make provisions for traffic and accidents which may have caused a delay on the highway.

Search for all the free or low cost local attractions and attend those rather than spending the bank on traveling away. Take advantage of what’s in the city.

Save on parking: If off street parking is cheaper than parking in a garage attached to an attraction, explore that as an option and use the time walking, to sightsee

Checking ahead of time: This one depends on the attraction. I only thought about it because you have places like Urban Air and other trampoline parks where there are a lot of parties being planned on the weekend. If you have time during the week or earlier in the day to visit these establishments it may be worth it rather than going while they are jam-packed or when a party is going on where they will have certain areas blocked off for a party, limiting your child’s activities while being there during this time.

Taking one for the team: Being outside in that heat, turning three shades darker, sweating and sitting… consider this: Take an enjoyable book or earphones to listen to music. Talk to people around you who may be able to swap ideas on what to do.

Covering the basics here, is what sets the stage for you to pull off a great surprise!

Reflecting …

I remember one time I wanted some quick n fast cash, so I enrolled in a TABC course and obtained a license to be a bartender. Thought I’d work in a gentlemen’s club temporarily, to earn the quick n fast cash. I headed out to apply at private clubs that were hiring women bartenders…

I figured that it would be the easiest since I love to talk- didn’t mind a drink or two, made friends easily and treated everyone the same. I wouldn’t have to strip and I wouldn’t even be topless. Maybe a few revealing outfits and that’s all, right?

A very good guy friend came to me after hearing of this idea and he told me that this is how it always start with most, if not all the women who work in the gentleman’s club:

“First you selling drinks, because ALL you wanted to do was sell drinks and be a friendly bartender making some quick and fast cash. Next thing you know, you’re doing a little drugs here and there. A hit there, a hit here… nothing big. (You think) Followed by a lap dance, a private dance and next, sex in the champagne room. BUT, YOU NEVER MEANT TO GET THERE. That wasn’t the plan. Every strip club, topless bar, whether clothes on or off; comes with money, sex and drugs.”

Those were his words. And he added that “even when you go in with the idea that you’re going to be strong enough to resist the urge and temptations; being motivated by the quick and fast cash will be enough pressure to cause you to fold.”

He told me to come up with something else to do! He was dead ass serious when he looked at me and said “because this is NOT the life you want and this is not the life for YOU! You’re not supposed to be here! You need to come up with another idea, this one is not going to work.”

I’m so grateful to have had someone care enough to tell me the truth, rather than capitalize on my ignorance about what goes on behind closed doors.

His words resonated with me because I also remember a quote that my mom added to one of her emails to me prior to this.

It read: “We don’t go running away from our values, we go drifting away. And one day we wake up in a place we never meant to be, drifting in a direction we never would have chosen.”

I realize that this doesn’t apply to every single woman who has chosen this as a path or a short detour in life. And some of them have made a very lucrative career out of bartending and bartending in gentlemen’s clubs where they were able to sustain themselves through all the pressures.

However, I think that the point my friend was trying to make is that he knew, even if I didn’t know at the time, that this kind of quick and fast cash would have destroyed everything I was working toward.

I do not judge the next girl for making the choice that I didn’t make when I followed my friends advice, because I had the thought myself. I think the difference may be that no one ever told her that she can do better.

Thanks Joe, for demanding that I stay the course that I was on and not to be influenced by anything which could have compromise my integrity.

Niedria

All The Stars Are Aligning In Your Favor

To all the Savvy Girls out there… It is my sincerest prayer that this short-note will find whomever it needs to find, while in the best of spirits and highest of hopes. I wish to inspire and to empower you to continue to press through whatever journey that you are on right now; whatever path that you have chosen and found to be your passionate destiny.

I hope that it provides the confirmation that you are seeking, in this present moment in time. If you are having a rough day, I hope that this will make you smile. If you are facing difficulties, I hope that this will give you the encouragement that you need today.

I hope that you understand that all the stars are aligning in your favor right now and know that you will flourish if you trust the process.

I would like to share something with you.

I spent the first week of June writing, editing and drafting a book for publication while visiting my parents’ home. Began on 6/4/2018.

When I initially sat down to write, (or should I say, type) it was not my intention to end with a whole book. A book was not on my mind that day at all. However, A book had been on my mind lately, but I did not know what it would be about. I knew it was time for me to write another one, because I had that urge. That urge that would not relent, but I could not put my finger on what I was supposed to be or should be writing about.

Actually, when I sat down at the laptop, I was sifting through topics and looking for something of interest to blog about. At the same time, my mom walked into the room and asked, “What are you doing? Writing another book?” I responded, “Yes.” And just like that, I started writing another book. I wrote until there was nothing else to write about the story I was writing about.

I don’t want to make it sound like it was a simple task or process, because I don’t want to make anyone feel that just because they are not able to do it with ease, that they are doing something wrong.

I thought it was important to share how it happened, because I want to make a point about how the stars always align when it’s your time. And how you will know, if you pay attention.

But let’s go back for just a second. In 2014 I started on a book, which I end up pulling from publication and production. In 2016, I wrote and published a book that talked a little about what was in the book from 2015, but I switched gears somewhere near the beginning because it became more of a celebratory book for me.

The interesting thing is, in that book; I used the example of an incubator and its function, as it related to premature babies, to explain how we are sometimes in places where we are in a premature state of greatness, where being in an incubator is necessary. (such as a seed, in the ground) I described my life at that time, as having been in the incubator.

Reference: An incubator (or isolette) is an apparatus used to maintain environmental conditions suitable for a neonate (newborn baby). It is used in preterm births or for some ill full-term babies. There is additional equipment used to evaluate and treat sick neonates

So, once I released that book in 2016, I thought I hung up my hat in the book writing arena. I literally told everyone, “This will be my last book” All while knowing deep down inside, that there would be more to the story. (That’s called a seed) And if you think in terms of seeds of greatness, you’ll understand where I am trying to go here.

Yolanda Adams sang a song I used to listed to everyday for about 6-months, back in 2007. One of the lines that gives me chills every time I hear it is:

“…So, keep the dream alive don’t let it die

If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try

Don’t stop

And never give up; don’t ever give up on you.” – Never Give Up

Seeds of greatness are ever-producing. Completing my book last week, brought the 2014 and the 2016 book back to life, with the full story. And what I didn’t realize in the process was that the book was writing itself, every day of my life. What do I mean by that? You ask.

Well, I looked back at where those books began and ended. Then I examined the time in between the then and now. Before those books could be what this new one is, I needed the time between the then and now. (incubating)

In the middle of writing this new book, I was coming to parts where I was able to go back to posts and blogs and articles and journal entries that I had written in the last few years, where they seem to have been created especially for those sections/moments in the book. It was very surreal how they meshed right into format. Some were written while I was angry. Some were written while I was happy. Some while I was frustrated and others when I was completely lost in translation. But it showed growth. (That’s what you see when your seed begins to produce something, and you are now seeing the outcome of what was planted, as it begins to pierce through the dirt; the soil) (Or when that baby is getting stronger and stronger and coming out of that incubator)

What was most amazing about doing all of this, was two things in particular:

1 Looking over to my right and seeing a title on a document I had just dropped in the mail. Instantly, I knew that this was the title of my book

2 Was having the revelation that I had already written the last chapter of the book, without even knowing. I wrote it back in April, for this very platform. At the time I wrote it, I had absolutely no idea that it would end up in a book.

The chapter that I am referring to, was an article post here on SheSavvy. It was titled: Chapter 40; Gratitude Changes Everything. Now, how profound was that!

About a month later, I shared another article on SheSavvy, (A Quick Note on Revisiting The Past) which had actually been written before Gratitude Changes Everything, but it was just sitting in a word document, on my laptop, as I was debating on if I would share it.

This was a testament to how things come together, falling into perfect order, even when you don’t know that they are. For goodness sake, even the titles of the articles were already named appropriately.

That tugging feeling that I kept having, was the nudge saying that it was time. Because I had just arrived at the last chapter. I think I personally had to arrive at the Gratitude I spoke about in that article, before this book would have ever come out of me. And the mere fact that latest article I wrote for SheSavvy, wasn’t sent when it was written, tells me that it’s because it was out of order. It wasn’t supposed to go before gratitude. Once I arrived at gratitude, I was then able to share a story and then tell people about a quick note on revisiting the past.

And that, is literally what the book is and what it does: Revisiting the past, navigating through, falling, flying, hurting, suffering, triumphing, being faithful, being grateful and then sharing your story.

I finished the 3rd draft for the book today and submitted it for publication. I am excited to announce that it will be available in a few short weeks.

And not to sound like that 3am infomercial that wakes you up on Sunday morning, but I hope this note touches whomever it was supposed to touch today, so that you will realize that you have a seed inside of you. You must nurture it and trust the process even when you don’t see immediate results. Know that everything that you are doing, is working for your good.

Here’s What You Need To Know If You Are Headed to The Beach or Pool This Summer

It’s that time of the year again where children are excited about getting out of school, taking a family vacation and just being away from the classroom for a while. For the adults, summer trips are being planned to the beach, water parks and community pools to escape the heat. This means neighborhood and community pools and parks are gearing up to host hundreds of children throughout these hot, summer months to aid in the cool down. There’s something you need to think about as you head off to these bodies of water: Water Safety!

This includes learning how to swim. Ladies, while I understand the work and cost that goes into keeping our hair up, getting our hair wet is not a good enough reason to not learn how to swim if we are going to be headed to pools and beaches this summer. This topic only came to mind after so many years of swimming myself and learning that a lot of women have not taken advantage of swim lessons. Their main reason was due to their getting their wet, messing up perms, damaging their hair from the harsh chemicals that are in pools.

It’s a sensitive topic, I know. Because usually when you make mention of someone’s hair as it relates to water and the hairdo- someone is bound to talk about how much it cost to get their hair done and how they do not want to waste “all that money” at the beauty shop, just for their child or themselves to jump into the water and mess it up. I get it. I wouldn’t want to either. However, if I am going to make the choice to go to the beach or pool, where I know that I am going to get into water, there’s a chance that my hair will get wet. Knowing how to swim is important to me. It is also important to me that my child knows, since he loves the water as much as I do. Even when you go and wear a cap or have your hair up with no intention on submerging your head, there’s always the possibility of going under, so you still want to be able to swim your way out.

On a trip to LEGOLAND last year, I learned with my own child that you cannot always rely on a lifeguard. Neither should you. It was my own vigilance at the pool and my ability to swim, which rescued him, as the Life-guards stood by watching and others were pre-occupied with talking to each other, distracted by their cell phones and never knew anything happened.

I don’t want to run drowning statistics on you, neither do I want to create a fear that we are never to go into the water again. But I would like to convey that it is a serious matter. While there are several people who drowned who were able to swim, it was under harsh and extreme circumstance. Most drownings were due to an inability to swim.

For the most part, children love water: They love to play in it, jump in it and often underestimate the dangers that surround water. When they see water, the first thing that want to do is run and jump in it.

The first lesson of swimming is that you are going to get your face wet. So, in getting them used to it, we would start with water splashing.  Remove those small fears and it creates an avenue for the beginner lessons to begin, such as putting your face in the water, holding your breath underwater, being comfortable with being submerged in the water…. etc.

Getting back to the hair: In a related article I offered suggestions about a great conditioner for the hair. This was an item that I personally use, but not on a selling trip… merely making the point that a good conditioner may tackle the issues of hair and pool/beach. Invest in a good coverage swim cap. Condition your hair daily, so that the parts that do get wet are safe. Sign up for a beginner’s swim class. Learn to swim.

Additionally, there are hair products such as Aqua Guard pre-swim, which act as a protect layer that you can use on the hair prior to getting into the water. There’s also a product called Ion Swimmers leave in and Surf Cream Rinse Conditioner. These products are designed for protecting the hair against the chemicals in the water. Too much hair for a swim cap? That’s cool…. Leave the cap off and explore those conditioner and pre-pool conditioner options. You can always explore the idea of braids for your child while they are learning to swim or for when your beginner swimmer heads into the water. This will help tremendously with the tangles. Tie the hair up in a tight ball while braided to decrease the number of loose hairs that would get tangled.

The Wrap Up: If we know that even the strongest swimmer can drown, we know that the possibility of drowning increases as we put non-swimmers in beaches and pools without proper training and techniques or even the basics of breathing and staying afloat.

We can tackle these numbers this year by making sure that all children take basic water safety and beginners swim class. Adults can also join in on the fun! You can still get your Friday night hairdo and skip the water for the duration of the time that your style will last but take time in those weeks where you are waiting for an appointment, to make sure that you learn to swim if the pool and beach is on your radar for summer fun.

Suggestions for Swim Class: American Red Cross, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club of America, Private Lessons int eh community and neighborhood, Community Colleges and Summer Programs. There is a plethora of options.

A “GETAWAY” is Not Always About “Getting Away” From Something You Don’t Like

Some of the best travel experiences I have had included Las Vegas, Nevada. Yup, right here in the United States. The first time I traveled there was in 2010, on assignment during the time I spent writing for Examiner.com. It was a media assignment to cover the Floyd “Money” Mayweather and “Sugar” Shane Mosley Boxing match.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley was a boxing welterweight non-title super fight, in which Mayweather won by unanimous decision with two judges scoring it 119–109 and one judge scoring it 118–110.

I visited again while writing for Examiner.com to cover another fight: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao, billed as The Fight of the Century, or the Battle for Greatness, was a professional boxing match between undefeated five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather.

While I had a strong interest in the sport of boxing, being in attendance for both the weigh-in and the fight, along with the activities and events that surrounded the weekend; it was the time I spent sightseeing in my free time that I was able to fully enjoy being in the city. So many things to do and so many things to see was what inspired my third trip simply because I couldn’t pack it all into the first two.

Getting off the plane on that third visit to Las Vegas was majestic. It was hot as tamales of course, with temperature up to 110 when I arrived, but once I kicked the layers off, threw on some shorts, sandals, a tank top and tied my hair back, the rest was history. This time, I was still on assignment but was writing with a media outlet where I had more freedom to explore the city and share with my readers all that Vegas had to offer. So, while I was still working, I was having fun doing something that I loved to do. I had found a way to combine work with play.

Vegas is truly like one super-sized adult theme park on steroids! From the architectural designs of the buildings/hotels to the layout of the famous Vegas Strip. A sea of lights and it’s no wonder it’s called the city that never sleeps!

The highlights of my trip included:

The Mob Museum: Officially the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, is a history museum located in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas Observation Wheel: High Roller is a 550-foot tall, 520-foot diameter giant Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States of America. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation

Freemont Street Experience: Sprawling 24-hour mall featuring a huge LED canopy, casino & restaurant access & free entertainment.

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a public aquarium located at and owned by the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its main tank is 1,300,000 US gallons, one of the largest in North America

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas: a wax museum located in the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian Las Vegas casino resort in Paradise, Nevada. The attraction opened in 1999, becoming the first Madame Tussauds venue to open in the United States.

The Grand Canyon Tour: Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters – This magnificent helicopter ride provides stunning aerial views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Grand Canyon West. Additionally, passengers will experience an exhilarating landing at the bottom of the canyon on our private plateau overlooking the mighty Colorado River. Upon landing, guests enjoy a champagne picnic with refreshments and have ample time to explore the awe-inspiring grandeur that is the Grand Canyon.

Vegas Shows: Baz! Set in a modern and intimate cabaret, BAZ is a celebration, a mash-up of music, and moments from the greatest love stories imagined by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award-nominated director Baz Luhrmann. Theatregoers follow the romances from Luhrmann’s iconic films: Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and The Great Gatsby as the lovers discover whether fortune is in their favor.

I encourage everyone to do a little traveling in their lifetime. Even if it starts with visiting the next state or over from them. There is so much more out there to see. But here’s why I think that part is important: It broadens your horizons. You meet new people. It connects you with people. You learn about culture. You become more versed in communication.

Being knowledgeable/aware of different things helps you understand different people and with that understanding, it organically generates compassion in the vessels of the heart. Depending on where you go or how far you travel outside of your comfort zone, it opens your mind to the things going on around the world, in which you will most likely relate to or at least have more insight into.

I came across a post on twitter recently, where the twitter user referenced “people who have to getaway” It read: “People are always talking about getting away and taking a getaway. If they didn’t hate their lives and were to create a life that they are happy with or if you were a happy person, there would be no need for a getaway. You don’t need to getaway if you are happy.” She then referenced hotel and vacation advertisements that use the word “getaway.”

Now, I am not fully sure of her understanding of a getaway and the purpose that it serves for most people, but on the surface; it sounded (at least to me) as if she was confusing people who are in an unhealthy situation who are always talking about one day getting away from a certain situation, with people who have a natural desire to simply want to getaway to a different place to broaden their horizons.

I thought to myself that this was probably the most least profound thing that she could have said. Especially being a motivational public figure… (that’s the title individuals give themselves when they have a lot of followers on twitter) LOL

It’s not always about “getting away” from something you don’t like. And just because you take a vacation, (A Getaway: a place suitable for a vacation; a vacation especially of brief duration) doesn’t mean it’s so that you can leave a life behind that you hate. A getaway is just relaxing. For some, it’s therapeutic. For writers, it’s inspiring to have a change of scenery. Sometimes you just want the adventure of exploring new sights, sights unseen… going to unusual places because you cannot live in 100 places all at once.

Who doesn’t need a break from time to time anyway? Are you telling me that you can never go to enjoy the fruits of your labor because if you do, it means you hate your life? If you can show me someone who says they don’t want or need a getaway, I will show you a liar.

But for now, I digress. I would rather balance the universe by stating that it’s perfectly OK to want to getaway. It absolutely does not mean that you are unsatisfied with your life. It means that you are open to discovering the world and that you are realistic about the common day to day life that invites the idea of wanting a break to enjoy the other side of your front door.