Imagination & Finding One’s Inner Peter Pan

7 Feb

On my lunch today I picked up my latest copy of Inc. magazine and started to peruse the pages. Every now and again I’ll find articles that really catch my attention and peak my interests (I guess you could say this is why I have a subscription to this magazine).

I started reading the article titled, “Tony Hsieh’s Excellent Las Vegas Adventure,” maily because I knew he was the CEO of Zappos and the company I am currently employed by does business with them (can never learn too much about your clients). The sort of homage in the title to “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” also struck a chord with me, considering I am a product of the 80′s, it brought me back to my childhood.

There are so many amazing points and ideas that were brought up in the article, but if you want to know about those, go pick up the February issue of Inc. This blog entry is going to focus on the last line of the article, where Hsieh is quoted, “People, lose that sense of anything is possible when they grow up.”

When do we stop believing and imagining?? I’ve found myself looking in the mirror asking that question more and more. I used to be so entrepreneurial! I remember setting up my basement with a table and chairs, making it look as if it was a board room all for a meeting of some club that I had come up with and wanted to start. Where did I loose this passion, this drive, this inspiration?

The article on Jsieh demonstrated to me how he lives in almost this Peter Pan like world, where he never wants to grow up and the imagination flows for days. Where is the water he is drinking?? Can I get a bottle?? I think it is the lack of vision and lack of creativity that confines us as adults. We get to this point where we are told, okay, time to grow up and be an adult. Get a 9-5 job that pays the bills and take care of all your responsibilities. Responsibilities if you ask me can be rather boring, and I have yet to see someone who has been ‘responsible’ make millions of dollars. It is the risk takers and the visionaries that make it into the pages of the  magazines and newspapers. But how does one overcome the teachings of a generation who grew up after the great depression (the whole concept of safe and secure, don’t take risks and save whatever you can)?

Holstee Manifesto

This brought me back to another article I had read while flipping through this month’s copy of Inc., and the Holstee Manifesto (pictured at right). There were several points that resonated with me and I thought went hand in hand with the whole concept of loosing ones imagination and sense of self … some what an answer to my question above:

1. If you don’t like something, change it.

2. Start doing things you love.

3. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself.

4. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.

I think it is a combination of these 4 elements that can really light a fire or get the wheels spinning so to speak. So time to get off the couch, or for those of you who know me, away from my desk and in front of my computer screen and do something! I think I’ve got a start, after all it did get me over my case of writers block ;-)

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Writer’s Block …

24 Jan

After writing my little blog series “30 Days till 30,” I still wanted to continue blogging on a regular if not daily basis however I have hit a little snag … I can’t decide what I want to write about next! I like the idea of a series because it kept me focused and driven to write every day. This is where audience participation is needed! Do you have a great suggestion for my next series?? Send them my way because I need to get over this little block!!

 

 

30 Days till 30: Day #1 The Last Day of My 20′s

3 Jan

So, we’ve finally reached this point, the last day of my 20′s. I don’t know if that is an exciting thought or a scary one. Taking time to look back and look forward. Putting all things in perspective. I accomplished a lot in my 20′s and had a blast doing it. There are things that I wish I had done and I was hoping to be further in my career and finding my life’s purpose, but those are all things I can continue with into my 30′s. As a good friend of mine put it, her 20′s were great, but her 30′s have been life changing and all for the better.

Today we had breakfast at the buffet as usual and then decided to change it up and hit the beach up for awhile. It is so amazingly beautiful. How could you ever wake up in a bad mood with the views here, they are stunning! After about an hour and a half on the beach I decided to get out of the sun for a little bit as I was starting to get a little red. Plus I needed time to get ready for one of my birthday presents … horseback riding!

Talk about an amazing way to end the day and my 20′s, horseback riding on the trail and on the beach. It was perfect timing, just before the sun set. This was my first time riding on a horse by myself and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Such amazing and beautiful animals!

After the ride it was back for dinner. The gals all stayed up to see the show, but I was tired so I decided to retire to the room and get a good nights sleep. After all what birthday girl wants to look tired ;)

30 Days till 30: Day #2 A Little R & R

2 Jan

After a pretty hectic and wild New Years eve, I absolutely needed a little bit of rest and relaxation. I wish I could say that the day was filled with adventure and something other than food, pool, sun, repeat, but it really wasn’t. Then again what else do you really want to do the day after new years?

I must say though, that our casual and relaxing evening turned out to be pretty wild. Upon several recommendations, we had dinner at The Office, which I must say if you come to Cabo it is a must … and make sure to check out Rambo’s book of photos (please note, not for the children). The food was amazing and the 2 margaritas with dinner were so strong, that after that I was good and toasty. We listen to the live music and after hearing that I thought it would be fun to find a karaoke bar.

This evening was the best so far … we went to a local karaoke bar and had an absolute blast. I think we were the only american’s in the place, but singing and drinking and just goofing around was just what the doctor ordered! After we had had enough of the karaoke it was time to head to another club down the street where I proceeded to dance my butt off for the remainder of the evening.

Just another day in paradise!

30 Days till 30: Day #3 Ringing in the New Year

1 Jan

I am thoroughly enjoying my time off I must say. A very nice and needed departure from the daily routine. One thing though I must say, all inclusive resorts are great for many reasons, but man oh man am I going to need to diet and workout after this trip! I think my routine here consists of the following: eat, swim, drink, sun, eat, repeat!

We all spent the day doing what else, but working on our tans. We decided to take it a little easier on the drinking since the day before had been somewhat of a rough one! I must say, one bloody mary at breakfast and I felt somewhat normal again.

I was super excited to get all dolled up and wear a new dress that I had bought just for the new years occasion. We started the evening with dinner reservations at the buffet here at the hotel. I must say that it was pretty amazing. Follwing dinner we headed into town where we watched the clock strike midnight at The Pink Kitty. It was a great night filled with dancing and fun. I couldn’t have been more happy to be spending this time with several of my girlfriend. Though the midnight group kiss was a little awkward between 5 of us, then again I guess it is better than kissing some complete stranger!

We decided to change venues a little after 1 and headed to check out Nikki Beach. We walked into this super cool performance where the performers were dressed as Mayans. When I say we walked into the performance, I mean literally. They were dancing on the staircase and some how we ended up right in the middle of the show! Hello spotlight. After a few cocktails here, it was time to call it a night, after all I wanted to enjoy the first day of 2012!

30 Days till 30: Day #4 The Party Director

31 Dec

Up and at em’! Ladies and gentleman there is a buffet and some sunshine to be had!

Our first full day in Los Cabos was defiantly one filled with over indulgence. We spent the day split between two pools, both with swim up bars and a club type atmosphere. Our little social/ party director Angelica quickly made friends with tons of people in the pool. Then again when you keep offering up rounds of shots to everyone, who is going to turn that one down? Then again, we are at an all inclusive resort, so anyone can be the ‘big spender ‘ and order up rounds of shots. Besides the rounds of shots going around, we started doing an activity called ‘drinking down the list,’ which entailed starting at the top of the drink menu and working our way to the bottom. Not sure how great of an idea this was, especially considering all of the different types of liquor on the menu.

I must say after an entire day in the pool and drinking in the sunshine, by 5 this little girl was hurting! Water, advil and bed stat!

So much for making it out on the town … then again there is always tomorrow!

30 Days till 30: Day #5 Departure

30 Dec

Finally! After months, weeks and days of anticipating, the departure day finally arrived. Los Cabos get ready for the hurricane that is ready to hit you and by hurricane I mean myself and my 5 girlfriends. We seem to bring a whirlwind of trouble where ever we go and by trouble I mean an insane amount of fun.

We had an early afternoon flight. After checking in we made our way to Gladstone’s to have a bite to eat before hoping on the plane. Of course we had a celebratory mimosa to kick things off. Nothing like some orange juice and champagne with my burger for lunch.

The flight to Cabo was a short and easy 2 hour flight. We made friends with the gentleman sitting in the row next to us and proceeded to start drinking. I swear it looked like we ordered the entire mini bar!

The drive from the airport to the hotel was relatively quick and maybe that is because we were engaged in conversation and drinking wine.

We decided to take it easy the first night and stayed at the hotel. The Riu Santa Fe is nice and very spacious. We had dinner at the buffet and I have to say I think we all over indulged, but how could we resist!

After a few drinks and watching the show it was off to bed to get our beauty sleep. Big day of pool, fun and sun lie ahead!

30 Days till 30: Day #6 Anticipation

29 Dec

Well, with the trip to Cabo less than a day away, the 8 hour at work seemed more like 18! It was one of those days where you look at the clock and then look back again and low and behold only 5 minutes have passed (if that!). I started making a list of the items that I wanted to pack for Cabo. I started putting outfits together in my mind, after all you can never be too prepared.

First stop after I finally left the office was the pharmacy. I needed to pick up some small items for the trip and that ended up costing me nearly an arm and a leg. I can’t get over just how expensive some of my day to day ‘necessity’ type items are. After that it was off to the nail salon. No woman in their right mind would go to the beach/pool without nicely manicured toes and nails. I have to say this was the best thing for me to do. I sat there and got pampered and I can’t tell you how relaxing it was after the hectic week that I had had thus far. I opted for a rather neutral color for my toes so that it would go with everything I was thinking of packing. As for my manicure, I thought about doing something fun and exciting, but alas, the conservative side in me came out and I opted for the gel french manicure (you can’t go wrong with this classy look).

After all that running around my stomach was telling me, “Amanda, feed me … NOW!” So, in my reply I took it for some sushi dinner. Miso soup, salad and some spicy tuna rolls! Talk about yum yum in my tum tum. Now that my stomach was satisfied I could once again act and think like a normal human being. So off to the next task, packing.

Packing is something of an art form in itself. To manage to get everything one needs for 7 days in a medium (well let’s be real, large) suitcase. The worst part about being a woman and having 7 different dresses to wear out at night, are the shoes that coordinate with these dresses, not to mention flip flops for the pool, gym shoes to work out in, and well more heels. I have to say I managed to pack pretty darn well. Shoes on the bottom, clothes neatly folded on the top and I was good to go. I do know that I over packed, but I’d rather have too much than too little!

Only a few more hours to go (all of which will I hope be filled with sleep) and Los Cabos here I come!

 

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30 Days till 30: Day #7 Perspective

28 Dec

Another long and busy day … is it time to go to Cabo yet? I wish I could say the work day was busy, but considering that the majority of people in my industry are off until the 2nd, it has been very quiet with very little to get done.  Unfortunately I have a plethora of personal work that has to wait until I leave the office. If only I could be at two places at once, I would get my errands done in a more timely fashion.

After the long day I had to rush home to get ready for dinner. I had all of about 15 minutes to freshen up and change before I once again had to head out the door. It was a really early dinner reservation, which I did not mind at all considering the amount of things that I knew I needed to accomplish afterwards. Dinner at Madeo in Beverly Hills was fantastic! Great company and amazing cuisine.

Following dinner we made a little stop to Cedar Sinai to visit Alexandra. This was the littlest baby (and youngest) I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Weighing in at 5lbs, 11oz she was such a cutie with her dark eyes and full head of dark hair. Talking about putting things in perspective, it is amazing to think that we all start out that small. Just seeing her smile and sleep put an even bigger smile on my face. Talk about an amazing gift for her family for the holidays!

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30 Days till 30: Day #8 Moving Day

27 Dec

The dreaded day finally came … and went.

Oh how I hate moving! At this point you’d probably think that I loved moving considering that I have done so more than 10 times in the past 6 years (granted all within a 5 miles radius). I think it is about time I find a home and stay there longer than 12 months!

The actual moving part didn’t take as long as I expected. I did what any 110lb girl would do, went down to the home depot and found some big strapping gentlemen to help my load up and unload my u-haul. The most interesting part of my move – I went to public storage and got a unit to put my things in for a month while I search for my new home, and what are the odds that I got the SAME exact storage unit I had almost 2 years ago! Perfect place, first unit on the first floor.

It is amazing what you can get into a space that is 6×9 … granted the ceiling must be 20ft tall so that helps out a bunch. After everything was loaded and unloaded I went to La Poubelle for a nice dinner with my friend Molly who had so graciously offered to help me. Two glasses of wine and a burger later I started to forget about how miserable the day had been.

Living out of a suitcase so to speak for the next few weeks should be interesting. I am the type of person that first thing they do when they get to their hotel room is unpack everything. So living with things packed up is a little stressing for me. I’m sure I’ll forget about it after I’ve checked into my hotel in Cabo and unpacked my bags there for my 6 night stay.

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