In May this year I was offered the most amazing opportunity to fly to Las Vegas for the Annual Global Training Conference for Arbonne International. Getting the invite as a newly qualified manager was beyond exciting. Starting this online business has been a means to earn an additional form of income to support my family, however it has also enabled me grow and develop in so many ways that I would never have imagined. I now feel that I've created something to be immensly proud of that will support my family for years to come. It's taught me to open my mind to a new way of thinking and looking at opportunities which is a blessing.
However actually following through and flying over to attend on my own was initially pretty terrifying. Mother guilt hit a new all time high. Part of me was so excited to branch out and experience something new yet so many little voices in my head questioned if I could really go away for a week on my own and leave my husband (albeit with some family help) with 4 kids and a building company to run. Would he still be sane when I returned? I'm sure there are many parents worldwide who routinely travel overseas for work, however in my life to date a 3 hour visit to the hairdresser was an extravagant outing on my own let alone a week overseas. Not to mention wondering if I could go and experience Las Vegas without him? It's sad and cute all at the same time, however in our 15 years of being together I could count the nights we have been apart on my fingers and the majority of those were when I was in hospital having babies!
However actually following through and flying over to attend on my own was initially pretty terrifying. Mother guilt hit a new all time high. Part of me was so excited to branch out and experience something new yet so many little voices in my head questioned if I could really go away for a week on my own and leave my husband (albeit with some family help) with 4 kids and a building company to run. Would he still be sane when I returned? I'm sure there are many parents worldwide who routinely travel overseas for work, however in my life to date a 3 hour visit to the hairdresser was an extravagant outing on my own let alone a week overseas. Not to mention wondering if I could go and experience Las Vegas without him? It's sad and cute all at the same time, however in our 15 years of being together I could count the nights we have been apart on my fingers and the majority of those were when I was in hospital having babies!
With a little prompting and prodding and big guarantees that all would be fine I had my bags packed and found myself at the airport. I thought it would be so nice to head to the airport as a family, enjoy a relaxing breakfast together and then jet off for my adventure leaving behind smiling kids full of excitement because mummy promised to visit M & M world for them and buy miss 3 a pair of sparkly light up shoes. Really, was I that naive? I now sincerely do not recommend taking small children to the airport so you can say goodbye at the last minute as all that ends up happening is you walking away from a grimacing husband who is left trying to console crying children whilst you try to maintain an air of dignity and not walk through security with mascara running down your face and your nose running! At least the kind security officer offered the kind words of "just keep walking dear".
Now out of sight (and earshot) of my babies, with coffee in hand I settled down to read the paper and noticed that the lady sitting beside me had the same bag. As I was travelling on my own I enquired if she was attending the conference and following a short conversation all was arranged to tag along with her group. Whilst I may have been sitting on my own for the flight, at least I knew there were others on board that if I did desperately need anything I could holler which was a great comfort. Introducing myself like that to others is not always something that I've felt comfortable doing, however it is now something I am more aware of.
I find it so interesting, watching my children at a
playground as it doesn't matter who is there, within minutes they have made new friends and have concocted some elaborate game of 'shops' selling bark ice-cream or hide and seek. Yet how often do parents stand back just observing and make no effort to strike up a conversation with the other adults watching on. Is it that we are all just enjoying a moment of peaceful solitude as our children happily play or do we begin to lose the ability to reach out and introduce ourselves to others for fear of rejection? What if we are the only other adult that person comes into contact with today, could we have the potential to change their entire day simply by saying "Hi, how are you?"
It's funny, I had so many people comment when they heard I was taking a 15 hour flight to LA. But seriously as a busy mum, when you look at the bare facts…. I was brought food I didn't have to cook, plan or shop for, I had complete access to my TV without having to argue over the remote control, I could sleep when I wanted for as long as I wanted and I watched more movies in that 15 hours than I have in the last 10 years. It was nearly heaven!!!
LA airport however is not necessarily my idea of a good time. Such a confusing rabbit warren of queues and with my extensive knowledge of international airports (Denpasar, Yogyakarta, and Vanuatu was my grand total!) I got more than a little lost so I was thrilled I had a few friends by that stage to follow. Even better was running into them after I had checked into my hotel room in Vegas to be invited out for drinks. It was an interesting text message home! "Hi honey, I made it! Just halfway through my second margarita with a group of ladies I met on the flight, hope I can find my way back to my room!"
I must say attending a conference of that size and calibre was one of the most mind-blowing experiences. I was completely blown away. To be seated in a stadium, packed to the brim with people who love what they do and are happy to be there, gave off such a positive vibe and completely reaffirmed everything I have learnt lately. If you love what you do and work with passion, enthusiasm and the viewpoint of wanting to spread joy, work never feels like work. It feels like life, a good life. For me personally, creating a life full of laughter, knowledge, fun and love is what I strive for. We are here for such a short time. Which is insanely devastating when you consider how precious and vulnerable we are. However, it is also what makes life the gift that it is. I fully intend to spend it in a positive way and do my best to enable those around me to enjoy it too. I want to teach my children that when we come from a place of honesty, radiating joy from the heart with the intention of making someones day a little brighter, our own lives become so much richer.
Vegas certainly wasn't as philospohical as that. I definitely saw a few sights and met a few characters that made me smile (not to mention being floored by the fact that you could book room service for IV fluid re hydration and oxygen therapy?! Wow). And you can't visit Vegas without partying! As I'm a newly promoted Area Manager I scored an invite to the pool side celebratory party at the MGM Grand which was more than a little fun. Exquisite finger food and drinks, coupled with decorative mermaids in the pool (yes, real live models as mermaids with beautiful tails that they elegantly flapped in the pool. Only in Vegas). It was so far removed from my usual form of party consisting of fairy bread, pass the parcel and making sure no one else gets hit whilst doing the pinnate. Besides, I think we all need an occasion now and then to dress up in our finery, see how long we can last in heels and party on. It was such a great way to end the conference and to celebrate everyone's achievements for the year which is something I think many of us don't do enough of. We do a good job. Regardless of where you work, how clean your house or your yard is and what you do for a living we need to pat ourselves on the back for all the things we do tick off our list and not get so overwhelmed with all that is yet to be accomplished. As the song goes "a little party never killed nobody".
So I returned home, laden with M&M's, sparkly shoes and a renewed self confidence earned from stepping outside my comfort zone and experiencing something new and exciting. It was more than just a trip/party/conference. It was a way that I could show my children that it's ok for me to still be an adult and do something for myself. It was a way to show them that even though I was nervous, I still did it and had a blast. It was a way to show them that regardless of who you know, new friends are waiting to meet you all the time. Plus a great way for them to see that dad can step in and hold his own quite capably.
So if an opportunity comes knocking and you become fearful and want to knock it back because it may take you away from your family for a time, maybe consider changing your view? What could you show or teach your family if you just did it?
Now out of sight (and earshot) of my babies, with coffee in hand I settled down to read the paper and noticed that the lady sitting beside me had the same bag. As I was travelling on my own I enquired if she was attending the conference and following a short conversation all was arranged to tag along with her group. Whilst I may have been sitting on my own for the flight, at least I knew there were others on board that if I did desperately need anything I could holler which was a great comfort. Introducing myself like that to others is not always something that I've felt comfortable doing, however it is now something I am more aware of.I find it so interesting, watching my children at a
playground as it doesn't matter who is there, within minutes they have made new friends and have concocted some elaborate game of 'shops' selling bark ice-cream or hide and seek. Yet how often do parents stand back just observing and make no effort to strike up a conversation with the other adults watching on. Is it that we are all just enjoying a moment of peaceful solitude as our children happily play or do we begin to lose the ability to reach out and introduce ourselves to others for fear of rejection? What if we are the only other adult that person comes into contact with today, could we have the potential to change their entire day simply by saying "Hi, how are you?"It's funny, I had so many people comment when they heard I was taking a 15 hour flight to LA. But seriously as a busy mum, when you look at the bare facts…. I was brought food I didn't have to cook, plan or shop for, I had complete access to my TV without having to argue over the remote control, I could sleep when I wanted for as long as I wanted and I watched more movies in that 15 hours than I have in the last 10 years. It was nearly heaven!!!
Vegas certainly wasn't as philospohical as that. I definitely saw a few sights and met a few characters that made me smile (not to mention being floored by the fact that you could book room service for IV fluid re hydration and oxygen therapy?! Wow). And you can't visit Vegas without partying! As I'm a newly promoted Area Manager I scored an invite to the pool side celebratory party at the MGM Grand which was more than a little fun. Exquisite finger food and drinks, coupled with decorative mermaids in the pool (yes, real live models as mermaids with beautiful tails that they elegantly flapped in the pool. Only in Vegas). It was so far removed from my usual form of party consisting of fairy bread, pass the parcel and making sure no one else gets hit whilst doing the pinnate. Besides, I think we all need an occasion now and then to dress up in our finery, see how long we can last in heels and party on. It was such a great way to end the conference and to celebrate everyone's achievements for the year which is something I think many of us don't do enough of. We do a good job. Regardless of where you work, how clean your house or your yard is and what you do for a living we need to pat ourselves on the back for all the things we do tick off our list and not get so overwhelmed with all that is yet to be accomplished. As the song goes "a little party never killed nobody".
So I returned home, laden with M&M's, sparkly shoes and a renewed self confidence earned from stepping outside my comfort zone and experiencing something new and exciting. It was more than just a trip/party/conference. It was a way that I could show my children that it's ok for me to still be an adult and do something for myself. It was a way to show them that even though I was nervous, I still did it and had a blast. It was a way to show them that regardless of who you know, new friends are waiting to meet you all the time. Plus a great way for them to see that dad can step in and hold his own quite capably.
So if an opportunity comes knocking and you become fearful and want to knock it back because it may take you away from your family for a time, maybe consider changing your view? What could you show or teach your family if you just did it?
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