Lessons of Las Vegas
Disclaimer: I will stand by the infamous saying that every detail of events that happened in Vegas will only be shared with a select few... so, sorry to disappoint some of you. That isn't to say I wont be talking about some of the amazing things that happens, so let's get into those.
What did I do?
As all vacations go, we largely explored the obvious tourist areas each day and drank a lot of water due to the extreme desert heat. We shopped, took a lot of pictures, and met people from all around the world. We walked through practically every hotel on the strip, which honestly felt like a different world every time (if you didn't know every hotel has a theme and they commit to them to the extreme! It's pretty remarkable!)
It should come to no surprise that we had fun exploring a new city but it honestly felt like we were transported to a different world which made it even more fun everyday. Drinking alcohol is legal anywhere and everywhere (as long as you are of age obviously) as well as smoking is legal anywhere. This was the strangest thing to live in because as most of you know, that is not legal in most of the world. And when I say anywhere I mean in the hotel lobbies, shopping malls, outside on the sidewalks... literally anywhere!
The trip was incredible, all things considered. If all we did was sight-see and explore the city, it still would have been an incredible trip, but twists were thrown our way (my best friend, who joined me on this trip, and I) and they made the trip that much better. I won't beat around the bush because we are all adults (hopefully no kids are reading this lol) so let's just get into the real reason I wanted to write this post today.
What happened?
Although we planned to only go out Friday and Saturday, we were on vacation and HELL we wanted to go out as much as our feet, and livers, could handle lol. So we ended up going out Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday... all to say we didn't go out Wednesday and Sunday haha. Anyways, it's not the nights out that I wanted to share, it's what happened and who we met. Again, no I won't be revealing any raunchy details.
First I met one boy at a club, I say "boy" because he had just turned 21 not long ago and in not too many details, he acted like a boy that's for damn sure. Yes we had fun that night, but not so much the next night. Let's just say he was very immature, awkward and just overall acted like a child. It was not what I had expected, but it was my first night going out, so I wasn't going to let myself stay hung up on the first boy I met.
Saturday, we went out again, but only after alot of convincing for my best friend. I convinced her to come so that we could see Zedd DJ a set, than I promised her we would leave and go back to the hotel. The night was slow, but eventually we started talking to a group of guys who were at a "bachelor party" (they could have been lying hence the air quotes). From that group I hung on to one of the guys and my friend hovered around the rest of them. We ended up leaving the original club we were at and they invited us to club hopping with them, and we didn't hesitate... obviously because it was comped. We spent the rest of the night with them, and had a lot of fun. The guy I was with was older, 27, which showed because he acted nothing like the 21yo boy. It was refreshing and we had a good night.
Finally, while on our day excursion at the Grand Canyon, we met and hung out with these two guys who were obviously also tourists. We had a lot of fun with them that day, and once the tour bus brought us back to the city, we made plans to go out with them that night. We had even more fun with them that night. My friend and I "clung" onto one guy each lol. We didn't go to any club, instead we just walked around and explored hotels none of us had gone to before. As I got to know one of the guys and he told me his life story, I told him mine, and this is when the idea to write this post came to me.
Long story short I found out quickly that he hasn't led the easiest life (he's 28 by the way), and he told me that from his perspective, I had a "perfect life". Immediately, I flung back and looked at him in shock. At first I thought, no way do I live a perfect life! Nobody's life is perfect. But he continued to say, "Your an engineer, your dad is an engineer, your mom is a teacher, you go school, you have a solid job"... Damn. I don't know why it hit me then and there but it did. I won't share his life, because that is not my story to share, but if you were to compare my life to his, on the surface, it makes sense why he would think that way.
I always knew I lived a privileged life, and I've always been grateful I do, but maybe I haven't been appreciating it enough? But how can I appreciate it more than by taking the opportunities I have and making the most of them?! Isn't that the most I can do?
Now, where am I?
Obviously, his words really made me think about how I live my life. Comparatively, our lives have gone on completely different paths. He's made an incredible life for himself from hardly anything, but if I don't make a good life for myself with the opportunities I've been given, does that mean I didn't appreciate enough what I was given?
Not only did this trip give me clarity on the type of partner I want to live my life with, but it also forced me to step back and examine how I live my life. Am I taking somethings for granted? If so, how can I change that? I don't have answers for that right now. I truly wish I did but it's such a big thing to re-evaluate how you've lived the past 21 years of my life!
Nonetheless, as mentioned, the people I met throughout my trip opened my eyes to a world I didn't really know existed. I didn't fully understand how much of a sheltered life I'd lived until I met these three people and they gave me glimpse into their lives... if that makes any sense.
We learn a lot from people with different life stories and background than ours, and in the last couple years, I haven't really met anyone who challenged my perspective on the world the way they did. The third guy I met specifically, we contrasted so much on basic live experiences, but we got along so well. I felt like I was talking to my best friend after only a single one-on-one conversation. It was the strangest, but most natural friendship that was built after only 2 days of knowing eachother.
I truly believe that certain people come into your life for one reason or another. Although today, I may know the reason why I met him that night, in the moment I was just enjoying the company of an amazing stranger. Looking back, he opened my eyes to the world in ways I could've never anticipated knowing. As cheesy as it sounds, he changed my life for the better that night, in many ways.
Would I change anything?
I had no expectations for this trip to Las Vegas. All I wanted was a vacation in a place my best friend and I had never been before. We wanted time away from reality and a break from any responsibilities. We got that, but we also got so much more. A lot happened on this trip that I am beyond glad happened the way it did. Nothing went wrong during the entire week, and I wouldn't have changed a single thing.
That being said I don't think I'd voluntary go back to Vegas, but that would all depend on the circumstance obviously. I want this trip to be sort of immortalized in the time and space it happened. I went to Vegas with no expectations at all, and the trip was beyond what I could've every expected anyway. If I ever do go back, I don't want to be disappointed if it isn't as good as the first time... you know?
Coming back home and to reality has honestly been really hard. I felt comfortable and confident in the person I was when I was there, but coming back feels like I've reverted to my old self... aka a less confident version of myself. But that's another issue I need to tackle on my own.
What should I do?
As for today, I want to leave you by encouraging you to think about your life. How did you get to where you are today, and who do you need to thank, that you haven't already for helping you get here today. And if you've already thanked them, than thank them again.
Moreover, look inwardly at yourself and find places in your daily routine where you could be more conscious and appreciative about what you have, or what you've been given. Whether it's your job, school, or just your the objects you have on your shelves. Treat everything you have and everyone with respect and dignity, because I can guarantee you that there's somebody else out there in the world who would give up anything to have what you have.
No matter how little or how much you have, remember we always want what we can't or don't have so be grateful for what is in front of you everyday. And if you can't give enough love to what you already have, than share those things with people who may not be able to afford or find the things you have in abundance. They will appreciate them more than you ever could.
And when it comes to relationships, I am still no damn expert, but I will share with you want I learned over this last week. It's the simplest advice, and we hear it all the time, but I had to get hurt first to fully understand it.
Be with someone who treats you well and with respect. Sure we all want someone who's smart, funny or has a solid career path, or maybe someone with the same religious beliefs. But at least for me, at my core, I want to be with someone who treats not only me, but the people around them, with respect. And that respect should transcend from being out in public, to being along with that person. Those are my values that I will stick to when choosing a partner. If you are funny, smart, handsome or even just tall, it means nothing unless you can respect me and the people around us first.
Before this trip, I thought I was just another shallow girl who could only fall for men who were at least 6ft tall. After this trip, I realized that I fall in love with who someone is to their core, and not what they look like. A man's ability to care about another human being, more than himself, is so much more attractive than the fact he goes to the gym everyday, that he's a business major or that he wears expensive clothes. Money and looks fade, but values and heart grow stronger the more life we live. And that goes for any person you encounter in life.
-Marie
What did I do?
As all vacations go, we largely explored the obvious tourist areas each day and drank a lot of water due to the extreme desert heat. We shopped, took a lot of pictures, and met people from all around the world. We walked through practically every hotel on the strip, which honestly felt like a different world every time (if you didn't know every hotel has a theme and they commit to them to the extreme! It's pretty remarkable!)
It should come to no surprise that we had fun exploring a new city but it honestly felt like we were transported to a different world which made it even more fun everyday. Drinking alcohol is legal anywhere and everywhere (as long as you are of age obviously) as well as smoking is legal anywhere. This was the strangest thing to live in because as most of you know, that is not legal in most of the world. And when I say anywhere I mean in the hotel lobbies, shopping malls, outside on the sidewalks... literally anywhere!
The trip was incredible, all things considered. If all we did was sight-see and explore the city, it still would have been an incredible trip, but twists were thrown our way (my best friend, who joined me on this trip, and I) and they made the trip that much better. I won't beat around the bush because we are all adults (hopefully no kids are reading this lol) so let's just get into the real reason I wanted to write this post today.
What happened?
Although we planned to only go out Friday and Saturday, we were on vacation and HELL we wanted to go out as much as our feet, and livers, could handle lol. So we ended up going out Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday... all to say we didn't go out Wednesday and Sunday haha. Anyways, it's not the nights out that I wanted to share, it's what happened and who we met. Again, no I won't be revealing any raunchy details.
First I met one boy at a club, I say "boy" because he had just turned 21 not long ago and in not too many details, he acted like a boy that's for damn sure. Yes we had fun that night, but not so much the next night. Let's just say he was very immature, awkward and just overall acted like a child. It was not what I had expected, but it was my first night going out, so I wasn't going to let myself stay hung up on the first boy I met.
Saturday, we went out again, but only after alot of convincing for my best friend. I convinced her to come so that we could see Zedd DJ a set, than I promised her we would leave and go back to the hotel. The night was slow, but eventually we started talking to a group of guys who were at a "bachelor party" (they could have been lying hence the air quotes). From that group I hung on to one of the guys and my friend hovered around the rest of them. We ended up leaving the original club we were at and they invited us to club hopping with them, and we didn't hesitate... obviously because it was comped. We spent the rest of the night with them, and had a lot of fun. The guy I was with was older, 27, which showed because he acted nothing like the 21yo boy. It was refreshing and we had a good night.
Finally, while on our day excursion at the Grand Canyon, we met and hung out with these two guys who were obviously also tourists. We had a lot of fun with them that day, and once the tour bus brought us back to the city, we made plans to go out with them that night. We had even more fun with them that night. My friend and I "clung" onto one guy each lol. We didn't go to any club, instead we just walked around and explored hotels none of us had gone to before. As I got to know one of the guys and he told me his life story, I told him mine, and this is when the idea to write this post came to me.
Long story short I found out quickly that he hasn't led the easiest life (he's 28 by the way), and he told me that from his perspective, I had a "perfect life". Immediately, I flung back and looked at him in shock. At first I thought, no way do I live a perfect life! Nobody's life is perfect. But he continued to say, "Your an engineer, your dad is an engineer, your mom is a teacher, you go school, you have a solid job"... Damn. I don't know why it hit me then and there but it did. I won't share his life, because that is not my story to share, but if you were to compare my life to his, on the surface, it makes sense why he would think that way.
I always knew I lived a privileged life, and I've always been grateful I do, but maybe I haven't been appreciating it enough? But how can I appreciate it more than by taking the opportunities I have and making the most of them?! Isn't that the most I can do?
Now, where am I?
Obviously, his words really made me think about how I live my life. Comparatively, our lives have gone on completely different paths. He's made an incredible life for himself from hardly anything, but if I don't make a good life for myself with the opportunities I've been given, does that mean I didn't appreciate enough what I was given?
Not only did this trip give me clarity on the type of partner I want to live my life with, but it also forced me to step back and examine how I live my life. Am I taking somethings for granted? If so, how can I change that? I don't have answers for that right now. I truly wish I did but it's such a big thing to re-evaluate how you've lived the past 21 years of my life!
Nonetheless, as mentioned, the people I met throughout my trip opened my eyes to a world I didn't really know existed. I didn't fully understand how much of a sheltered life I'd lived until I met these three people and they gave me glimpse into their lives... if that makes any sense.
We learn a lot from people with different life stories and background than ours, and in the last couple years, I haven't really met anyone who challenged my perspective on the world the way they did. The third guy I met specifically, we contrasted so much on basic live experiences, but we got along so well. I felt like I was talking to my best friend after only a single one-on-one conversation. It was the strangest, but most natural friendship that was built after only 2 days of knowing eachother.
I truly believe that certain people come into your life for one reason or another. Although today, I may know the reason why I met him that night, in the moment I was just enjoying the company of an amazing stranger. Looking back, he opened my eyes to the world in ways I could've never anticipated knowing. As cheesy as it sounds, he changed my life for the better that night, in many ways.
Would I change anything?
I had no expectations for this trip to Las Vegas. All I wanted was a vacation in a place my best friend and I had never been before. We wanted time away from reality and a break from any responsibilities. We got that, but we also got so much more. A lot happened on this trip that I am beyond glad happened the way it did. Nothing went wrong during the entire week, and I wouldn't have changed a single thing.
That being said I don't think I'd voluntary go back to Vegas, but that would all depend on the circumstance obviously. I want this trip to be sort of immortalized in the time and space it happened. I went to Vegas with no expectations at all, and the trip was beyond what I could've every expected anyway. If I ever do go back, I don't want to be disappointed if it isn't as good as the first time... you know?
Coming back home and to reality has honestly been really hard. I felt comfortable and confident in the person I was when I was there, but coming back feels like I've reverted to my old self... aka a less confident version of myself. But that's another issue I need to tackle on my own.
What should I do?
As for today, I want to leave you by encouraging you to think about your life. How did you get to where you are today, and who do you need to thank, that you haven't already for helping you get here today. And if you've already thanked them, than thank them again.
Moreover, look inwardly at yourself and find places in your daily routine where you could be more conscious and appreciative about what you have, or what you've been given. Whether it's your job, school, or just your the objects you have on your shelves. Treat everything you have and everyone with respect and dignity, because I can guarantee you that there's somebody else out there in the world who would give up anything to have what you have.
No matter how little or how much you have, remember we always want what we can't or don't have so be grateful for what is in front of you everyday. And if you can't give enough love to what you already have, than share those things with people who may not be able to afford or find the things you have in abundance. They will appreciate them more than you ever could.
And when it comes to relationships, I am still no damn expert, but I will share with you want I learned over this last week. It's the simplest advice, and we hear it all the time, but I had to get hurt first to fully understand it.
Be with someone who treats you well and with respect. Sure we all want someone who's smart, funny or has a solid career path, or maybe someone with the same religious beliefs. But at least for me, at my core, I want to be with someone who treats not only me, but the people around them, with respect. And that respect should transcend from being out in public, to being along with that person. Those are my values that I will stick to when choosing a partner. If you are funny, smart, handsome or even just tall, it means nothing unless you can respect me and the people around us first.
Before this trip, I thought I was just another shallow girl who could only fall for men who were at least 6ft tall. After this trip, I realized that I fall in love with who someone is to their core, and not what they look like. A man's ability to care about another human being, more than himself, is so much more attractive than the fact he goes to the gym everyday, that he's a business major or that he wears expensive clothes. Money and looks fade, but values and heart grow stronger the more life we live. And that goes for any person you encounter in life.
-Marie
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