my feet don't want to go to sleep

As this year started I did not have the mental capacity or creative energy to write a review of 2023. Work was overwhelming me, I had just learned a friend my age has leukemia, and I needed to loose at least 20 lbs. Not an ideal way to start a year

January kicked off at CES where I managed hospitality for the global executive team at L’Oreal. In Las Vegas, arguably one the worst cities in the world, I literally ran back and forth from place to place to service these c-level clients. 20 hour days, no thought to myself on my own physical needs, and no break from the air-conditioned casino floor. The event was a smashing success and I felt incredible to have accomplished such a feat. I flew from Vegas to Long Beach for the weekend before another event kicked off in Los Angeles. In a yoga class on a cliffside over the beach the instructor said “you cannot pour water from an empty cup”. I was empty but work was demanding more. I had to find a balance.

With 3 bags, almost everything I owned with me, I traveled from the Long Beach airbnb to the hotel. That week I executed production for a filming of education videos for two luxury beauty brands. All the while I was trying to manage a vendor executing sweets for another luxury client’s Valentine’s Day celebration. I entered February mentally defeated but professionally accomplished.

I traveled from LA back east for birthdays in New York and house visits in DC. Running myself ragged so I could try and fill my time with non work activities. I needed to remember life outside of just servicing others and executing programs. Dramatic as that sounds I loose myself in these events really investing every bit I have to make them perfect.

I then flew back to California to make a home in San Diego. My friends bought a condo and I rented a room for the next 4 months. In San Diego I found calmness and peace. I invited friends and family to visit, dated, ate well, worked out, and crawled out of my head away from work.

Finally with March came some peace. I went to Mexico City and tried to mentally reset myself. Feeling a bit stronger I returned only to learn that in our acquisition my title was not going to be maintained. Instead of staying a Director, I was an Associate Director. This bothered me more than it should have to be honest. This announcement came on the literal day I was heading to the desert for Coachella to execute one of our hardest hospitality events for some beauty influencers. I fumed but executed something so incredible considering the challenges.

By May I had a mental reckoning. I could not spend the rest of the year in this way. I am a happy person, one full of creativity, and excitement. I could not let these struggles run my mind. From here I planned the most epic summer I may have ever had.

It started in Vienna, Austria with Cartier. I supported their high jewelry showcase for 2 weeks. I ran on the riverwalks under big trees and past statues of Mozart. From there I took a boat to Slovakia for the day, then a train to Hungry for a long weekend. I work up at 8am and toured until 3pm. Then grabbed a coffee and worked from 3pm to midnight. My days became 3 shifts, touring, working, sleeping. I found myself in the chaos and love travel brings me.

I flew from Hungry to England to visit friends and play with babies. My parents and I met up in Italy and we spent the next 3 weeks traveling from Florence to Rome to Cercamaggiore to Tropea. My cousins joined and we ate pizza in the town of my great grandparents. From there we flew to Croatia where I spent the next month. Lakes, islands, beaches, rivers, boats, cars, planes, yachts, took over the weeks. I escaped into the AC to work and would not let the stress of my programs break through the sunshine. I ended the summer in Spain cheering to myself for somehow traveling around Europe for 13 weeks. I returned to the US in August after celebrating my 35th birthday.

Rainy days in New York with my sister and summer events made the days fly by. I returned to California for a couple months. The fall season of events included hurricane warnings and traveling all over the country. New York, Los Angeles, Tampa, Detroit, and finally back to Los Angeles got me to November feeling accomplished and ready for a break.

I returned to Europe with my family to see the nothern lights in Norway and spent a month on planes, buses, ferries, and trains running through the country. Bundled up against the extreme cold was worth it when you saw those lights dancing above your head. I welcomed the return to the US for some peace to end the year with my family. The holidays in Florida included sunshine and good food. Only energizing me up to end 2024 in Costa Rica.

Looking back on the year, I want to make sure I learn the lesson that 2024 put upon me. Take a step back from it all. I had spent 4 months in Europe, 4 months in California, and 4 months everywhere in between. I flew on 43 flights and visited 11 countries. All the while learning that I control the path forward, and I can choose one that is as crazy as I’d like. But I need also to protect my peace.