Mastering The Me Trip (Part 1)
Be sure to read part two of this post featuring photos, videos and the story of my ‘me trip’ to The Roots Picnic.
I am a big believer in taking time for oneself. Really intentional, focused and protected time. I believe in taking this time in micro-moments and doing it big with immersive experiences.
I call the big experiences “me trips.”
A me trip can be nearly anything you want it be, as long as it does the following for you:
- Provides extended alone time to think, meditate and/or pray.
- Creates space and opportunity for you to have a “big expression” — a hearty laugh or cry. You might do this alone or in the company of complete strangers. Either one is cathartic.
- Opens your senses — ideally, all of them. Touch a new texture, listen deeply and differently, taste a totally new food item, and see something new; something you can’t un-see.
It can be something as simple as a road trip an hour away or an international trip to Dubai. I’ve known people who have done both and everything in between. Find support for your trip, whether that is childcare coverage, time off work or a borrowed equipment for your journey. Go as big as you can without violating your responsibilities or budget. But, stretch.
Mastering self-care can make you a bigger and better lover of others.
Answer these questions honestly: Are you someone who considers yourself to be an excellent lover and caretaker of other people? Are you an excellent caretaker of yourself? What makes you believe you have given your absolute best expressions of love to others when you haven’t even explored it within yourself? That’s not how love works. Not even how God works.
There’s levels to this, ya’ll.
I love the story of the Mexican fisherman as re-told in Tim Ferris’ revolutionary productivity opus, The 4-Hour Work Week. It really says it all. Read this story, reflect on the wisdom in the punchline, and then read about my awesome me trip to The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, PA.
An American investment banker was taking a much-needed vacation in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. The boat had several large, fresh fish in it.
The investment banker was impressed by the quality of the fish and asked the Mexican how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican fisherman replied he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos: I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The investment banker scoffed, “I am an Ivy League MBA, and I could help you. You could spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats until eventually you would have a whole fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to the middleman you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You could control the product, processing and distribution.”
Then he added, “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City where you would run your growing enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15–20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You could make millions.”
“Millions, señor?! Then what?”
To which the investment banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
I know you are busy. Don’t cheat yourself on the opportunity to discover something new in the world and, more importantly, something new in yourself. Find a way to get it done.
Don’t wait.
Read part two of Mastering the Me Trip: Ed’s Fabulous Trip to Philly
Ed Fields is a marketer and strategist. He currently serves as Senior Advisor and Chief Strategist for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office. Follow him on LinkedIn, Medium, or Twitter.