How Taking Breaks In Life, Impact Your Business Positively
Are you in need of a Reset? An Unplug? An “Off-The-Grid” getaway?
Each Summer, I make it a point to step away for a few weeks in order to spend some quality time with my husband and three girls, but this Summer felt different.
Different, how?
Perhaps travel felt different this Summer because it came off the heels of a Pandemic and everyone was itching to get out of dodge.
We began our travels from Dallas by flying into a special city in Mexico: Puerto Vallarta, where my husband and I married 15 years ago, and let me tell you… it was packed!
In all fairness, my previous visits to Puerto Vallarta occurred in October or November, but my goodness, I’ve never seen Puerto Vallarta so busy.
As a whole, Mexico is still very cautious about COVID, especially with the Delta variant on the rise, but mandatory mask requirements did not deter tourism by any stretch.
This trip was also different for my family because it had been 7 years since our return to my husband’s hometown of Atotonilco to see his family.
To put 7 years in perspective, my youngest daughter (turning 8 in October) created a meaningful connection with her Abuelita for the first time, and our nieces and nephews who were teenagers when we last saw them, now have families of their own.
7 years doesn’t just “happen.”
Sure, life got in the way, babies were being raised, books were being written, a restaurant was being kept afloat, but if I’m really being honest, we allowed seven whole years to pass without making this trip.
We can blame fear, the high cost of travel for a family of five, busy lives, and the obvious owning a brick and mortar restaurant, but at the end of the day, life is short and I couldn’t be more grateful that we took the trip.
But this isn’t just about me. This is about you.
Are you in need of a reset? Are you willing to close up the computer for an extended period of time, so you can step away and have an adventure that will not only reinvigorate your life but your business?
If you’re looking for permission, look no further. This is me saying GO FOR IT! Take the damn trip!
If you need a little more convincing, I’d love to share 3 Life Lessons From a Small Mexican Town Visit.
3 Life Lessons From a Small Mexican Town Visit
LESSON #1: Being Still Naturally Creates Inspiration
Artists & Creatives often seek out opportunities to receive inspiration, but when it doesn’t rain down according to their plan and in their time, frustration, and “blocks” arise.
Here’s a thought: one does not have to force the inspiration or be over-stimulated by bravado to have an “a-ha” moment. Sometimes, lightbulb genius derives from stillness.
In the small-big town of Atotonilco El Alto (located a little over an hour East of Guadalajara), we had a lot of time to sit, chat, drink coffee and our favorite Siete Leguas Tequila, eat tacos and collect ripened mangos that fall freely all over the streets in town.
Women sweep their streets and porches at daybreak.
Torrential rain blows in and out daily and the landscape is green.
Stray dogs sunbathe on the uneven sidewalks.
Little girls with perfect ponytails and chubby cheeks cling to the hands of their moms while shopping through the Mercado.
Motorcycles zoom through the streets.
The simple act of observation can generate enough content to fill an entire album. The trick is, one must slow down long enough to become an observer.
Embrace stillness.
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LESSON #2: Convenience Is Not Always “Better”
Time is money unless you’re on vacation.
In Atotnilco, when you need to shop for food (which is about every other day because they don’t purchase Costco sized quantities), you head into the center of town and hit up the individual markets and vendors for everything from fruit, tortillas, dairy, meat, bread, and even ice.
Young men on corners sell apricots, grapes, dragon fruit, and the most flavorful, juicy mangos around.
Women run tortilla shops and hand out samples of warm tortillas rolled tightly with a sprinkle of salt.
Men play dominoes, ladies gossip, and families post up on makeshift tables eating quesadillas de masa and traditional churros. (If you want a sneak peek at what a “traditional” churro is, I’m including a video link at the end of this post of the BEST churros in Mexico!)
The bottom line is, sure, you can save a whole lotta time by going to one grocery store (or two) to fit all your food shopping needs, but there is something very special about strolling leisurely through a small town visiting the Carnercia, Panaderia, and Tortilleria and anticipating the delicious lunch ahead.
We condition ourselves to feel like we have to be so productive each day and cross off all our task list items. Sunday rolls around and the week was such a blur, we can’t even remember what we did, or who we spoke to.
Fast forward 12 months at this pace and you just lost a year of your life “hustling.”
Instead, what if you challenged yourself to change up the status quo and not squeeze in 20 different tasks in one day? I reckon it would do wonders for your mental & physical health and highly recommend giving it a whirl.
LESSON #3: Family Can Still Be The Priority
Family looks different to everyone, but the beauty is YOU get to decide who you value as your family.
The members of your family could consist of a combination of blood relatives, cousins, friends, neighbors, or co-workers, but regardless, the family you choose are the ones who will be there through thick and thin.
Although it’s more ideal to see each other often, family picks up right where they left off, even if it’s been 7 years. They will laugh with you, cry with you, and dream with you.
While in Atotonilco for almost two weeks, our family of five shared a room, squeezed into several twin beds, walked to the corner store owned by neighbors several times a day to buy powdered donuts, Mexican sweets, ice, and Coronitas.
We played Loteria, Uno, and Dominoes Cubano. We sat outside with old women to drink coffee, eat papayas and pepitas. We stayed up late laughing, sharing old memories, and at bedtime listened in as my oldest read several chapters aloud of her favorite book series, “The Land of Stories.”
We turned off electronics, had limited access to WIFI, left our laptops at home, and guess what?
We had the most connected, restful, grounding, deeply enjoyable vacation time we’ve had in a decade.
All this to say, whatever family you choose, make the time for them, because the saying “time flies” is not just a cliche.
Tomorrow is not promised. Make the most of today.
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So to recap, here are my 3 Life Lessons From a Small Mexican Town Visit.
Being Still Naturally Creates Inspiration
Convenience Is Not Always “Better”
Family Can Still Be The Priority
Whether your time to reset is solo and away from family so you can appreciate them again, or only consists of two days versus two weeks, remember that your version of going “off-the-grid,” is unique to you and can positively impact your state of mind and focus as you create a life you’re excited to live out.
You are the architect and the painter and slowing down to enjoy life’s greatest gifts, will only enhance the light and art you bring to the world.
Rooting for you always and if you skipped to the bottom to check out the BEST traditional churros in Mexico, check out this quick video featuring Churros Los Juanes.)
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Brianna Ruelas is a Dallas Based Strategy Consultant for Performing Artists, Reality TV Music Coach, Singer-Songwriter and Best Selling Author to Make Reality TV Your Reality: Crush Your Reality Singing Show Audition & Ignite Your Music Career. Most recently, Brianna produced the one and only, Reality Singing Show Summit. As a singer and performer for thirty years, Brianna has studied internationally and performed all genres, from jazz to rock to pop, received a BA in Theatre Arts from Pepperdine University, and spent years honing her musical theatre chops. After graduating college, Brianna departed from the theatre to pursue music as a solo artist and also worked as a commercial voiceover actor. Brianna has fronted her own rock band and experienced the reality television craze in its early days, as a Top 100 finalist on American Idol, Season 4. Brianna's expertise and background as a Singer/Songwriter, Vocal & Performance Coach and Small Business Owner, led her to mentor and consult with indie artists and bands, to help them realize successful careers in music. She is passionate about encouraging others on their journey and aligning them with the Big Picture of their Music Business! Seeking solutions is part of Brianna's DNA. Brianna is a proud Wife and Mother, Creator of the Female Performing Artist Connection & Every Mom’s Story Blog and works alongside her husband managing the operations and marketing for their Dallas family restaurant, Victor Hugo’s. Follow her on Instagram & Facebook @briannaruelasmusic |
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