From the moment we arrived at the Vail / Eagle airport, through the 1 hr. 15 mins. van ride to Aspen, I could see and feel how you could live life at a leisurely pace here. Majestic mountains spanned all around us and offered a sturdy foreground to a sunset sky. Log cabins were nestled in the mountains’ bases, as if they were taking shelter in the crook of a father’s arm. Clouds were fully inflated and resting comfortably in mid-air. I felt as though I had walked into a real life version of a Bob Ross painting.
As we got closer to town, people and their dogs were biking and walking, not as a form of exercise, but as a way of life. Even the drawing of a deer on the usual highway warning deer Xing sign seemed to portray a “I may or may not cross this path, but if I do, I hope you’ll slow down a bit” kind of feel. I realized that the daze I was in or the way my blink slowed down to a slow eyelid rising and falling motion had more to do with the world I had just entered than the long travel day I just encountered.
Once you get to this state of mind, you can’t help but think of how busy your life has become and how much of the scenery you have missed. I tend to go even deeper and reflect on how much I have focused on getting to the next level – career-wise – and haven’t spent a lot of time enjoying the fruits of my labors. 10 years ago, I began my touring career as a corporate sponsor rep on the Lilith Fair Tour. I spent most of that time networking and meeting the people that would lead me to my next tour. I kept my eyes upward and forged ahead, taking on more responsibilities that would lead me to my next role. From corporate sponsor coordinator to catchall tour gal (dressing rooms, tickets & passes, photographs, etc.) to assistant tour manager… there was always a goal in mind that would push me to work that much harder so I could get to the next level.
And now I’m here. I’m a Tour Manager of a hugely popular and highly respected music artist. This is the goal I set out to achieve in 1998 and I have achieved it. I hadn’t made any plans after this because this is really all I’ve ever wanted to do! In the past, I’ve been quick to lay out my timeline of where I’m going and what I’ve already accomplished. It seems a bit strange to not have that determined “I’m almost there!” feeling in the back of my mind, but I’m realizing that the new challenge is to actually be in one spot, still focused and hard working at the job at hand, but to actually pause and enjoy what I have worked so hard to get to.
And while I’m working on the “be-ing” in my current professional role, I will also take Aspen’s advice to slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery.
