I’m revisiting a fun practice I did for a number of my trips in 2017. Commandments of new cities I visit.
I’ve stepped away from it my last few trips…maybe I’ll do a throwback to them sometime. After this really inspiring trip to St.Petersburg I wanted to bring back my commandments.
If you’d like a deeper dive into what the commandments of cities I visit are you can check out this post.
For now I’ll offer this quick re-fresh… these commandments of the city are for me to hold my memories of the time I visited and hopefully allow anyone who feels invited, an opportunity to adopt them when visiting this locale, or any other for that matter.
I came to St. Petersburg to lead a Barrier Breaking Seminar for corporate America. It’s not really ever been a part of my vision to work in this realm and really I’m the antithesis of corporate since I’ve always made my way through the world working for myself.
This opportunity was one which allowed me to stay in alignment with the curriculum I teach girls and also get paid to speak in a different arena. So, I said yes and I flew to St. Petersburg. Let’s get on with it…
THE COMMANDMENTS OF ST.PETE’S
Delays are Divine Intervention
I was running late. (is this news to any of you?) and I couldn’t check in online. The attendant called the flight deck and looked at me, “Run! When you miss this flight don’t come back here have them re-book you there”. It was a guarantee miss according to her and I was- in the moment- eternally grateful I had purchased the Clear service. I by-passed the lines and got through running to my gate only to discover it was delayed by an hour. As I sat there wondering why on earth I pushed so hard to make it I had 5 separate women approach me and say they saw me running through the airport and they loved my leggings, asking where I got them. I was wearing the ones you see in the pic. Two things here are divine for me.
- I’m getting ready to release a new series of my own I AM designed leggings and only YESTERDAY thought to myself “How will I get the message out about them”. Hard divine answer, “Just wear them Lisa!”
- When delays happen there’s always an opportunity for something else, if you’re open to it.
How often do you get stuck in a line? (compliment someone) Or stuck in traffic? (turn on an awesome song and jam out or listen to an inspiring podcast) or get bypassed for the promotion? (something else is in the works)
This second one is really primary because a lot of my peeps are competing on ANW (American Ninja Warrior) in Minneapolis this weekend and I didn’t get selected to compete this year. The delay offered up this incredible experience to speak at an event….and speaking to groups is something I’ve been very clear I want more of in my life.
Trust a delay as divine intervention and stay open to what happens next!
Enjoy the Drive
I’m not a fan of driving. I’d always rather be a passenger and on this trip I needed to pick up a rental in Tampa and make my own way to St. Petersburg. I was fumbling with my Waze app and then hit the Howard Frankland bridge. As I drove over the water… and the sun was setting a seagull flew along side me and I had an incredible moment of presence. Pure gratitude for the drive and the view and all of the adventure I was about to experience. I took a long, deep breath in. Then out. I took another one and said out loud, “Thank you for this life”.
Wherever you’re going. Whatever the time. Taking a deep breath in and enjoying the drive we call life is something you’ll hold dear to your heart.
Pizza & Patio
This one isn’t hard. I went to Noble Crust and they had a craft pizza night. I sat on the patio and enjoyed a delish ‘za with awareness and joy for my surroundings, the contentment of the moment, and the excitement for what tomorrow would bring.
Create your perfect bite. Breathe in the air. Say THANK YOU to the Universe, God, whatever you wish to call it. Dive in. Enjoy. Imagine it’s the last bite you’ll ever take and savor everything about it.
Breaking Through is what Matters 
The reason I came on this trip was to do a corporate speaking event with Team Bonding. The seminar is Breaking Barriers and over the course of 2 hours I lead people through a conversation of breaking through a barrier in their life which culminates in breaking a REAL BOARD with their barrier written on one side and the outcomes from breaking through on the other. It was an emotional journey and at the beginning of the seminar the organizers asked me to only teach the hand breaking technique rather than another option (teaching foot technique as well).
As the seminar progressed there were many participants struggling to break through. After many attempts all but one broke through with the hand technique. There was one remaining and I WANTED IT FOR HER!!! So bad. I remembered my own first experience breaking barriers with a board and how difficult it was for me.
After many attempts we shifted direction and I asked her if she’d like to try another way. She said, “Yes!” I taught her the foot breaking technique and she broke right through.
I had a moment where I wished for her to break through ‘the other way’ and then I remembered…we all have our own ways of breaking through barriers. One way is not better than the other, despite what popular belief might be.
What matters is breaking through.
It’s important, so I repeat…what matters is breaking through. Don’t stop at your barrier, find your own way to break through. However you do it is just right for you and it will shift your life for the better.
Real Life Connection is Soul Work
When I popped into Florida I hit up FB and asked if any of my virtual friends where around the area. I loved the responses and Judy (a friend from A-fest) sent me a PM. She was close-ish (an hour away) and wanted to meet. OMG, SO grateful for willing and beautiful relationships like this…she made the drive and we had dinner.
There’s no way on the planet I could have the connection I had with her online. Heart-to-Heart hugs (over 20 seconds), eye gazing, full presence, phones put away, total engagement, inspiring conversations, growth & learning. It all happened in real life and real life is where the soul work lives.
Don’t get me wrong…if you’re reading this, of course it’s *DUH online. We get great stuff from the internets and positive + intentional use of social media to connect has serious impact for the better.
Don’t mistake it for soul work though. This happens eye to eye, heart to heart, ear to ear. Healing happens in person. If you want more of it take the opportunity to reach out to a virtual friend you’d like to meet and create connection you can only get from being in their presence.
You Get What You Pay For
Oh my this is an adventure- says the gypsy traveler Lisa.
Oh my this could be your limiting belief you don’t have enough money- says the traveler in me who just read, Jen Sincero’s new book and is ready to up level my traveling budget.
Yes. I love Airbnb. And many of you may also know I make a good source of my income renting out my completely adorable and blissed out condo.
So I went on the site to book my accommodations. Oh, Lordy. I found something for $35/night. Score!
Ummmmm…..depends on your version of a score.
Late night, had too much to drink? A White Castle open sign is a score.
Booking on Airbnb and looking for a deal? $35 is a score if, as you enter the space, they remind you to “please lock your room”. Errrrr, Ok.
Oh, and you might fall off the toilet seat because it isn’t screwed into the base.
And it might be hot as Hades, but at least the shower comes on in only ice cold H2O version so you could do your own weird version of Russian sauna (10 minutes in your Hades temp room followed by 2 minutes in the coldest shower ever…back and forth until you finally fall asleep in exhaustion).
When I say Hot as Hades. I mean it. Outdoors in Florida was cooler than this room. Hence the pic and my water bottle trying to hold the window open…because of course it wouldn’t stay open on its own.
And then you might remember you still have your own barriers to break through. Mostly surrounding your financial stability.
Side note…I spent more on my pizza and patio night then I did on one nights stay at the airbnb. So yes, you get what you pay for, and yes, I clearly have priorities in my life.
Mainly being food. I love it. No apologies.
Oh, this was a fun practice for me to get back to, thanks for joining me in visiting a new city and new commandments for life.
xx, LVA-