Bachelor's Weekend

This past weekend was spent at a Bachelor's Party, that lasted from Friday Night to Sunday Noon, for my friend (college and post-college). Prior to this event, I held onto a certain amount of stress and anxiety. As the days got closer and the more I talked with some of the guys in the group that were going, I felt a bit more at calm. At first I was convincing myself that I would have a bad time, because a friend of a friend (who I remember having an awkward moment with a few years ago) would be going. I was afraid I'd have to be in the same hotel room as him or on the same car ride.

I think preparation, planning ahead, and leaving room for flexibility is what helps me the most. I know some people who run on 80 percent flexibility and 20 percent preparation and planning. I can't operate that way and that would only spike up my anxiety and panic.

I made sure to bring proper clothing attire, pull out a good amount of cash, brought multivitamins, chose "healthier" choices when eating on the road, and reassuring myself that the weekend is going to be great. The weekend was ultimately for my friend and the guys going would bask in his bachelordom. I think for the majority of the time, I got myself to think outside of myself. Rather then worry and constantly think about how I might look being with "these" group of people (that sounds horrible and I actually sound and think that way most of the times)… I got myself to be thinking "I'm with a big group of friends and we're going to run Las Vegas".

The most anticipated moment, in my head, would be dealing with the Gentlemen's Club situation. I've wrote about this before and the truth is, I'm never enthusiastic about going to one.

Below are reason's why:
1. You're at the focus of attention from all the patrons.
2. A majority of them are aggressive.
3. You spend money / They hustle you for all of your money
4. The atmosphere is filled with smoke

The first night there and the actual planned night was actually handled with less anxiety and stressed as I anticipated. I knew what the weekend was meant to be. I did not put up any resistance and I accepted what we would be doing in Las Vegas: Gamble, Drink, and Gentlemen's Club.

The actual planned Bachelor's Party went off great. I think I enjoyed it, because it was planned and setup. Another friend had contacts with a club. We got a booth reserved. Limo picked us up and we had bottle service. I admit that alcohol had it's hand in my state of mind, but it was a weekend of hanging out with the guys. I was much looser and I was actually talking a lot with the patrons and just having fun with the bullsh*t my friends would throw at them.

"Ohh.. that's correct, I am the owner of the hottest IPO on the market right now"

Another thing I did was grow out my mustache for the month of May. It wasn't really planned, but when I saw how thick my mustache was growing in, I decided to keep it. The ends are starting to curl and I've never gotten that far. I usually get self-conscious about how I look with a mustache, but I allowed myself to grow with the look. In fact, I'm owning it, which is why I think I don't give a sh*t about the negative thoughts I would be having.

Here's how I think now: How will I be perceived by other people with this cheesy mustache vs. I'm going to bring grown man mustache swag back.

In conclusion, the weekend was great and I'm now recovering from the unhealthy eating, drinking, and cigarette smoking (yes, I know… I don't smoke, but I was drunk) and I'm trying to get myself in fighting shape. The wedding is coming up shortly and I have to get ready for that. I'm making the wedding slideshow, which will be presented during the reception dinner, for the couple and they like what I've done so far. I have a few edits and a lot of fine tuning to do.

Here's to believing in more of myself, to knowing that confidence is always there if I looked for it, and to accept any insecurities and being able to grow and develop from it.