2016 RISE Festival Event

Review by Jodee Bowden, Travel & Social Media Coordinator

WebSite: http://risefestival.com/

I have to start out by saying that this experience was Euphoric.  The RiSE event happens every year around October in Jean, NV or The Mojave desert which is only a 40 minute drive from Las Vegas. Certain Hotels in Las Vegas such as the Paris have shuttles out to the event.  I live near Las Vegas so it was a smooth quick drive.

I suggest you get there early even though the event opens at 3pm, over 10,000 people will be there. We got there an hour early and the staff members were very helpful in directing organized parking and close to the entrance.  There is a 1000 meter walk in sand and rocks so wear comfortable shoes.

As we walked up to the RISE festival there were kind staff that greeted us and letting everyone know where the bathroom locations are and answering any questions you may have.  You receive a nice bamboo mat including a pen to write on your lanterns.  We got settled and grabbed something to eat but had a hard time deciding since they had quite a few food vendors. They offered Wine and Lagunitas beer.  I suggest you grab food before 7:30pm or you will miss the 1^st lantern take off.  There are 2 take offs. The weather was perfect with a slight cool breeze.

As the sun set and the calming music was playing, they told us to light our torches which are already provided for you. Thousands of torches were lit and the darkness just glowed.
 

As we lit our lanterns with messages on them, they had a countdown…. 3..2..1.. lift off. It was breath taking. To see over 20,000 lanterns lift up and people shouting with laughter was so touching. If anything to experience in your life, this will lift you up. After the lanterns are all released, they rewarded us all with a brief firework show. I am still on cloud 9 after 3 days.

I also purchased 2 RISE shirts which were a descent price for high quality fabric.

The online purchase went smoothly and picking up the tickets took a while but the staff was doing the best job and was organized.

I would recommend this wonderful experience to everyone!!!!!

There is no wrong way to experience RISE.   I hope to go again and again.

The Good Life

Most of my close friends know that music
moves me. When I'm smoking a cigar on
the beach while working on my laptop the
music gets me in the mood. Without
music to speed me along I would fall
asleep and no work would be done.

This post will focus on one of my all time
favorites "Frank Sinatra".

The song titled "The Good Life" reminds
me that my life is like a vintage wine.
With extra years you taste better.
Below are the song lyrics. Enjoy!



It's the good life, full of fun, seems to be the ideal,
Yes, the good life, lets you hide all the sadness you feel,
You won't really fall in love 'cause you can't take the
chance, So be honest with yourself, don't try to fake romance.

Yes, the good life, to be free and explore the unknown,
Like the heartache when you learn you must face them alone.

Peace be the Journey!

Appreciate Life!

Appreciation: “thanks or gratitude; assessment of the true worth or value of persons or things.”

Appreciate Yourself

It’s soothing to sit and reflect or meditate in a quiet, peaceful place of comfort, like the beach; or in a certain special dwelling, turning off all of the noise to think about life and the things that you have; maybe even listening to some jazz. But everyone should have their own special place to go to. For many, it’s the simple things in life that make them happy: looking at the ocean, watching the sun set, spending some time outside under the evening stars, and just honing in on what you have accomplished. Sit back and reflect on what you have done as an individual, the things you have accomplished,and then you will begin to realize that life is wonderful.

Appreciate Your Family

Appreciating the family members you have in your life and appreciating the fact that there is someone who is always going to genuinely be there for you to lean on or just listen with all of their heart because they have invested ample time in you and you, them. That’s what family is all about- “family doesn’t leave family behind”.

There are many families out there that are separated, that don’t speak to one another for years because of the resentment. But if you really focus on appreciating all of your family members, especially the ones you haven’t spoken to in a while or that you are feeling animosity towards, you will find it is way easier to love than hate. Even a simple gesture as just going up to that family member and saying “I appreciate you” or getting a thank you card and simply just thanking that person for being in your life will bless you and those around you.

Appreciating Friends and Loved-ones

Appreciating the fact that your friends or loved-one knows you completely and has chosen to be in your life and that they choose to spend time with you through the good and the bad times, is necessary. There are definitely people who may be friends or acquaintances who want to be friends with you for unpretentious reasons like money, social status, but you will know who the real genuine people in your life are. Just take some time out of your day to call, text, email, social network, or the good old fashion way- speaking to them face to face to say I appreciate you for being in my life and for caring about me and about what happens to me. A simple statement like saying “I appreciate you” goes a long way.

Appreciate Your Career

How quickly can you get angry or frustrated at your boss, coworkers, or others within your company? For many, this happens everyday. If you have your own business, you need to appreciate your customers because they are the ones making your business successful, but at the same time if you are an employee and you work for a company, be thankful that your boss even hired you and brought you on-board to bring value to their organization. Whether you are working at McDonalds or a big organization, appreciate the fact that you are there receiving the benefits. Appreciate the free knowledge that you are gaining, the networking, the experiences that you wouldn’t otherwise have, the events throughout the day that make for great subjects of conversation. At the end of the day, you could be in a worse situation. Be appreciative today and go up to your boss, coworker, or employee and say “I appreciate you.” Even a nice gesture like treating the team with Starbucks, beagles, or a card will go a long way. Overall, just appreciate what you have and life will be wonderful because you will look within yourself and know that the value that you add to everyone’s life and all  these subject areas will definitely give you light.

CigarPlayer(a.k.a. Jerry Flanagan)

Shout Outs:(a.k.a. people that helped present this blog post):

1. Thanks to Erika Hendrickson, for writing the article.2. Thanks to Ralph Nordstorm Photography for the photos >http://ralphnordstromphotography.com/3. Thanks to all my 10,000+ fans in social media land! Appreciate you. Peace.

Sometimes Being Alone Is A Good Thing

Edits by:Rob S, animals rock, Flickety, Glutted

If you're reading this you're probably really bored and, at the moment, have no one to be with.

On the other hand, you may have spent the last 3 months partying (and spending a lot of money) with every friend in your social circle and you just need a break. Either way, "sometimes Being Alone Is A Good Thing".

Whether you long for a boyfriend or girlfriend,
miss your family and friends,or need a break,
this blog post will guide you on how to cope with living alone. Keep in mind that humans are indeed social animals however, that doesn't mean that we can't be perfectly happy outside of society too.

TIP 1: Be happy.

Easier said then done right? Remember, its a state of mind. Live a life of optimism.
Happiness comes from within regardless of your situation, so don’t use any excuses,
such as being alone. In fact, being alone gives you time to think about how cool you really are and what you bring to the table once you do hang out with your friends, family and co-workers.

TIP 2: Get out and do something on your own.

Do everything you would normally do with a partner or friend. Many times it
isn't the partner or friend you are missing, but the activities and hobbies you
shared. Take yourself out for a date. For example, if you would have gone out to
dinner or to a movie with someone, then take yourself out to a movie or to a nice
restaurant. Don't hold yourself back.

Also, don't be afraid to get out there on your own. A lot of people stay in doors
because they are afraid of what other people will think if they are out on the town
by themselves. Don't worry about other people, enjoy finding new places or doing
new things on your own first. Then later you can share with your friends.



TIP 3: Learn something new.

Learning is the most important aspect of living alone. It helps to keep
the boogeyman away, and also gives you something to talk about when you do
socialize.

Learning is also incredibly more efficient when you don't have social
responsibilities like family to take care of, or a girlfriend or boyfriend to
entertain.

Learning isn't just exclusive to books (although they are a great source of
knowledge). You can learn to do anything by just practicing. Enrolling in classes
is fun and also helps with your social life because you will meet new people in your
classes. If you're not so much into the "meeting people" thing, then the Internet is a great way
to learn pretty much everything (i.e. YouTube, eHow.com, Yahoo Answers, etc.).

Consider learning: Indoor Activities: A Foreign Language, Painting, Yoga,
Mathematics, Science, Art Appreciation, A Musical Instrument such as piano or flute.
Outdoor Activities: Gardening,Fencing, Tennis, Golf. Or Combination -
things you can do indoors and out: Photography, Drawing.

TIP 4: Get a pet.

Humans need affection, without it they become bitter and hate the world around
them. Pets are always a source of affection and will give loads of it endlessly.
Pets also provide someone to talk to. No, it's not weird that you talk to your pet,
it's weird if you don't. Just be cautious that your pet doesn't talk back. If so,
seek professional help.

If you are aloof and self-sufficient, tropical fish, hamsters, budgies or
finches are great choices. If you like a little interaction, but not a lot of
maintenance, try a cat. If you want to be very hands-on, spend lots of time and
get lots of feedback, a dog is for you.



TIP 5: Listen to lots of music.
If you are a music fan then you can enjoy being alone by listening to music
you enjoy or music that brings back memories of certain events (happy or sad).

This tip is great if you love all sorts of music genres like: Jazz, Blues, R&B,
Country, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Reggeaton and of course rock-n-roll (50s & 80s and
some 21st century songs)

Really good music will get you jumpin' and groovin' in your own home, at the beach,
bus stop or just standing in line with your iPOD headphones on. Your spirits
will be lifted real fast to a great song.

Finally, go outside.

It's a big world out there, and you're only seeing a small fraction of it.
Forget the people, just enjoy what life has to offer. Go to a new part of the city,
drive to the next city over from yours, drive two cities over from yours,
go to a different "county" or "country", go to different venues/restaurants/bars
in your town and other towns.

Once you do that, then people will want to know and be with you. Frankly, you won't
have a choice but to have friends!

Peace be the Journey,
- VIP Gypsy