Let's Fast Forward: My Post Pokemon GO Fest, Chicago, Thoughts

Coming Back to Reality

For everyone who was lucky enough to attend Pokemon GO Fest, Chicago, the thought of leaving could not have been easy.  The city was beautiful, clean, and the entire experience was amazing. That may be just my opinion, but, I know a few people would agree with me.  What was hard for me was when the thought hit me that I had to head back home.  My anxiety and stress levels had been so low while up in Chicago because I did not have the pressure of my home, or work life, but had time to finally relax.  My nerves are usually so bad that I bite my finger nails down to the nail buds, and I noticed on the way back home to New Orleans that my nails had actually grown a good bit.  That of course surprised me, causing me to become emotional.  Realizing just how much stress my every day life causes me, shocked me.  When I got closer and closer to home, though, my anxiety really kicked in, causing me to just start crying.  I had been away from my "norm" and was sad I had to go back to it.  Not many people would understand this or would be able to comprehend all that was going through my mind.  Most people already know that a "vacation" is only temporary and it is not "real" life.  I enjoyed myself so much that I had blocked out the thought of the trip home.  I focused on having a good time and enjoying the company of other Pokemon players from around the world who loved the game as much as I do.  

Returning to My Usual Routine

Everyone has some type of routine they get used to once they do it for a while, on the daily basis.  With going out of town, especially driving up to Chicago and not flying, it took a lot longer and it was more tiring.  With my love of being active, I try to exercise as often as possible.  I usually get up at around 5 am and walk for a couple hours before then a couple more hours after work, while hunting/checking stops for research.  Pokemon GO helps me to stay on that active path because of the goals I can set for myself.  So, with traveling as far as I did, I did not get to walk as much, but I truly had not had a rest day in a long time.  I came back home so relaxed, that now I see it was needed.  You cannot always allow yourself to be on "GO" because you will eventually crash.  I never had the chance to "crash" but, once I laid down, I felt dead tired.  Having the GO Fest event lasting 10 hours, plus walking back to the hotel, I had to accept that being tired was "ok."  My mindset was fighting me the whole time I was on vacation because of the mentality that I do not deserve to relax or ever enjoy myself, but, I earned it.  I had an amazing time and went through states I had never visited.  The whole experience has made me realize that getting out and seeing the world, is not a bad thing.  It is required.  I had been stuck in my little world thinking everywhere you would go would be just like it is here.  As ignorant as that sounds, I did not know any better.  I had never been out of the "South" United States and never taken a vacation before.  It was all eye opening and I learned a lot about how other people live, work, and think compared to my upbringing.  This trip was supposed to be fun, not a history lesson, but, I did not mind the knowledge I acquired along the way.  I am a better person for it and know a lot more about some of the other regions of the country that I live in.