Who Cries at the Cancun Airport?

I am currently sitting in Cancun airport with tears running down my face. Am I hurt? Has something terrible happened? NO! I just experienced the most incredible six days of my life and the emotions I am feeling are hard to fully express so here come the tears.

I arrived here in Cancun for a three-day concert event with my favorite musicians Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. Were the shows off the hook? HELL YES! Are they the trigger for my current emotional state? No.

The bond and culture that Dave Matthews fans embrace and foster organically is unique. There is a level of kindness, generosity, and love that is rare between strangers in the everyday world. Then we come together for a special experience and every one of the 5,000+ concert goers are instant friends. We have a shared “Dave” language that encompasses song lyrics, popular concert venues, and the silliness that is Dave Matthews when he shares yet another story about poop. Yep, I just said poop!

My best friend of 30+ years and I have talked about attending this event since it started six years ago. We said this is a bucket list item. And indeed, it was! What I did not expect was to say “I cannot wait to come back next year!” God willing, I will come back each year that my beloved favorite musicians keep finding passion and purpose to perform this event. Why would I do that and not travel to other destinations you may be wondering? Kelly go expand your mindset and experience with other countries and cultures! Well, keep reading my beautiful friends.

What I did not anticipate was meeting incredible people who I know, without a doubt, are now friends for life. The universe is an incredible vehicle and always knows how to place the right people in your path. I am leaving with a handful of new friends who I absolutely adore and cannot wait to call, make plans with to meet up with, and most likely attend future Dave Matthews shows with. We shared so much about ourselves, and it came so naturally. We talked about home cities, professions, families, relationships, emotional moments in life, all while floating in pools with our Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds personalized cups and mugs we brought with us for the endless drink options. There were laughs, tears, respectful opposing opinions, ideas for businesses, travel plans laid out, and so much more.

To leave here with not only this shared experience, but also strongly bonded friendships is nothing I ever anticipated. If you know me, you know I love a Dave Matthews concert. In fact, the frequency of my attendance at “Dave” shows (as we lovingly call them) probably borders on obsessive. However, there is a culture that fills my cup like nothing else. I always leave filled with joy, fulfillment, and new friends. EVERY SINGLE DAMN TIME!

Why even share about this experience when I am someone in the LinkedIn world steeped in senior living and aging services? I have said it a couple times now….culture. When we consider a community setting in our space what brings the residents and employees together? Culture! What brings residents and employees together? Shared experiences! What brings residents and employees together? Talking and bonding! Why, oh why, must we over complicate this incredible space we know as senior living? What is the value add of considering a senior living setting? Culture, shared experiences, and bonding over commonalities!

I know one thing, this event has turned out to be anything but a bucket list item because I will go again. I will meet incredible new friends. I will shed tears over a beautiful rendition of “Bartender” because the lyrics “If I go, before I’m old” hits me like a Mack Truck! I will leave you with these parting words of deep emotion, sentiment, and appreciation for each of you taking the time to read this….”Eat, Drink, and Be Merry”!