Life's Wins

Earlier this month, I spent a week in Las Vegas. Why? Last Christmas, I gave my husband and son four tickets to see my second favorite college football team, LSU, play at Allegiant Stadium. Yes, I know that game is a one-day event, but why not stretch out a Vegas trip?!

After the game, I lost count of how many people said — in person or on social media, “I can’t believe people spent that much money to travel and watch LSU lose,” or “Glad I didn’t waste all that money.”

Yes, LSU lost. And sure, that was briefly disappointing for my husband and son. But me? Not a single complaint. Why?  Because the WINS of the trip far outweighed the LSU loss.

So, here are the Top 10 Wins that made our Vegas adventure worth EVERY penny!

1.      LSU Spirit! If you’ve ever traveled to see your favorite team, you know it’s an experience like no other. The energy is off the charts when you throw Las Vegas into the mix! The countless “Geaux Tigahs” (Bonus points if you read that in Coach O's voice.) and LSU chants throughout the Strip and casinos were fun to participate in.

2.      A Foodie First! I took my son on his first-ever Foodie Tour. Spending time with adult kids is always special, but sharing a first always makes my Mama Heart sing.

3.      Walk it Off!  There’s a lot of walking in Vegas. A lot. Those 30,000 steps per day may not have offset the excellent food indulgences, but it may have helped. (I realize some people would not count this as a WIN, but we enjoy the walkability of Vegas.)

4.      Survivors!  It was August. It’s the desert. It was so stinkin’ HOT. I am surprised and grateful that we did not get heat stroke or die from the SEARING Las Vegas heat.

5.      That Service! Lately, I’ve gotten used to receiving average (or worse) service, but in Vegas, every experience was made better because of the jaw-dropping service. Wow!

6.      Welcome Home! We ran into people from Louisiana — some we hadn’t seen in years, others we see regularly, so the reunion vibe was strong!

7.      Breaking Records! Don’t believe it was a homecoming? The game set a record for the biggest crowd to ever attend a football game in Allegiant Stadium with 63,969 attendees. (Super Bowl LVIII had only 61,629 attendees!) LSU fans were 60/40.

8.      Escaping the Grind! We needed a break from the day-to-day grind, and Vegas delivered! There’s so much to do that doesn’t involve gambling, and we did (almost) all the things!

9.      Friendly Skies! In today’s environment, zero flight issues are a miracle, and we thoroughly appreciated that miracle!

10.  Avoiding a House Fire! After seven days, I returned home to a coffee pot that

was left on. The coffee was scorched and stuck to the bottom of the carafe, but thankfully, my house only smelled burnt!  

Ultimately, the experience was money well spent. Perspective. It’s all about perspective. Of course, sometimes, it’s difficult to see the WINS when things go wrong. (In life’s bigger tragedies, wins may be impossible to find.). But in everyday life, there are countless WINS/Blessings that I love to track!

What Wins have you experienced today?