Sometimes I take stillness for granted.

The constant noise outside of my four walls is often in competition with the noise from within. The chirp of the phone alerting me of a text message. The periodic soundtrack of rants and raves, laughter, and 15-second sound clips as I scroll through my timeline.

Even things that are meant to be silent are loud AF. A quiet prayer or moment of deep reflection turns into a rush of thoughts crescendoing to a point where I become overwhelmed. And thus, I find myself seeking to do simpler tasks— clean the dishes for the umpteenth time. Oh, it’s after twelve, time to get the mail! — in a feeble attempt to distract me from my own thoughts. And that’s just on the weekend.

During the week there’s an added layer of meetings, minute tasks, and project deadlines that pile in from my nine-to-five. And that’s in addition to the everyday burdens of life. And yet somehow, I’m still supposed to be creative after all of this. I’m supposed to sit down after a long day of pumping and dumping energy into every other facet of my life and create something brilliant that will make opening up apps worthwhile for those who choose to tune into my visual diary. Ironically, the very thing that I have the least time to focus on is what brings me the most joy. I’m not complaining though, I’m working on changing that last line. For I refuse to believe that turning CEOs into billionaires while the rest of us struggle to keep up with inflation is my destiny (seriously, the company I work for got acquired for $12 billion, of which those who toiled for years were given pennies). To do so comes with sacrifice. Saying no to things that don’t align with my future. Saying yes to opportunities that sometimes scare me.

And in the case of a day like today, it means embracing the fact that sometimes I simply need a change of environment. To leave the comfort of my home for places and spaces that inspire, but don’t distract. I’ve always found hotels to be a perfect match. So I hopped on Hotel Tonight to see if there were any deals in my area for a one-night staycation. A deal of the day for The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel had me spending $30 less than I would’ve if I had booked with the other discount brands (this isn’t an ad, but feel free to use my discount code: KMCBRIDE66 to save a little coin on your first stay). I packed just enough to feed my creativity, and committed a set time to write and work in between exploring the property.

I realize that I need more days like this. Whether it’s taking a day to play in my own backyard or hopping on a plane and wandering elsewhere, I need to leave behind the mundane and get that little taste of magic that keeps me going. Or at the very least, keeps me from falling victim to my own diversions.

Featured Location // The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel // Get $25 off when you book your stay with Hotel Tonight with code: KMCBRIDE66.

Write Spaces: Kimpton Sylvan Hotel

Sometimes I take stillness for granted.