Stefan-DeepDown: The BA Breakthrough/My Two (Argentenian) Pesos

I met my friends, Mentrail and Tyrone in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was such a great feeling to see some familiar faces from home -- especially from two people that I have become so close with.

Buenos Aires is absolutely stunning. I adored the architecture, the food (the empanadas, the Mendoza wine, and the ice cream were heavenly - wow!), the San Telmo Market on Sunday morning; And of course, the famous Recoleta Cemetary where Eva Peron is buried.

The trip was a great experience! However, most everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. The hotel that we reserved, overbooked and sent us to another one that was out of the way. Since Mentrail and I were staying together in a separate hotel from Tyrone, we got lost and couldn't find him. When we finally did, Tyrone became terribly ill from food poisoning and needed medical attention. I really didn't get a chance to hang with him but for a few hours. And to make things even more unpleasant, it "seemed" like the local Argentenians didn't take to us too kindly. They would stop and stare at us in the street like we were from Planet Zoogaloo or somewhere! I guess to them, maybe we were. Argentina is way down on the map, right? (Thinking back, I think they were just curious). Unfortunately, I think I allowed all of this get the best of me. I could just hear myself being so negative, and the more negative I became, the worse things seemed (and it wasn't bad AT ALL except for Ty getting sick).

Mentrail had this book in his luggage that he had just read on his flight down to Argentina. It's called, The Secret: The Power by Rhonda Byrne, and he let me borrow it.

In a nutshell, the book states that you get what you give out. You give off negativity, you'll get it right back. It's the basic law of attraction. If you're even finding yourself thinking negative thoughts, you must find a way to combat that by immediately thinking of things that you love. Make a list if you have to. Love conquers all. After reading this, I'm a changed person. I want to continue to show love to my family, friends and even strangers. I WILL show love toward things that I want out of life. I WILL learn to speak Spanish, I WILL have a loving partner, and I WILL have a career that I love. I MUST stay positive.

After reading most of The Power, I was tested. I was waiting to board the flight back to Quito from BA. The ticket agent announced that the flight was delayed two hours. I sighed a bit, but I was starving! I went to get something to eat a few steps away in one of the overpriced restaurants. I must have been gone about 30 minutes when I saw that same ticket agent run over to the restaurant area shouting "The flight to Quito is departing!" I jumped up and immediately ran to the gate where I saw the plane rolling back on the tarmac. I was devastated!!!

I remained calm and remembered "you get what you give out, stay positive and imagine yourself on a plane back to Quito". The flight employee was all geared up to argue with me (because he was definitely in the wrong). I simply asked what I needed to do. He replied that I was going to have to purchase a new ticket downstairs. I remained firm that he said the flight was delayed a total of two hours. He kindly walked away, but an extremely kind manager, Diana, saw the situation and came up to me and told me that she would help me. And help is what she did. She changed my flight for the next morning, walked me back through immigration, helped me with all of that paperwork and finally, reserved a car service to take me to one of the most fabulous hotels that I've ever stayed in. Meals were included. The next morning, a driver was waiting for me to take me back to the airport. I felt like a superstar! LOL.

So this entry isn't really so much about the trip to Buenos Aires. Rather it's about how we as a people can continue to grow and love. The book wasn't telling me anything I didn't know, but it was a friendly reminder (intervention maybe?) that was right on time. You get what you give out. Here's to love and positive thoughts. And that's my two pesos...