If you’re an introvert, or a highly sensitive person, you’ll probably relate to what I’m sharing today. (I’m an introvert and consider myself toward the highly sensitive end of the spectrum.) And if you’re an extrovert, this may help you understand your introverted friends a bit better.

It’s funny, my friend Anne (founder of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary) is constantly sending me hilarious “POV: You’re an Introvert” memes and reels like this one on Instagram, and in all honesty, it brings me quite a bit of comfort… they make me feel understood😆!

What’s also interesting to me, is how many acquaintances I have (often in the professional vegan space) are surprised to find out that I’m an introvert, I think because I really put myself out there professionally, DESPITE my introverted nature.

Anyway, all this to say that I recognize that I am ever-evolving, and I find it fascinating to oscillate between challenging myself to experience life outside of my comfort zone, and honoring who I am and what sparks joy, and what triggers anxiety…. Know what I mean?

When it comes to training, I LOVE challenging my body in ways that build strength, increase mobility and flexibility, and improve stamina, which absolutely means being uncomfortable. But to me, that’s a valuable, even exhilarating, type of discomfort.

When it comes to going to festivals on the other hand, being in huge crowds is a whole different type of discomfort… and one that I am finding less and less valuable.

That said, I went to the Austin City Limits Music Festival last weekend for the second time with Quinn (and 90,000 other people). His company puts on the event, and it is one hell of a music festival, with an awesome line-up of some of my favorite artists and bands including Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Leon Bridges, and Norah Jones.

There’s honestly no other way I would go to ACL except hand-in-hand with my man, who is so attuned to my needs it’s ridiculous (I’m such a lucky woman!)🥰. We had access to backstage, the “artist village,” the “Boom Boom” area, and company trailers where we could go to get out of the crowded gen pop area.

I always enjoy meeting Quinn’s friends and colleagues. Since we don’t live in the same city, going to the festival together makes me feel more connected to him and his life.

My dear friend Mahala, long-time vegan chef and Tantra teacher (who I interviewed on Rise & Thrive Episode 46, which listen to here or watch here)  came too, which was awesome. Talk about a beautiful, fun-loving soul!

So even though there were moments where I questioned what the hell I was doing there, I’m grateful I made the trip, and I will carry the memory of the adventure of it all with a smile on my face.

On another note, navigating the festival as a vegan was both easy and difficult. Easy in that there were plenty of vegan options to choose from among the vendors. Difficult because in the Boom Boom area they feature a celebrity chef who was cooking up whole pigs on display, which brought me back to a memory I have of being in elementary school, going to a Fourth of July barbeque where there was a pig roasting. I remember the horror I felt as I literally ran as far away as I could in tears.

Now, I get to practice both being connected to the pig’s suffering/death (along with the billions of other land animals who suffer and die each year), while also not only maintaining my composure, but also giving myself permission to stay connected to joy.

So there you go!

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