The country. Not the town in Missouri.

In 2015, I was approaching a milestone birthday in a year that was, well, being kind of an asshole. I’m not one for throwing parties for myself, so after talking it out with my better half, we knew there was only one way we could celebrate my birthday while also giving 2015 the middle finger…

We were going to Cuba.

You might recall that there were still many restrictions on traveling to Cuba as a U.S citizen, but the Obama administration had done a few things here and there to make it possible. We needed to follow a few guidelines and go through a travel agency, which isn’t how we normally do it, but if it meant going to Cuba now – before there was a McDonald’s and Starbucks on every corner, or before travel opportunities were rescinded – then yeah, we were more than willing.

Expectations were high…

…and they were all exceeded. Every one of them. We drank every kind of mojito. We picked up some cigars. We bought some rum. We hit an open air art market and got some art. We hailed taxis that were late 50s convertible Chevys and Buicks.

The people were friendly, welcoming, and so inherently full of culture that it was contagious. It was a country full of pride, but there was something else, too. It took me a few days to put my finger on it, but I eventually figured it out: It was hope. Anticipation. A collective, cultural “potential energy.”

It was like when you’re at the show of your favorite band and the lights go out right before they walk on stage. The whole country was like that. Something was going to happen soon and no one knew what it was, but everyone was excited.

It took us a while to process the trip – even after we returned. Today, two years later, there are three main elements from this trip that were the most unexpected and best life lessons:

1. Necessity breeds creative ingenuity.

   You think you’re being eco-responsible and sustainable because you bring your own hemp bag to use at the grocery store? Ok, not bad, but most people in Cuba have kept their cars intact for over 50 years! With limited parts, mind you. They had no choice. The ones we rode in were gorgeous but all the ones we saw were running just fine. I imagine there was a lot of duct tape and wire hangers involved, but man oh man – that’s sustainability for you.

2. Necessity is an external force, but ambition can come from within.

   People were still ambitious in a communist country. For example, pay rates across professions were flat and there was therefore not really a need for children to attend college. But parents still sent their kids to college because of pride and ambition.

   It was eye-opening to see such internally-driven ambition prevalent and woven into the culture…not because it had to be there, but because the people willed it to exist.

3. Don’t ever be quick to judgement.

   It was the final night in Havana and we stayed out. Our tour guides met us out, not as tour guides so much, but as locals who wanted to have some drinks and socialize. We hit a few bars and had a blast. It was suggested that we go to one more place before heading back, so they chose a place called The Magic Flute.

   Ok. Sure.

   We entered into some old, poorly lit office building that looked like it was condemned years ago (it probably was). Dirty, gross, and no AC. Where. The. Hell. Were. We.

   “It’s on the 4th floor,” said our tour guide. Ok. Fine. Seems legit. Not really, though.

   The elevator opens and there is a 5 foot-tall, 60+ year-old Cuban man inside. He’s soaking with sweat and so is the little towel he’s holding with which he’s been wiping his face all night. It felt like a sauna in this 6-person elevator with eight people in it. The ride to the fourth floor seemed to take just over three hours. I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry. I might have done both.

   Then, the door opens and we spill out, exhaling at once. I immediately notice a velvet curtain which is promptly pulled open for us by a gorgeous young woman with an illuminating smile. I hear music. I hear laughing.

   We walk in and holy shit, it was the hippest and raddest bar I’ve ever been to. There was a band about to start. The lighting was amazing. The decor was impeccable. There was an outdoor balcony with a small pool. The place was packed. I couldn’t believe it. We had an absolute blast. A perfect final night in Havana.

. . .

That was Cuba.

It required something from you: trust, belief, the desire to look and explore beneath the surface. If you have those things, it opened itself up to you.

Since then, I’ve referred to these lessons every day while continuing to build Magic Room Brand: Use creativity to fulfill a need. Harness ambition from within. Know that it’s ok to be something that is best when explored and discovered by people willing to dig a little more.

As Hurricane Irma approaches, I’ll be praying for the safety of everyone and everything there.
Stay safe, Cuba.

#bewhatyoumake