It’s a couple of days before the end of 2023, and my family and I decided to spend it in Las Vegas.
Interestingly, the last time I visited The Entertainment Capital of the World was when my wife and I celebrated New Year’s Eve in 2000 … Y2K!
This time, however, the kids are with us, and we are having a great time together because there is SO MUCH TO DO!
Given that none of us has any propensity to risk our money (i.e., gamble), we have time for other fun alternatives, including the NHL Golden Knights game against the LA Kings, the Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil, a helicopter tour over the strip, and tickets to the Bruno Mars New Year’s Eve concert!
There was a time when I was reluctant to make some of these purchases, but I now look for opportunities to invest in family experiences.
The Gordon Ramsay Burger Restaurant Experience
One afternoon, the kids decided that we should try the Gordon Ramsay Burger restaurant. When we made it there, the hostess noted that reservations were not accepted and that we needed to find the back of the line.
The kids did us a favor and stood in line while my wife and I walked through the nearby casino. We also had a chance to enjoy a glass of wine together at a bar that was playing her favorite Latino music. It was a win-win!
The Waiter
After about 45 minutes, the kids informed us via a text that we were near the front of the line. This plan worked to perfection! The kids stood in line, and we paid for the food! Ha!
Once seated, the waiter approached us, and here is part of the conversation:
ME: “Man! We just waited in line for about 45 minutes!”
WAITER: “Yeah… you can also expect to wait about 45 minutes for your food.” [He was not too friendly.]
ME: “I guess we better order soon.”
He took our drink orders and returned a few minutes later. He hardly made eye-contact with us and seemed to be in a rush to move along. He just did not appear to be happy about his work.
Staying Above It
There was a time when the behavior of the waiter would bother me to the point that I might complain to the manager. This reaction can easily lead to an uncomfortable outcome.
Instead, I took a completely different approach, one that even surprised me.
After the waiter delivered the onion ring appetizer, I said, “Thank you, my friend!”
From that point on, he took on a totally different demeanor. Our daughter Kaitlin noted that he was now nicer and more attentive.
When the service was lacking, we wondered if he deserved a tip. However, after just one kind remark from me to him, we had a positive dining experience, and we happily gave a $20 tip.
I wanted to share this story with you because it helped me grow as a person. There was a time when my pride would get in the way, and I would overreact to situations.
Today, with the Lord’s help, I pause before making assumptions about how others are treating me.
As it turns out, the Ramsay burgers were terrific, the price was reasonable, and we enjoyed a wonderful family experience.
Oh … we now have a favorite NHL hockey team … Go GOLDEN KNIGHTS!
Inspiring Quotes
“In the end, kids won’t remember that fancy toy you bought them, they will remember the time you spent with them.” – Kevin Heath
“There are no perfect parents and there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way.” – Dave Willis
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What is it like to stay calm?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you,
please share this link with others!
See you next week!
Dr. Jimmie Flores