Spiritualized and Realized: My Weekend at Desert Daze Music Festival

The weekend of October 12-15, Stardust & Stoned headed to the desert for the annual Desert Daze music festival at the Institute of Mentalphysics in Joshua Tree. And as the Eagles of Death Metal pointed out on Sunday, not many of us knew what “Mentalphysics” was, but we were sure ready to experience it.

As vendors working together with the help of our good friend Heidi, Rachel of Stoned by Operahippy and I unloaded our merchandise with an open mind and heart — this weekend would be a huge experiment as first time vendors, and we were just happy to be along for the ride.

I was pulling double duty this year as a vendor and press, covering the festival for mxdwn.com and boy was I in for a wakeup call. I didn’t spend much time at the vending tent, as from 2pm on I was back and forth catching all the bands. As you can imagine, by the time Sunday had rolled around I was exhausted. Not only was I assisting with setting up the vending booth each morning, I was writing my daily recaps for mxdwn and then heading out in the heat again to catch another full day of bands.

And while there were definitely some spiritual, high vibe experiences catching the music with bands like Holy Wave, L.A. Witch, Iggy Pop, Twin Peaks, Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, Spiritualized and more, by the time the final day rolled around, the heat during the day and freezing night temps were making me feel like I was constantly on the verge of getting sick. I was so worn out from the weekend, by the time I caught my final set of the festival, a dreamy, romantic performance from Cigarettes After Sex, the combination of the lyrics, music, couples holding each other, and just the fact that it was over had me in tears.

I’m proud of myself and my team of amazing women for all we accomplished in the weekend, but it was also a huge wakeup call for me. I spread myself way too thin, and vowed to not do that again, and to also look at the other areas in my life in which I spread myself too thin on a regular basis.

When I got home, I finished up my last article, had some really great food and got into the bath, thanking my tired legs and feet for all they did for me this weekend.

What are some ways you are spreading yourself too thin? Do you maybe say yes to things you know you’ll regret later, or that may be too much? Do you try to please everyone?

This week, I challenge you to make sure the person you’re pleasing if yourself. Look into the future scenario of all the tasks you want to accept; how will it play out? If it seems like too much, it probably is.