I love Bachelor Parties.
Maybe it’s the temporary freedom from responsibility and opportunity to act like children with my childhood friends that now happen to have children.
Or it could be the feeling of having laughter set as my default emotion for 48+ hours.
Perhaps it’s the extra gear that everyone seems shift into when the music, competition, and vibe cranks to the next level.
It could be due to the unsung heroes, MVPs, and the random strangers that make each new day the best day of the trip.
And overall, there’s something special about the unique context of a particular group coming together in a particular location creating particular memories that can never be replicated.
They’re great.
But as I rise from the ashes of Justin’s legendary Dewey Beach Bachelor Bash, I know that I only have one or two of these weekends left in me.
Don’t get me wrong- I’m ok with that. In fact, my body and mind are grateful for it.
But I’m also hoping to capture what brings me so much joy on those legendary weekends, so I can bring those lessons with me into a healthier and more mature future. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
1. Dedicate time to get away with friends.
It’s a critical outlet I need to be a happier person, a better family man, and a more responsible adult. Whether it’s a Saturday jam session at Bottle & Cork or something far more relaxing, I’m going to prioritize this time. I’m grateful to have a wife that fully embraces this important outlet as well.
2. Make wherever you are more enjoyable
Whether it’s brunch at Starboard, golf at The Rookery, or a routine Wednesday in my personal or professional life, this is my intention. Sometimes it’s easy like when I’m belting out Mr. Brightside or back bending to “Levitating,” but sometimes I lose sight of it as I get distracted, overwhelmed, or complacent in the day-to-day. But I’ll strive to make wherever I am more enjoyable, just like I tried to do each day in Dewey.
3. Go all in on important occasions
These moments are in limited supply. We can go through the motions or we can go all in on the celebration. I’m glad that we went all in for our buddy “Ort” this past weekend. I intend to do the same for future occasions too.
So Ort- I hope you had a great time.
To everyone that was in Dewey last weekend- I hope you’re all feeling back to normal.
To everyone that loves Bachelor(ette) Parties or just getting away for a weekend with friends- I hope we can bring that same joy into everything we do.
When’s the next one?
The Janiec Reflection 