In a world where we could have just about everything we want at a moment’s notice, we have to pick and choose where we allocate our energy and always remember that while good things are fleeting,

Which is more likely to make me sweat? Food from Fish Cheeks, prepped by Chef Dustin Everett, or my sketchy Airbnb situation? Check out the newest episode of Great Things ft Will Damron below, and then keep reading for some more recent things that made me sweat.

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We all know Will Damron (@tastebywill) crushes the no-reservation-needed dining game, but this time I got us the hottest seat in the house: the kitchen at Fish Cheeks, with Chef Dustin Everett.

Watch below to see us try our hand at making their signature Coconut Crab Curry. As Dustin told us, it’s labor-intensive, it takes a long time, but it’s worth it. (Exactly what we’re about in this corner of the internet)

Tune in every few weeks for more episodes of Great Things on IG, TikTok, and full episodes on YouTube.

Know of a Great Thing that we should spotlight?

This past week in Florida, I’ve felt like a 15-year-old kid riding my bike around. I guess this is what happens when you take a vacation as an adult and have it centered around car enthusiasm. Don’t worry, this won’t be all about cars, but more about the vehicle (lol) that mine was for some self-reflection.

Despite being in Florida for a bunch of car-centered things with friends, I chose to stay alone and rent an Airbnb by myself.  I’ve learned that I need alone time to recharge. I need space for myself without anyone who can interrupt my thoughts, which is why I drove down to Florida by myself and without any music. Serial killer vibes, maybe, but it helps me clear my brain.

Before I showed up at the rental, the instructions I received from the host kept highlighting that it was important to ensure that you were entering into the unit with the correct number on it. It was everywhere in the instructions; you couldn’t miss it. I thought that was a bit odd, but figured it was just one of those vacation rental quirks that came about from neighbor complaints.

Several days into my stay there, I walked into my rental and saw drinking glasses and a wallet on the table. Immediately, I felt my stomach drop, and my skin prickle. Was someone there? Or was I alone? I messaged the host about the wallet, and they asked me to check the ID.

“Oh, that’s the guy next door.”

I’m sorry, what? What do you mean that this is the guy staying next door to me in a separate rental? How is he in my space?

Then, through the window off the side of the home, I saw someone creeping by in the alley, peering in the windows. 

Oh cool. So this is how things end for me. Not today.

Maybe it was the New Yorker in me who isn’t about to leave things unaddressed, but I grabbed the wallet, thinking that’s who might be looking in the window, and walked outside. Better if he knew that I knew he was there, right? The guy seemed a bit caught off guard when I gave him back his wallet, but otherwise, things seemed fine. Except for the whole part where that guy was in my home…

Eventually, the realization hit me that where I was staying must share the code across a few other units. This explained why they kept emphasizing to make sure you were walking into the right unit. I felt incredibly uncomfortable, not knowing if anyone could possibly have access to where I was staying. This sounds like the beginning of a crime podcast… “he didn’t realize that he wasn’t alone.” If I’m not around, who is going to make sure you take emotional laps? 

I messaged the host again to let them know that someone had entered my unit, and I did not feel safe. I was looking to leave several days early. I was fine paying for the days I’d already stayed there, but would not be paying for the days I was not going to be there. The host pushed back with the cancellation policy, so I escalated it to Airbnb support. They too pushed back (hey, I get it) but finally relented when I broke it down for them:

“How would you feel if you knew that someone had access to your apartment and every time you came home, you had to check all the rooms and closets because you weren’t sure if you were alone or not? I feel like I’m being watched when I should be alone.”

That clicked for them, and they helped me secure a hotel. No one likes the feeling of being watched when you should be alone.

The whole situation was a bit ironic, because on my drive down to Florida (the one where I had no music in the car, maybe I’m the one who’s creepy?) I had spent time thinking about the changes I’d been making to my life and the growth that was coming from it. One of the bigger ones is that I’ve been working on being okay with being seen. It’s been a big adjustment for me and something I previously avoided at all costs. 

Yeah, I hear myself. It sounds a bit crazy saying that, but let me give you some background:

Growing up, my family always put value on being humble. Did you do something good? Great! That’s a reward in itself. There is no need for bragging or showing off; you stay quiet about your success and don’t draw unnecessary attention.

Later on in life, one of the biggest hangups I experienced in my career, and what almost stopped me from taking the leap to where I am now, was feeling like it was bad to be seen by others. 

I’ve always driven a black car, dressed in the same few outfits that aren’t anything eye-grabbing, and tried to fly under the radar as much as possible. I’m sure it sounds silly (and perhaps a little cringey), since my current job is very public-facing, but I’ve felt uncomfortable when the attention is on me. That if I held others’ attention for even a minute, it said something bad about me, like I was searching for it, and I was insecure.

Then came a visit to California in 2019, where a man I’d never met before told me (along with several other things) that keeping myself small was limiting my path. I was stuck in a rut and kept missing out on things because I’d created a story in my head about what it means to receive attention. Part of this was based on my upbringing, but I’d taken it too far; I felt like I had to live small. I’d already made stories up in my mind about why I couldn’t start my current job, and it was becoming clear that I was blocking any progress I wanted.

We all have areas of our lives that we know we need to put effort into, but for one reason or another, we block ourselves, or it feels weird to focus on. Usually, it’s because we’re worried about what someone will think. 

For me, that thing is when I have eyes on me, but I’ve heard people say the same things about asking for help, speaking up, or putting something out there, whether that’s themselves, their merits, or something they’ve created. Rejection is scary, and it hurts. It’s almost impossible not to take it personally at first. Besides, it doesn’t feel good for anyone to be viewed as an inauthentic version of themselves.

But why would you tamp down on your potential to please others? Is their opinion the most important deciding factor in your success? Someone is always going to have something to say about you, whether you’ve asked for it or not, but it usually says more about them than about you. Pushing yourself to be uncomfortable is when a breakthrough happens.

Now, I get to be in a role where I can be with people through some of the toughest moments of their day and be alongside them while they achieve breakthroughs of all types. If I hadn’t worked on my fear of being seen and how I am perceived because of that, I don’t know if I’d ever have gotten to this point. It still feels weird at times, but not everything good for us is palatable.

Don’t be afraid to dabble more in the areas that you’re afraid to go. There is a very good chance that the more effort you put into those dark corners that you’ve been avoiding, the more likely you’re going to see progress. But, like everything, it’s important that you have standards, so while I’m getting used to being seen, that doesn’t mean I’m okay with it happening when I’m supposed to be home alone.

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

We all have that thing we shy away from because we don’t like how it pushes us. Often, it’s something that keeps coming up over and over again.

Your turn! Journal your answer, or if you find yourself sharing the progress of your Great Things on social, tag me at @greatthingswith_adrian so I can join in on cheering you along!