My personal mystery- should I go to Mysteryland?

Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner- beach houses, camping, barbecues, no work-- people are already counting down the days until the holiday when summer officially begins.

Meanwhile, with my Hamptons trip cancelled, I'm scrambling to find new plans.

And I have a pretty cool alternative-- I was invited to Mysteryland, the longest-running EDM festival making its first appearance stateside at the iconic Bethel Woods, where Woodstock 1969 was held 45 years ago...after a year of talks, ID&T (who also produce Sensation and TomorrowWorld) won approval for the first-ever U.S. edition of Mysteryland, held annually in the Netherlands and Chile.

So why the hell wouldn't I go?

Because for the first time in my life, I'm feeling really down, and honestly-- like a coward. I'm shying away because I would be going with a crew of 40 strangers, only one of whom I've actually met (though it's only been at a club, so does that even count?) I'm randomly wanting a Memorial Day that is more....calm and settled, like a backyard cookout and time to rest. What am I, 30?

To put some context to this, it's been a tumultuous past month or so. Despite the glamour of travel, all the time on the road has been taking its toll--- physically and mentally. Four days of the week I'm in a city where I virtually know no one- it's the first time "lonely" has even entered my realm of adjectives. On the weekends I've taken trips to see friends, but I've been skipping time zones like hopscotch, and saddened that I don't have all my friends in one place. And without saying too much, my personal life has been hit by one or two wrecking balls. Sans Miley Cyrus.

The more i think about it....I think it's precisely because I'm in this awful slump that I need to go to Mysteryland. For better or worse I'm a rebel at heart- when I start feeling down, or stagnant, or bored, or any combination, it's like I have to counteract my present lameness by doing something a little crazy to balance out and feel alive again.

And the last time I wound up at a festival without knowing anyone (albeit, accidentally), it ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me. I met amazing people who led me to an even larger rave family from another country. I met my best friend and soul sister, who I now run this site with. I fell in love, and although it didn't work out like it seemed it would, I wouldn't trade the last few months for anything because it proved that kind of genuine happiness can exist again....all because I lost my phone and friends, and instead of crying about it, made new ones.

I've written before that the best things in life happen when you open yourself up to the world, to new people and experiences. It's harder to do that when you're feeling less than confident, but isn't it a truer test of confidence to put yourself out there when it seems the hardest? Perhaps I should take my own advice.

I feel like I've answered my own debate through this post...if I do go, I promise to document the journey. If even for myself, I'm eager to see the person who comes out on the other side.

After all, extraordinary things can only happen when you make out of the ordinary decisions.

#mysteryland #mdw2014 #mlusa #mdw #woodstock #bethelwoods #newyork