Chapter 5
Heading Home… With Full Hearts
As every great trip eventually does, our week in Salt Lake City began winding to a close.
The final day of convention arrived much sooner than we expected.
One last cup of tea for me…One last coffee for Tracey…One last ride through downtown.
By now, Salt Lake City no longer felt unfamiliar. The streets that seemed so busy when we first arrived had become comfortable. We had our favorite coffee shop, our favorite restaurants, and even our favorite rickshaw drivers.
Funny how quickly a place can start to feel like home.
Inspiration Beyond the Stage
The final day of convention featured some of the most emotional presentations of the week.
One speaker who especially touched us was Immaculée Ilibagiza.
Listening to her remarkable story of surviving the Rwandan genocide, losing nearly her entire family, and ultimately choosing forgiveness instead of hatred was both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Her message had very little to do with essential oils.
It had everything to do with grace.
Another presentation that left a lasting impression came from Operation Underground Railroad and its founder, Tim Ballard. Learning about the fight against human trafficking was difficult to hear, but it also served as a powerful reminder that organizations can use their influence to make a meaningful difference in the world.
As we walked out of the convention center that afternoon, neither of us was talking about new products.
We were talking about people.
About courage.
About compassion.
Those conversations stayed with us long after we returned home.
One Last Evening Together
Rather than rushing off to pack, we gathered with friends one last time for dinner.
The patio at Squatters Pub Brewery couldn’t have been more perfect.
The evening air was cool.
The mountains framed the skyline in the distance.
Conversations flowed as easily as the laughter around the table.
Some friendships had been years in the making.
Others had begun only days earlier.
Yet somehow it felt like we’d all known one another much longer.
That’s one of the beautiful things about travel.
Shared experiences have a way of bringing people together faster than everyday life ever could.
Before long, it was time for hugs, promises to stay in touch, and the inevitable,
“We’ll see you next year.”
One More Small World Moment
The next morning, we met our friends in the hotel lobby before heading to the airport.
There is always something bittersweet about airport mornings.
Everyone is tired.
Everyone is carrying just a little more luggage than they arrived with.
And no one is quite ready for vacation to end.
After checking our bags and making our way through security, we settled into the terminal to enjoy one last conversation before everyone’s flights scattered us back across the country.
Then something completely unexpected happened.
Standing near our gate were our neighbors from back home in Arizona.
Of all the airports…Of all the flights…Of all the gates…
There they were.
They had been in Salt Lake City for their daughter’s soccer tournament and were hoping to make it onto our flight.
Unfortunately, standby wasn’t in their favor that morning.
It was one more reminder that the world really is much smaller than we think.
Looking Back
When we first planned this trip, I thought I was returning to convention.
Looking back now, I realize I was really returning for something much bigger.
Yes, we learned…Yes, we explored.
Yes, we discovered a beautiful city nestled beneath the Wasatch Mountains.
But the things I remember most aren’t found in my notebook from convention.
I remember Patrick and Joseph racing us through downtown in their rickshaws…I remember Tracey making friends with complete strangers before we’d even left the airport.
I remember laughing over dinner with people we’d only recently met….I remember walking the streets of Salt Lake City together, discovering coffee shops, local restaurants, and mountain views around nearly every corner.
Most of all…
I remember sharing the experience with my best friend.
Travel has taught us many things over the years.
One of the biggest lessons is this:
The reason you take a trip may get you to your destination.
But it rarely becomes the reason you remember it.
This journey began because of a convention.
It became unforgettable because of the people.
And that’s exactly why we’ll always look forward to returning to Salt Lake City.
Because the best journeys aren’t measured by the miles you travel.
They’re measured by the memories you bring home.