Cosmopolitan jungle
The Metropolis Of Dreams
When Samantha Jones hit the streets of New York City she was looked upon as the “it girl” living her dream life and running the show. But was she really?
I though she was until I started my own PR Company and realized that; I, in fact did have the key to the city, and was your all access pass. I remember it like yesterday.
I was in the meatpacking district sitting on the rooftop of one of my favorite places at the time when I was introduced to my mentor. She was a very energetic and strong businesswoman who quickly took me under her wing. At our first meeting she took out a piece of paper and began to draw a graph with my name in the center that said - personal brand, red carpet events, speaking engagements and book deals.
She then said: You have something that is very valuable. It’s called access.
I remember looking at her and this sheet of paper (which I still have by the way) and thinking; she sees this for me? I see it too, I thought. And just like that AMI Global was born a lifestyle-creation and consulting agency in 2009.
Some laughed while others applauded from the sidelines wishing me well on what became an international business that would expose me to a world I thought I had dreamed of. Little did I know, I would become my biggest client.
From the very beginning I knew I wanted to create something special that fostered real change. If I indeed were to have the “access” then whom would it be granted to?
When I was first branding and building my business I was very clear about my vision and the type of client I would want to work with. My friends who were extremely supportive couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around this “idea”- “A lifestyle creation agency?!?!” I knew I had to help create a better world by opening the minds of those who I had yet to open doors for.
A now driven and determined thirty one year old with the key to the city of dreams which I grew up in would cultivate a network that would eventually take me around the world to live and work. The vision to build an international lifestyle consulting business would introduce me to a world of opulence and to things I was not ready for at the time for many reasons. As I began to climb the corporate ladder of the luxury hospitality and entertainment industry I would find myself chasing glitter only to find a dark and lonely world. Had I been programmed to believe that my happiness was to be built on monetary value and material things?
I had a robust career, healthy salary and a lavish lifestyle. Some would think I was living my dream life. I was overworked and depressed. I had unhealthy habits and although I seemed confident to many I was extremely out of place, insecure longing for a sense of belonging. I remember waking up one day (I was living in Dubai at the time) and realizing I had been living there for eight-teen months and I had never taken a break. I had worked straight through until I burned myself out. That night I had to go to work as we owned a collection of nightclubs and had clients in town to host. I can remember feeling so forced dreading the fact that I would have to set foot back into the nightclub. I cried. I got on my knees, prayed and said “God how much longer do I have to do this”? A week later I quit my job. There was no pre meditated “luxury living” “status” bullshit that would keep me from finding what my soul was seeking…. Peace!
I knew there was more to what I had been doing as I had this pull for deeper meaning and connection asking me to take an introspective look and rise up to another version of myself. Here would begin my journey to self-discovery.
For the next few years I would fail forward over and over again. I would continue to run seeking salvage in places that were not for me and I would resist the inevitable change that GOD was putting before me to transform into the highest version of myself. I began to do the things that I had always been curious about and I continued to travel seeking a place I could call home; until……
October 2019 I was invited to speak in Bali and after promising myself I would stay put in order to ground and begin to establish roots I decided to go to Indonesia for what would inspire me to continue my studies as a medicine women. Upon my return home the pandemic would lock us down leaving me no choice then to be with myself uncovering wounds through my training to become an emotional intelligence educator. Whoah, we had some personal work to do.
Was my heart that closed? Had I become so numb to feel that I didn’t know the difference? I had just spent the last two years in Los Angeles feeling lonely as fuck, no connection, getting robbed three times (yes 3 times) and feeling more connected to myself in solitude than I ever had been before. I liked myself and quite honestly could not seem to be bothered to make friends as I had felt defeated in that area and was desiring community and new experiences.
One day a friend asked if I would join him in on a trip to Tulum, Mexico and of course the answer was yes. I knew that day this was my ticket out of L.A. although I had promised myself I would stop moving and “settle down” what ever that means.
I decided to pack my bags saying bye to a chapter I would never open again.
When I landed in Mexico I remember looking out the window and thinking “I’m never going back” and I didn't. Everything began to flow. The jungle had received me with open arms. Slowly I would begin to acclimate to society as the whole world was shutdown mine began to open up. I took my time. I moved slow. It was a fresh start and I could be who ever I wanted to be. After two long years of isolation I was not sure how to show up as the new me. So I allowed and just let the universe bring me what was meant for. This sacred place would begin to shape me. I started to learn about the culture (although my brother is half Mexican and I grew up in a Mexican household) I started to go out and socialize, make acquaintances and experience the magic of this very activated portal. Little by little I started to come out of my shell. The person I was running from was ready to be seen. But this time it was different. I was an evolved version. I was a lot calmer. I felt seen and held even when I tried to run. I began to notice my patterns and was in a safe place to explore the depths of my soul and make friends with my shadow. I stopped judging myself, and began having nicer conversations when I looked in the mirror. I began to dream again and that's where the magic began to happen. This vortex of creation began to show me a whole new possibility and my wildest dreams began manifesting in the most beautiful ways. I began to attract new expansive relationships that would invite me to question my own intentions and true desires. I created a new brand, launched a sequence of programs to help others reach their fullest potential, began writing again, was inspired to develop a concept I always dreamed of owning and began to design a product line. I worked with healers and shamans to expand my personal growth through plant medicines healing generational traumas, began speaking for corporations seeking to enhance their company culture and became an Astral Travel Dream Guide facilitating on popular media channels. I got back on stage, developed a healthy, fun and cool social life doing what I love. I danced, began singing again and my new business began to take off all while cultivating community and making some pretty bad ass friends in the interim who are world traveled, cultured and like minded.
Tulum has quickly become a global destination place where all walks of life have come to visit and here I found my people and myself. The fun, happy, silly person I thought I lost was back but in an upgraded version. I remembered what it meant and felt like to enjoy myself balancing the art of the holistic living, spirituality and business. I learned that I am exactly where I need to be and how what I have experienced all over the world sits in this one highly activated vortex that is rapidly changing and becoming a cosmopolitan jungle. A place where some of the finest art can be seen in the architecture, the most ancient healing techniques can be experienced from the Mayans of this land, traditional upscale gastronomy and nightlife are available any day of the week. A variety of talented musicians can been seen and heard live on a casual Monday and you can be sure that your local hidden gem will welcome you with open arms as those who have chosen to live here understand how special it is to be here. A reminder of how respecting the local culture while being responsible in maintaining the true essence of this place will bless you ten fold.
As a local expat I have been reminded of what it was to grow up in the melting pot of New York with a twist of shamanic indigenous magic as I get to be part of what is to be the metropolis of dreams.
If you ever wondered where to next? Well this my friends is it. The place where dreams are made from.
Stay tuned for the cosmopolitan jungle where to go , what to do with who and how for those seeking a sophisticated and enhanced experience.
