Sometimes you want go where everybody knows your name.  And they’re always glad you came. —Theme Song from Cheers

Over twenty years ago, my wife and I had the adventure of our lives on the West Coast in Santa Monica, CA.  It was a time of great change, upheaval and excitement.  Money was tight and the stress of living so far away from home took a toll, but there were incredible moments of joy and celebration mixed in between the hard times.  One major upside of the experience was the number of friends and family who came to visit.  It seemed no one could resist the allure of the Pacific Ocean and the opportunity to re-connect and rejuvenate in the Golden State.   We had a general template we wanted each visitor to experience.  Zuma Beach.  Moondshadows in Malibu.  The film site for M*A*S*H.  The Hollywood sign.  And, of course, dinner at C&O Trattoria.

C&O was a small restaurant in Venice Beach with a huge outside courtyard.  After visiting on a recommendation from a friend, we got to know the owners and it became our go to spot.  It was our West Coast version of Cheers!  While the food was certainly delicious, the signature attraction was the ceremony that took place on the bottom of every hour.  The courtyard would go silent.  All the waiters and waitresses would parade out with various shots of alcohol.  And then the place would erupt in euphoria as That’s Amore blared over the speakers.  And without fail, everyone was transformed into a glorious mood as they sang along:

“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie….That’s Amore!”

It was a universally unifying moment for the entire courtyard.  Our California friends, East Coast friends, and family members would all join in.  And we would connect with other tables as we reveled in the camaraderie and joy of the moment.  Years later, as I reflect on that time, I still smile at the memories.   No matter how stressful things had gotten, it was a place we knew we could relax, decompress, and spend time with the people we cared about the most.

And couldn’t we all use a place like that in our everyday lives?

Take a Break From All Your Worries

In our work lives, there are pitfalls and frustrations all around.  The road to success is paved with many potholes along the way.  It is important to keep grinding.  It is important to stay focused.  But we also need a place we can feel safe and secure.  We need a place to unwind and re-charge our batteries.  Maybe that is in the break room with our trusted co-workers.  Maybe that is on the golf course with clients.  Maybe that is a favorite lunch place.  Or a laid back Happy Hour bar.  Or the bowling alley.  It doesn’t have to be fancy or pretentious.  As long as we are surrounded by people we respect, we will be able to refresh our perspective.  We will be able to relax and find the courage to press on for another day.

And the same is true in our personal lives.  Raising young children is not easy.  Dealing with complex family matters can sap our resolve.  Meeting our financial committments can spike our stress levels through the roof.  How do we find the motivation to move forward? How do we tap into our resilience?  Taking a break from all our worries sure will help a lot!  Perhaps it involves getting a babysitter and spending an hour grabbing tea with a close friend.  Perhaps it is setting a standing meeting with family members at a local watering hole.  Perhaps it is taking a breath and walking the dog with a neighbor.  We all need someone who will listen and be there for us during the tough times.  We all need a place we can escape the madness.

Find Your C&O

But we can’t sidestep the reality of our lives forever.  Life is not one big karyoke party.  We have real responsibilities and legitimate pressure.  We have people counting on us to make it happen.  Welcome to adulthood.  But while life may be a bit more serious than we would like, we still have to take time to let our hair down and have a little fun with our circle of co-workers, friends and family.  We all need a place to fill our reservoir of resilience!

It’s been over twenty years and I still remember the good times at C&O more than I do all the struggles that came with our West Coast adventure. There is power in celebration.  There is strength in the people we love and respect.  That’s Amore!