Some days I am absolutely blown away by God’s goodness. What we all experienced at SWLA YOGA FEST in Drew Park on Saturday, March 23, 2024 was a pure miracle.
Let me take you back to November of 2023. I told my best friend that I wasn’t interested in hosting the festival this year because I had just moved to Ocean Springs, MS. She made it very clear that it would hurt her and others if I didnt follow through with the work that I began. So, during that Thanksgiving break I got approvals for permitting. “Guess who’s back!”, I hollered at the City Park Director in Lake Charles. They were beyond accommodating. I posted the festival date immediately after I got approvals. Shortly after that, Main Squeeze https://www.mainsqueezejuiceco.com and https://www.yogayall.com jumped at the opportunity to partner with me.
For the 2023 festival, I prematurely posted ads with the City of Lake Charles logo assuming they were official partners in the festival. The mayor booked a zoom call with me to fuss about how quickly I moved. This year, I didnt put their logo on the ads and I got a call from the officials in the Parks and Rec Department asking that I add them to our partner list. It just goes to show how great the festival is evolving.
I began sponsor requests in January after Christmas break. Epic Health https://discoverepichealth.com and https://www.491cbd.com joined our partner team.
Then IntegratIV Hydration https://integrativhydration.com joined the list of top sponsors. Heather is a friend and she has sponsored the festival from the dawn of its conception. Once I started posting the sponsor list, others began to offer support. When Clean Juice https://www.cleanjuice.com hopped on board, their sponsorship afforded us the opportunity to purchase a large cotton dome tent.
Just like that, everything started to unfold miraculously. Lake Charles Cryo jumped at the chance to set up a cold plunge area. Other sponsors brought their expertise to the festival. Vendors lined up to sell their goods.
Over the last several months , redesigning the website, doing promo materials, creating the line up for the show, buying materials, planning the ins and outs. The organization of the festival was a full time job. About a week before the event, everything was aligned perfectly and I was ready to roll.
I drove in the Thursday before the festival so I could be on the grounds Friday morning to map everything out. When I walked onto the lawn, the first thing that I saw were ponds of water in the areas we need for our participants.
My friend Magen showed up to meet me and said, “I wish we had a squeegee.” She got me thinking of a solution. Eventually she mentioned a pump and I thought to call my contractor friend, Juan with JC Construction https://www.jcconstructionservices.org. He showed up an hour later to help me pump the water off the grounds. It got most of the water out, but I wanted it to be completely dry so I went home and grabbed a shovel. When I got back to the grounds Juan told me shoveling would be too much work for me. He didnt want me to do that. I explained my theory that if I could dig a deep hole, the water would pool into one area and the pump could get it all out. He agreed and started digging for me.
During all of this, I had some amazing volunteers and friends show up to help me set up the stage, landscaping and zen den. Sean Hager, my male bff arrived and asked, “How much did you have to pay to get the park pumped?” “Pay?”, I asked before continuing, “That’s my friend. I don’t pay.” Sean was amazed.
When all the guys showed up to the landscaping company to load a trailer full of decor, Sean asked again, “How did you pull this off?” He was referring to my access to the landscaping. “I just asked.”, I replied. “You put your voodoo on them like you did to me. That’s why I am here right now.”, he joked. I laughed. It’s just love.
As we were unloading and preparing for the next day, a neighborhood woman walked up and told me the homeless are going to have a field day stealing the landscaping if we left it out all night. “Do you think of all things a homeless person could steal that they would want plants?”, I asked. Everyone started laughing. I was a little nervous about finding someone sleeping in the tents or maybe someone stealing my vendors tents. I wasn’t concerned about the plants.
To ease my anxiety, I called the police department and put a special request that they parole the park for the night. They were more than happy to protect the grounds. I stayed at the park by myself until 7pm pumping the water. I needed alone time to pray and really draw in my vision. Rachel Boggs, my sweet friend and the Yoga Fest Breathwork facilitator came to meet me before I left. We sat on the stage and talked about the times we dreamt of these days. Our work together has been a vision for so long. After she left, I called Juan and he came to grab the pump and generator.
Breezy, the AC guy and love interest from Mississippi drove in that night with his mom, sister, daughter and nephew. The mom and sister have been on their spiritual journey as well and they didnt want to miss the festival. When his sister and I got a little closer, I invited her to be a vendor at the fest offering her sound healing in the zen den. I met up with Breezy that night after I mapped out the vendor spaces, drew it in pencil and sent the legend to all the sponsors and vendors.
When I arrived to the grounds at 7am the next morning, I was relieved to see that nothing was touched over night. My volunteer coordinator Sara showed up with her entire family and we all worked together to get every single vendor unloaded and set up before 9:45am.
Over 250 people were in and out of the festival all day. It was one of the most peaceful days. Vendors came up to me thanking me for my work because they made so much money. Sponsors were so proud that they helped bring this festival to life.
The break out events in the Zen Den were overflowing all day. The amount of joy that was experienced by everyone was worth all the hard work. Breezy showed up in all white like a true shaman. The more I get to know him, the more he is my shaman. When I touch him I feel like I am touching the Earth. He has never dated a woman like me, and I mean that in all ways. He has never even dated a white woman, so he’s in a whole other world.
When he came to help me shut down after everything was over, he was astonished that all my friends stayed behind to help me close up shop. He had never witnessed such teamwork. Even my former girl crush showed up to help me load things up. He couldn’t believe it. The love was unreal.
The night before, him and his family went to Landry’s to eat, which is a casino chain. I hadn’t yet told him that I come from the lineage of the owners of the most successful seafood restaurant in Southwest Louisiana. I hadn’t told him much about my business side of life. I wanted him to see me for me. I didnt want him to get the idea that being with me would benefit him in any way but spiritually. However, when he told me they were at Landry’s, I told him they weren’t allowed to make any moves in town without consulting me first. I wanted them to eat at Steamboat Bills and Buffis. So after the festival, I took them to Steamboats. The employees greeted me. I got his family situated before leaving them to eat their meal. My friends had been waiting on me at Luna’s to celebrate the festival. Plus Sean was playing live for the B MOORE fest and I wanted to show support since he always supports me.
Breezy met up with me later. When I got up from the friend group to use the bathroom, Sasha leaned into Breezy and said, “She is a big deal around here.” “I am noticing.”, he said. Later, he told me that his mom saw the psychic at the fest. The reader told her that his son was going to fall in love with a woman who would love him deeply. It was going to be true love. Then he told me that the psychic said he was going to fall in love with a white woman who was royalty. That white woman was going to love him more than he had ever been loved. When he told me this I laughed. “I didnt want to tell you that I was small town royalty.”, I joked. “It’s easy to see now.”, he laughed.
He left on Sunday to get back to Mississippi. I stayed a few more days in Lake Charles to spend time with friends and square up with the finances of the fest. My soul sisters and I met up at Rachel’s to do a full moon ceremony where each of us shared our hearts before sipping the cocoa Magen made for us. I am blessed to know such heartfelt and gifted woman. I cried as I thanked them for being so strong for me as I have gone through such a tremendously challenging growing season in my life. We all have. We love each other deeply…. The Sisterhood …. That’s what we are.
Before I left to go back to see Breezy, I stayed the night at Sean’s with my son. That night we did live band karaoke. Sharing my lifestyle experiences with my kids opens their minds so much. I love to watch as they become more and more emboldened to live authentically.
Living authentically is truly a magical experience. I am convinced it’s the way to magnetize the most amazing life.
Last night, Breezy and I decided to go to Bay St. Louis for live music. I messaged my friend who is a general manager of a restaurant out there. She offered me a VIP table next to the stage so we could watch an awesome cover band perform. When we got there she gave us free drinks and free food. Breezy couldn’t believe it. “Everywhere you go you are VIP!”, he joked. He had never been treated so well. We talked about it all night and into the next day. https://tripletailsbsl.com Triple Tails was the restaurant and I will be back. It was the best experience. I danced and danced with everyone. The GM, Tara, pulled Breezy to the side and told him how special I was. Another man asked if I was married and I pointed to Breezy. He smiled. It was a magical night surrounded by amazing people. I don’t really understand why life unfolds so perfectly. Don’t get me wrong, the bad in life is really really bad. When I hurt, I hurt from the depths of my soul. But when it’s good, it’s unreal. How did I come out to Mississippi, where I know so few people and manage to find a friend family that treats me like royalty? I am astonished by God’s provision.
Last night Breezy took his shirt off and I saw his chest tattoo clearly for the first time. “Loyalty”, is what it reads. “I am going to show you what loyalty means.”, I said.
It’s been just a few weeks, but it feels like I have known him for so long. I don’t know if it will last, but right now he is such good medicine.
Thursday I called Biloxi and Ocean Springs Parks and Rec Department to discuss bringing the festival to the Coast. I have a meeting next week. I think having it closer to my new home will be nice while I am building my coaching and writing my book. I look forward to seeing how all of this will unfold in the future.
Until then, as always, the only moment that matters is NOW.
With the Deepest Love,
Paige Elliott
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