34 The Trip When my wife dropped me off, she jokingly said it felt like sending me to summer camp, and honestly, I felt the same. The excitement carried me through the whole trip. As someone who grew up with family road trips—East Coast runs from Orlando to Boston, 11 of us crammed in a ’76 VW Vanagon—the nostalgia was real. The seven-hour ride flew by as we played games, snacked on sugary treats, mainlined caffeine, and tackled fun team activities like the zip tie challenge. I didn’t feel out of place or retreat into my shell. My pre-prepared escape plans didn’t even come to mind! But there was one final hurdle, a personal challenge that I knew would make or break my healing journey. The camaraderie was fine, yes, and did wonders to help me reestablish my professional footing. But I needed a deeper reach to excise the self-loathing, imposter’s syndrome, and mistrust that still lingered from my venture through Toxic Wonderland. The Crossroads I wanted to tell a meaningful story. In public. So I asked for time to do just that, to sit and share something very personal to me. I chose to share the Tsalagi (Cherokee) story, “The First Fire,” about how the Water Spider, once overlooked, brought fire to the community, proving that greatness can come from unexpected places. Sharing that story was a moment of vulnerability for me, a way to re- establish myself as a person and professional and find the confidence that had been missing for over a year. The bus community’s response was overwhelming. Their grace, respect, and acceptance helped heal the wounds from the past year, turning this trip into more than just a journey—it was my path back to myself. (And thanks to those still reaching out to me to share how impactful that was to them. My goal as a storyteller is to have a positive impact, and those words continue to resonate with me. Thank you.) That road trip paved the way for a transformative ASAE Annual experience, setting the stage for everything that followed. Without it, none of what came next would have had the same impact. That simple road trip was my journey back to life. And it was worth every mile. Wado. Ben H. Rome is the Director of Communications and Brand for the American Bus Association, a prominent trade association in the group tour, motorcoach, and travel industries. A super-introvert, gamer, and LEGO builder, he remains in awe of being an accomplished, award-winning writer. Connect with him on LinkedIn. “WHY DON’T YOU RIDE THE BUS?” By Ben H. Rome It’s profound how a simple question can change everything. For me, that question (it’s in the title above!) came from a mentor during a catch-up session and marked a turning point in my life. The question was about joining the Association Chat Road Trip to ASAE, led by KiKi L’Italien and sponsored by Big Red M. It was a one-way bus ride from DC to Cleveland for the ASAE Annual Meeting—a pre-conference “association aperitif.” As a super introvert (shout-out to my INFJ people!), it felt like my worst nightmare. Yet, it began a journey that restored me both professionally and personally. A Little Backstory (Context!) In 2023, I made a brief 22-hour appearance at ASAE Annual, while drowning in a toxic workplace that left me mentally wrecked and mistrustful of senior leadership of any stripe. By the end of the year, I was out, carrying the wounds and scars of demolished confidence and anger. It was one of my lowest points in life. The Setup When my mentor asked about the bus, I was six months into a new role at a small association representing charter and motorcoach operators. I was still getting to know the membership, and instead of dismissing the idea outright, I paused. What if this wasn’t a dreaded networking event but an opportunity to learn? To better understand our members? (As it turns out, the bus was chartered by one of our association’s members, and the driver was part of the community, too.) Seeing a list of fellow travelers, including several peers I knew but hadn’t seen in a while, also intrigued me. This could help me rebuild my confidence as a communications professional just before diving into the large crowds of the ASAE Annual. So, I decided to step out of my comfort zone, bringing my Xbox as my introvert’s reward for later.
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