Interesting fact I have discovered about the corporate world: Walking into a company on a whim and asking to see their CEO is taboo. It can lead to suspicion from front desk staff and likely to security alerts that we may never, if we are lucky, become privy to. But, that said, if you are going to perform such an ill-advised act as this, it is best to choose a company founded on the principles of positivity and fun. Someplace like Desigual.

 Granted, I had some previous interaction with the company before after writing a blog inspired by them. After which I received some correspondence and a thoughtful letter from the CEO with an original handmade shirt of my own from Desigual featuring a quote from my story. None of this, however, included an open invitation to "stop by corporate headquarters in Barcelona any time you like." Of course, there is always that gray area if you read between the lines, in between the lines -- while squinting. So I thought, "I am in Barcelona. Why not?"

 It began in somewhat the way it had played out in my mind. We walked in and approached the front desk and I asked, "Can we see Thomas?" Because regardless how things play out in one section of my brain, the majority of my brain remains steadfastly under the domain of the innocent, trusting part that assumes, one, other humans are all inherently good and, two, always happy to see me. The surprised and guarded response from the woman at the desk was, "Do you have an appointment?" A negative response to that question resulted in, "No one sees Thomas." I glanced behind her fully expecting to witness green flashes of light and billowing smoke followed by a booming voice commanding me to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, and I was, frankly, a bit disappointed when that image failed to materialize. She turned around and said to someone else, "Is he even in the country?" Unperturbed, I continued with another question or was it in my mind, "Of course Tomas would want to see me. I came 10,000 miles to see him." Note, I did not come across as a pushy American, I truly believe that if one uses kindness mixed with curiosity people usually give it right back. The woman at the desk didn't quite know what to do with me as I smiled into her eyes. She made a call. What didn't happen next was the requisite retinal scan, forced DNA testing, and one of the most thorough friskings I have ever received outside of an airport check point. Instead, a friendly woman came down to meet us. She is one of those charming people with the natural ability to put others instantly at ease. We chatted briefly and she then asked us if we would like some coffee and a tour of the headquarters.

 Barcelona is notorious for being a beautiful city and the beaches along the Mediterranean are notorious for being a notoriously beautiful area of this notoriously beautiful city. So a glass building in the midst of this beautiful area can't help but have an amazing view. Therefore, a glass building housing an unconventional company that creates beautiful unconventional clothing only enhances the beauty more. I say this as a means of expressing how quickly and easily the decision was made to agree to partake on the visit into heart of Desigual territory.

 Our guide took us through the buildings and showed us where all the genius happens. Tributes to past creations and new fun to come. It is difficult to imagine not being constantly inspired by the magnificent view from every vantage point. Then we walked by the room of forbidden. The place where all the upcoming new designs are created. It's like the Desigualian version of a mad scientist's laboratory. I was permitted a quick glimpse inside as we walked by, which revealed that my assumptions were correct. There existed an elaborate system of Bunsen burners heating up beakers and flasks filled with colorful liquids labeled things like "Happiness," "Respect," "Self Worth," "Love," and "Courage." These then flowed through an intricate maze of tubes and bulbs, eventually running over what resembled an old spinning wheel and flowing into a vat below. At least this is the way I remember it -- like a land of make-believe for the world of fashion.

 Desigual for me represents having a choice. Like Desigual, it is okay to choose to live your life in a manner that doesn't conform to the one expected of you. You are not required, for example, to tolerate relationships that are not healthy for you because it is more convenient for the rest of the world. To me it is about saying, "I like who I am and I am comfortable being me." It is, in essence, about setting yourself free. When we do that it makes the world a better, happier place for all of us.

 I want to say thank you to Desigual for allowing me a quick glimpse behind the scenes. It was a wonderful experience and I learned something wondrous. It confirmed for me what I always suspected: Humans are inherently good, and they are always happy to see me.

Being Desigual