An Hour Well Spent at BlogHer13
It never fails that a BlogHer conference will come and go and the internet will become littered with commentary about every little detail.
There were too many cliques.
So-and-so is such a douche in person.
I'm pretty sure she has had plastic surgery.
The sessions were a waste of time.
It would have been better if this had happened.
Did you hear about that crap so-and-so pulled?
OMG. It was nothing but swag whores.
And on and on.
I've never truly experienced any of that stuff, but I suppose that has a lot to do with my approach to the whole thing. I figure that there are 5,000 women there. If I can't find someone who I click with, someone whose company I enjoy, well ... if I can't find fun while surrounded by 5,000 other people, I probably should go stare in a mirror and figure out what it is about me that I need to change because I must be the problem.
This year I walked out of a session because I didn't find it valuable. I'm sure the content was right for someone, but that someone wasn't me. It's on me to recognize that I'm not spending that hour how I want to and to fix it.
This year I found myself in the middle of a conversation between very assertive women who were more than happy to tell me how very awesome they are in every way. I'm sure they really are, but I'm more of a two-way conversation sort of person, so I excused myself and sought out awesome. I knew it was my responsibility to find a way to make that hour fun.
This year I turned the other way when I saw some people pandering for every free thing under the sun. The potential for swag whoring was impressive, but I figured THAT is how they wanted to spend that hour of their lives. That's fantastic for them. Truly. It's not how I want to spend my hour, though, so I walked the other way.
Everybody wins when you walk away from the things that don't fit with what you want to do.
On the flip side, this year I laughed so hard that my eyeballs turned into sprinklers. I probably looked like a total wreck laughing so hard that I was crying, but OH WELL. Just thinking about that moment is making me chuckle. It should be impossible to still be laughing about something that happened nearly a week ago.
This year I was inspired. The International Activist winners talked about how they overcome some incredible challenges, and they do it with a smile on their faces. I hope that this blog sometimes makes a difference in someone's life, but I'm incredibly grateful it doesn't come at a high price. Hearing what those women do in the face of adversity made me want to do more. Far more.
This year I cried because that's what you do when you listen to the Voices of the Year readings. It's the good kind of cry.
This year I truly had more fun than anyone should be allowed to have.
But the best part is that I managed to achieve one very important goal. Before I left, I asked Alexis what I should bring back for her from Chicago. She replied, "A picture of the bean."
Mission accomplished.
It's always a good thing when you can have a great time AND do something for your kid.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Reader Comments (9)
What a great post and a great recap! You are so right, it is our responsibility to decide how we want to spend our time and who we want to spend that time with. For me that is one of the best lessons age had taught me!! So glad you had a great time and got to really laugh, that I think is always the best gift to get!! Thanks again!
Great post! I too found that when I tweaked my attitude/perspective, I had a much more positive experience at BlogHer Food than I did at BlogHer (and I believe I would find BlogHer to be a great place for me, if I went into it with that "new attitude.") The wrong attitude I had going in the first time around: I expected BlogHer to bend to MY every expectation and whim. The right attitude I found at BlogHer Food: I have ownership over my experience, there are a lot of people here, and I need to take it upon myself to seek out experiences that fit out my priorities, and connect with the people that will bring valuable relationships to me.
I think the sheer size of the conference makes it easy for the first response to be nit-picky at the small things, but once you realize there's a bigger picture there, and that bigger picture is having a positive experience, and you re-align your approach to make that bigger picture happen, it's an amazing thing.
Also, I am MAJORLY jealous of everyone who got to go to VOTY this year. That was the most incredibly inspiring part of the conference for me, and to have Queen Latifah MC it! OMG. I can't even!
I've always been the "your conference experience is what you make it" kind of person. My experience rocked this year.
And I'm laughing out loud right now. STILL SO FUNNY.
I really wish there were more people at that International Activist Panel. It was fabulous.
I am SO glad that I got to meet you and hangout a bit!
And didn't you say we must have been at the bean at the same time?
Wonderful photo. And also, YES to all the things you said above. :)
Well, geez. Your post makes me want to actually attend a BlogHer conference :)
Glad you were able to find your kind of happy. And make Alexis happy too. Win-win.
Best recap I've read (thank you!) and THIS is quotable, "Everybody wins when you walk away from the things that don't fit with what you want to do."
Absolute love. :) All of it, especially the bean.
what a wonderful way to look at it. no wonder why i love you.