We opened with this little movie. All the women were told to turn on their cameras and say what BlissDom is to them. At the opening session Barbara Jones and I listened to the video from backstage. We held hands in nervous excitement.
BlissDom was a celebration of every woman in attendance.
My first words on stage were, “Do you feel loved?”
Six months of planning was there in front of me. 500 amazing women who had worked so hard to be there.
I tried not to cry.
As always, I wore my heart on my sleeve. I can only be who I am.
I planned on coming home and relaxing, planning some boundaries, and starting a new blog I’ve been planning for months. I’m not there just yet. The combination of exhaustion, post-conference deadlines, mommy-guilt, and catch up has me chasing my proverbial tail.
I never know how to write about events. How do I do it justice? I am unable to share the magic that was 500 strong, beautiful, loving, brilliant women that filled the Presidential Ballroom last week. They are sharing their stories, their passions, and their experiences in their own way.
They have said it beautifully. They continue to tell their stories. They continue to grow and connect.
I stay up late at night in my quiet house watching the #BlissDom stream of tweets. I follow the links and read the words. Words that wrap around me and are a precious gift.
The story of BlissDom 2010 will be told in the words of these beautiful women.
Every post is a gift. I read them all with gratitude. I rarely comment (I know, I’m awful) but I read every word.
For almost three years I have played online. I tried new things, I had fun, I made mistakes, I failed often and I always kept going. I kept going because I had to. I wake up in the morning and try to create online. It is who I am.
My job is to connect wonderful people and ideas.
It so clearly clicked as I listened to Kevin speak. I am doing what I should be doing. My focus will stay on bringing women together, facilitating wonderful things, and encouraging the community of women online.
I have never been happier than when I watched the joy unfold.
BlissDom was big. (It will not get bigger!) It was big but friendly.
I dreamed of a weekend where women, all very different, would come together and embrace each other as individuals. The labels that so often stop us from getting to know each other would be put aside.
I am so proud of the warmth of the group as they greeted each other.
It was a joy to watch.
It was just love.
I will write more soon. I will share what I learned about community, myself and the power of our voices online.
BlissDom is the ultimate facilitator of serendipitous awesomeness.
I am forever changed and so very grateful.
(All photos by the wonderful Casey of MooshinIndy.com)
Sometimes the best stories are told in pictures. Come see.
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