Last year, I was a little underwhelmed with BlogHer. I didn’t learn as much as I thought I should. Didn’t connect with as many people as I hoped I would. Didn’t come home as transformed as I wished I could.
Not so this year.
This year? I had fun. I learned and connected. Laughed and cried. Hugged and got hugged. Socialized and…danced? Yes, Internet. I danced. In public. And not polite little shuffling, either. Nope, full on spastic dancing. I’d blame the alcohol, but I think it had more to do with the company.
This is what 3600 women gathered together to inspire and be inspired looks like.
Because the women at BlogHer? Were (and are) amazing. I met good friends I’d been waiting to see. Made lots of new ones. Caught a ride from the airport with one bloggy crush. Chatted up another particularly non-scary blogging superstar at a party. Even shook hands with CecilyK (a woman who both inspires and frightens me).
One session brought on a mini nervous breakdown. Others bored me to tears. A speech by Jess Weiner motivated me to take on the world. The closing keynote made me want to tear it down.
But most importantly? The weekend left me profoundly grateful for the community I’ve become part of and spinning a little giddily, trying to process it all.
Will I go next year? I have no freaking clue. But man am I glad I got to go to this one.
I’ll probably write one more post about the whole mess before I’m through. And then we can move on, I promise. But you know what? After the amount of money I threw down? I better be able to mine more than one post out of it!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree, Amber.
What a community. I thought that all the time there.
ANd running into you at that quiet moment? Among the sea of women?
Just serendipity.
Glad it happened.
xo
I know! That was crazy! Congratulations on the keynote by the way. You’re an amazing woman!
I absolutely loved our time together!! So much fun and YES you’re going next year!!!
We’ll see. But yes, it was too much fun! I only wish it could be in California every year…
BlogHer was all kinds of awesome and next year, I plan on going to a session or two.
You skipped that part, huh? I don’t blame you – there were a lot of awesome women to hang out with.
It was so lovely to meet you! Consider me your new stalker! :*
I love stalkers! I’ll be stalking you too…
I really wish I could have attended. I know it’ll be in NYC next year which means I just have no excuse to skip out–I hope you can make it, too!
I’m so glad to hear that you had a great time–and you got to meet Alexandra. She’s one of my bloggy heros
Oh, I love Alexandra. It was the funniest thing. We just happened upon each other in the lobby and got to chat for a bit. Coolness.
Aaagh – I’m so jealous! Sounds like it was awesome.
It was. Took a full week to recover though. I’m sure your vaca was much more relaxing.
I want to go next year for sure!
Really? That’d be awesome!