People often ask me, Why do you attend blog conferences? You spend money that you really don't have, you take time away from your family, it stresses you out when you are getting ready - why do you do it to yourself? After all, you have real life friends and you have fun with them. Why go through all of the aggravation?
Good question.
I do it for situations like the one I'm in right now, where I have two friends sitting on beds in my room - and we are all on our laptops and not talking to each other - and we are ok with it.
We get it.
It's being in a room of people all texting and facebooking on their phones, not looking at each other - but they are most definitely interacting with each other and knowing that no one is offended.
We get it.
It's not so much going to the sessions, which are often all kinds of amazing and sometimes aren't, and sometimes are as sparsely attended as my fitness panel - with only 4 people listening to me. It's not getting knowledge, for I can do that in my home. That's the beauty of the Internet. I can research and google, craft and prepare to my hearts content.I can learn at home on my own time. In my pj's.
Conferences are different. Hard to explain. I have many friends in real life, and I adore them. I laugh with them, I hang with them, cry and support them in ways that are magnificent and breathtaking, rich and deep and fulfilling.
Internet is different. Meeting with online friends refreshes my soul and completes me in a way that's untapped, unfettered. Solid and true.
It's sitting in a room of people who just GET YOU. Who ask for your name and your blog and your twitter handle all in the same breath, before they ask who you work for or who your children are or where they go to school. It's meeting up with people that you know online for YEARS - hello, Liz of Hallmark, I'm talking to you! - and not having to do all of the tired and trite intros. It's getting right into the meat of a conversation, adding a new twitter follower and knowing that you are just understood in a way that transcends both explanation and acknowledgement.
It's laughter. Laughter until you pee your pants and can't breathe.
Taken by the amazing and uber talented Heather of Heather Durdil Photography. I was laughing at a funny story she told. And then she showed me tricks on Lightroom that I haven't ever been able to figure out.
I will have many many many more pictures later next week, as they show up on Flickr and I grab them. I don't know if I've even touched the tip of how I feel when I go to conferences - but this is close.
It is my mission to get to a conference before the end of the year. I'm so jealous that I'm not able to be at Blissdom but as a new blogger, I'm cutting myself some slack.
What you described is what I'm looking forward to most: people who don't like at me like I'm nuts when I say "I have a blog. I'm on Twitter. I have a lot of internet friends."
Someday soon. Until then, I'll just sigh and enjoy the blogs and pics from those of you who get to go.
Posted by: Brandi Cortes | January 28, 2011 at 08:00 PM
You don't owe anyone an explanation. Mamas need to do things that make them happy. The end.
Posted by: mom-101 | January 28, 2011 at 08:00 PM
You look amazing!
Posted by: Karen P | January 28, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Love. This and you.
Posted by: MizFit | January 28, 2011 at 09:53 PM
Your expression is SO similar to your 'About Me' photo just to the right.
Posted by: Sharilyn | January 29, 2011 at 05:52 AM
Never thought to go to a conference. Must consider! I found you through ReadySetEat! I'm a fellow reviewer. Nice to 'meet' you here.
Posted by: Yvonne Moss | January 29, 2011 at 07:40 AM
what a great picture.
i've had online friends for nearly 9 years. we started chatting online when we were pregnant, and now our kids are going on 9 years old. i've flown all over this country and met many great ladies. they just get me...
Posted by: Sandra | January 29, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Ditto!
Posted by: Headless Mom | January 29, 2011 at 09:06 PM
This makes me so excited for BlogHer this year. I've never been and seeing all the Blissdom pictures and posts just revs me up for how awesome this summer will be.
Posted by: kirida | January 29, 2011 at 10:22 PM
I want to get to one conference before the end of this year. I never had enough money to go, and hopefully I will! I understand what you're saying and that's what I told my family when they questioined why I want to go. Because everyone is on the same wavelength and everyone GETS IT!
Mommy Misc...
Posted by: Krissy @ Mommy Misc | January 30, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Let me just say I would have LOVED to have gone to Blissdom. I started my blog when I started home with my girls and it has been the best therapy. I have met new friends and rekindled old ones. It has helped me so much! Thank you for all of your help, Carmen. I really appreciate it!
Posted by: Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith | January 30, 2011 at 11:24 AM
What a cool post to read. I've been blogging for years but still haven't made it to a conference. I guess in the scheme of things, I feel like I wouldn't fit in because I'm not a mommy blogger. The majority of the authors' blogs I read are moms...I'm not even close. I'm sure I'd still get a lot out of a blogging conference though. I'll have to try to make one :)
Posted by: Bethany | January 30, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Beautiful photo.
And I get it. :)
Posted by: FireMom | January 30, 2011 at 02:31 PM
I'm honored that you shared this with me while we were there. I couldn't possibly agree more! Will be linking to this b/c I couldn't possibly say it better. Love you.
Posted by: Sarahviz | January 30, 2011 at 04:06 PM
So well said. I feel so lucky that I met YOU at one such conference. :)
Posted by: Rox | January 31, 2011 at 01:12 AM
Would be interesting to know what the kids think about your most attractive photo. I know teens especially can get "funky" looking at pix that portray other sides of good ol' Mom.
Posted by: Pat | January 31, 2011 at 11:21 AM
This is the most beautiful picture of you! I only know you through cyberspace, but it looks as if it reveals the "you" inside.
Posted by: UKCraftySal | January 31, 2011 at 04:46 PM
It was great to see you again! Your new photo is beautiful.
It's recharging (and also a little exhausting...at the same time!) to be around so many like-minded women.
Posted by: Jamie | February 04, 2011 at 03:10 PM