The funny thing about blogging conferences is they can make you step back and look deep into yourself as you try to remember why you blog, and why you started to blog in the first place. It’s amazing how a room full of 600++ women can make you do that.
How you can be so surrounded by people and energy yet spend the most time to look inward. Not selfishly, but realistically – To take that busy time and look at your true self, to catch only your own reflection and ask yourself the important questions and give yourself some quiet reassurance.
I am good enough.
I like who I am.
I love my kids and my family.
I am a good writer.
I am good enough.
*****
Brene Brown, the keynote speaker at Blissdom, was the perfect start of the conference.
“Let go of who you think you’re suppose to be and embrace who you are.:
I stepped into Blissdom not sure exactly what I wanted to get out of it – besides some fun with Molly, making more connections, and learning to improve my writing skills. But walking into the conference and the week leading up to it, I felt that I already didn’t belong. I received info about “tribes” and while certain things may interest me, I wasn’t going to a conference to join a clique or define myself in a tribe. And yes, brands and sponsors were everywhere and while I understand their place, I have made the decision while I would love to learn more about your products, I am too good to get a sample of your project and write about it on my blog without payment. I am worth more than that. I should get paid for what I do.
I am good enough.
I am a good writer.
*****
My blog has become an amazing thing in 3 years – starting from a place to share photos to grandparents to a journal of my feeling, our daily happenings, some of my most personal thoughts, a place to share humor about motherhood, a place to laugh and cry, and a place where I feel I belong and need to be..and a place where a community has grown from YOU, my readers.
And I owe you more.
You are good enough.
You are amazing.
And while I didn’t learn anything big at this conference – better writing techniques, how to work with brands, or how to even participate in a flash mob, since i wasn’t invited…I don’t care because I know what I need to know and I know YOU deserve more and are here for a reason.
You don’t care if I use Tide detergent or love my washer and dryer or what pen or what tissue I use to blow my nose with.
I’d like to believe that you care about me and the silly little thing we call our life here.
And you deserve more.
You deserve the awesome.
****
I used to worry about blogging daily, getting traffic, what key words can I use for better searches..but why?
Why should I do any of that when you don’t care about it.
I will only blog when I have something really awesome to say.
You deserve only the awesome.(or my cute kids once in awhile to keep the grandparents happy)
****
Scott Stratten closed the Blissdom conference reminding us about the simple things about marketing and writing. Reminding us to just deliver the awesome.
And it felt right -how the beginning of this conference was so self affirming in her message and now Scott tied it up for me with a big red bow.
And I found my bliss.
I am good enough.
And so are you.
Awesome! Good for you. So cool to read how many of you who attended feel like have been empowered to just be YOU!
That is truly what it is – just feeling empowered to just be me.
I’m so happy you feel empowered to just be you because frankly… YOU are pretty awsomesauce.
)
Rachelle recently posted..We Are Family
funny. i haven’t been to one of the “big” conferences. but i have left smaller ones with a similar feeling.
it seems silly to want more from something that i started because i loved doing it. it only really made me truly dislike doing it …
and then when i realized that none of “that” mattered … i started to love it again.
so now i just do it for me.
and hope that that is why everyone came in the first place. and why they’ve stuck around. because we created a relationship. which is the most amazing thing. ever.
jen recently posted..one year
Word, girlfriend.xoxo
You most definitely are more than good enough & a GREAT writer! You are one of my favorite blogs to read. I’m glad you had a great time at Blissdom and all, but it was so quiet here…now get back to writing & taking those gorgeous pics of your lovely kiddoes! Welcome home!
Melanie H. recently posted..Just Your Average Weekend
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jen , Tracy Morrison. Tracy Morrison said: The Bookends from Blissdom – Delivering the Awesome http://j.mp/ePYlO8 [...]
As one of your lovely readers I would like to point out that you are also a good photographer…and I wouldn’t mind seeing pictures of your kids way more than once in a while.
Welcome back, glad to hear you got what you needed out of it.
Yuliya recently posted..pop culture savvy android
I know – my camera kind of hibernates in the wintertime as it’s so dark out. I need to dig that sucker out.
One of the highlights of Blissdom was YOU. And proving once again that I should always trust my instinct, because I loved you just as much as I thought I was going too – and more!
By Word of Mouth recently posted..Back From Blissdom!
Hon, going to Blissdom was worth it all because I got to MEET you and PET you. meoowww. I love you to pieces! xo
I’m glad you took away from your trip the exacting and perfect thing that you didn’t need to leave your living room to find; it’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Everything she needed was right in her own backyard.
The best blogs that I follow, including yours, are ones where I feel like I don’t need to wade through a whole lot of fluff and glitter to get to the goods. I find the human behind the words within the first sentences of every post and I feel the whole spectrum of emotions within that voice the more I come back to read about their lives. I see them. I don’t see a sales pitch, or a ‘blogmercial’ for some ridiculous product I couldn’t care less about or some perky post pushing something that a thousand other bloggers are already talking about. You, in your sarcastic and humorous self are perfect just the way you are and it’s what I love about visiting with you, both here and in person, surrounded by the mess of children and cats and a life that rolls through each day with wisdom and love. I’m glad you enjoyed your time away. And I’m glad you’re still planning to do what you do.
Kate recently posted..discovering horchata- with french toast
Are you calling my house messy?
Love this kate, will you come write my blog. Big hugs dear friend.
Wow…sounds to me like you did learn a lot….about YOU!!! I love reading your blog because it is who you are, it is down to earth and takes everyday situations we can all relate to and makes them fun to read.
It takes a special talent to bring tears, laughter or other feelings to a reader’s face and so I say to you “YES, my friend, you are good enough”.
Glad you found your bliss. Have a beautiful snowy day!
I think one of the reasons I loved Scott so much was that he was so simple and focused with his message. There is AWESOME and there is SUCKS, and we all just need to be AWESOME!
There can be so many things BEYOND the writing that try to suck us in, so it was nice to refocus instead of getting carried away with “everything else.”
liz recently posted..Blissdom- The Good- The Funny &38 The Take-Away
Isn’t that the truth. I was awesome content and writing and readers..not free tide. Okay, maybe a washer and dryer would be awesome..;)
You are better than good enough. You are great. To quote one of my favorite women, “xoxo.”
I think the keynotes were the best and totally worth going for those alone. Meeting you guys was a huge bonus. As was sleeping in a bed by myself.
Klz recently posted..Mistakes- The Bathroom at the Mexican Restaurant
Oh, molly and I share a bed..hmmm..
To borrow a new favorite word from my 13 year old “AWESOMESAUCE.”
Welcome back dear friend!
maybaby recently posted..weepy tv
Awesomesauce – lol Missed you.
Okay, liking Awesomesauce. Can I use that please?
Rachelle recently posted..We Are Family
I LOVE this! And now it makes me not want to write my Blissdom recap b/c I can’t do better than you did.
Shell recently posted..Blissed Out Thanks to LeadCheck
Aww, thank you. I am looking forward to your recap!
oh tracy. your blog is one of my absolute faves! you know how some moms have those “perfect” blogs – the ones that are perky and highlight not only their amazing life as a mom but their perfect kids and all the time they have to meet the 20 goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the year?? i get so mired down by those – feeling inadequate as a mom and as a woman – and when we decided to take our blog private because of some creepy comments left about our girls i was really bummed. i love writing too, but deep down inside, i want people to read it and love reading it. the chances of reaching the masses is much less for me now – BUT i have to be ok with that and know i’m a great mom and a great writer and even if just my husband and friends know that – that’s ok. i think you’re great! i don’t know what i would do without your wonderful, honest words.
Yes Stuart Smally, you are good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like me you! Glad you got some affirmation, am relieved to hear that you won’t be sending us subliminal messages via your blog for Folgers Coffee…we, your readers, are a discerning bunch, we would never go for that. Don’t mess with success. Welcome back.
Maxwell House then?
Looks like you took some powerful messages home with you. Can’t wait to see even more awesome!
Leigh Ann recently posted..Some funny for your money
Sad I left too early to hear about all “the awesome” but SO happy to have met and connected with you Tracy! I’m glad you got so much out of the conference and I really like this post A LOT.
Wish I had been there…sort of… I might have to get over my agoraphobia first. It looks like it was a great conference. I am getting some good stuff myself, just from the glow of all your bliss gals.
Dana
love you Trac.
And I think you know my opinion on those ‘trying too hard’ blogs– they are not worth reading. You, my friend, are awesomesauce.
Michelle L. recently posted..cloudy is wonderful