I found my people and my drive
As an adult, finding my people has been a challenge. I found them in pockets at grad school. I found a few when I starting teaching. We have a couple from church. But I’ve never been one to really truly feel like I fit in. Always a bit of an outsider in large groups.
Then I started blogging. And found people online that seemed like-minded with so may similarities. And I met a couple in real life. I even went to Kansas and stayed in a blog friends’ house! I’m even in a group with several hundred local Georgia bloggers!
This weekend, I attended the Mom 2.0 Summit. When I bought my ticket last May, I had zero expectations (pretty sure it was Meghan that prompted me to hit “pay”). I even bought it thinking, “I’m going to have a four month old…I can always sell it, right?” As the conference grew closer, I didn’t get nervous or worried about bringing B with me, I got excited and ready to meet my friends. Some of whom I had met in person before, and some that only “lived in the computer.”
@SeriousKrystyn‘s goal for 2014? Being all in. Thx for talking to @iBlogMag! #mom2summit
— Maria Smith (@MariaRSmith) May 2, 2014
Friday morning, I met with my local friends and we drove into the conference where we ended up getting separated. Kelly and I found each other and she immediately asked me to come sit with her and some other buddies. I was at ease. I didn’t know everybody, but we were all kindred spirits and there for the same cause. I was with my people! Never have I sat in a room with several hundred people and felt more relaxed and dare I say confident.
We listened to Robin Meade’s key note about beauty and saw videos with girls asking if they are beautiful. And we cried together. We smiled together. We laughed and cried some more.
“What did your beautiful and amazing body do for you today?” @DrRobyn #beautyis #mom2summit
— Krystyn (@SeriousKrystyn) May 2, 2014
We conferenced hard for two days straight. I didn’t make it to every panel or session I wanted to. But I talked to everybody I could. I had meaningful and thoughtful conversations. Every person I talked to felt like they were genuinely interested. And, more importantly, they got me. They get me. These are my people. These are my friends, every last one of them. I consider them all my friends!
I am more than glad I went. I am, well it’s hard to put into words, thrilled. I found my people. The ones that get one. The ones that I get. All in the same “room” at the same time. Sharing, educating, passing on real knowledge and not just hinting at it.
And while I was there, my confidence was boosted, my desire to do even better was renewed and my drive to move forward and be amazing was pushed to the max. Thank you to everybody at Mom 2.0 for such an amazing time and experience. And, of course, for the Prada bag!
Look out, Scottsdale, I’ve got my Mom 2.015 ticket!
Thank you again @mom2summit! I woke up this morning with the biggest smile on my face! Buying my ticket for 2.015 today!!!
— Krystyn (@SeriousKrystyn) May 4, 2014
SO glad you had such an amazing time! It’s a goal of mine to get there net year! And love the Prada bag!
I know a bunch of our Boston bloggers went to Mom 2.0 and it sounded awesome. Boston bloggers are a pretty tight knit group, too, which is so nice to be able to have that support.
It was so great to meet you!!! I really appreciate you coming up to say hi. I can be pretty shy and quiet and have a hard time doing that – so it helps me out of my zone when other people are more brave than me 😉 I bought my ticket for next year, too, see you there! <3
Yay! Glad we’ll get to connect again!
I love ya girl!!! So glad you came. I had a blast with you, even though we have a blast everytime we get together!
I am glad you didn’t back out and were brave to take B with you.
A PRADA BAG!!!! Girl I am too jealous! Congrats girl! I found out about Mom 2.0 too late and couldn’t attend. I never attended a conference but will be going to Bloggy Boot Camp ATL in Oct. I have been blogging since 2008 and been scared to meet people in public because I was afraid that people wouldn’t get me. I hope by attending events I’ll be able to meet some like-minded bloggy friends.
It sounded like you had a fabulous time!! I have always been more comfortable with my blogger friends!! We have so much in common……the rest of the world…..not so much!
Congratulations on winning that beautiful Prada bag! What an awesome surprise. I cannot wait to attend my first blogging conference. It looks like such a fun time.
That is so awesome.
And nice bag too! 🙂
I can only hope to go to a large conference like this one soon! I’ve only been to a few smalls ones, but they are still so worthwhile. It’s so awesome to connect with people who really understand blogging!
It sounds like you had an amazing time!! And what a ridiculously awesome win with that Prada bag, wow!
I’ll selfishly pretend you’re talking about me. Because I big puffy heart you, and you’re totally in my tribe 🙂
Of course, of course:) You just weren’t “here” with me! But I did brag on you mad skills and red headed little man!
Looks like you had a really fun time! I would love to go to a blogger summit like this.
It was nice to read about your wonderful experience at the conference. I am happy things went well for you and Baby B.
Mom 2.0 is actually the one conference I really want to go to. I’ve never been and have heard many good things about it.
Mom 2.0 is a great conference. Congrats on having fun and winning the bag!
I feel the exact same way! I came home energized and am getting more work done than I have in a while. I’ve been to other blog conferences and normally feel like I don’t fit in and am shy. This was the first conference where I literally talked to every single person i ever dreamed I’d want to talk to. And they were as amazing as I imagined.
I hope you enjoyed Kansas. As a resident of the sunflower state, glad you were able to visit the state and we invite you to return anytime.
That’s awesome that you went to this event. So glad you had such a great experience!
I wanted to attend this year however funds were limited. Hopefully next year I will get to attend 🙂 glad you had such a great time and the baby did so well.
That’s so great that you all clicked like that! I went to one blogging event this year and only made 1 great blogging buddy. That’s ok, because we laughed and had a great time all night long. Good for you finding your “people”!
Sounds like an amazing experience for you and your people! LOL. Hoping to get to attend one year.
What an amazing time! I couldn’t bring myself to hit pay this year, but you have encouraged me for next!
Yes, do it!
Being new to the blogging community, I was worried there was in “in-crowd”- the people with a bazillion followers. I was wrong. Everyone has been so welcoming. I hope that one day I can get my butt in gear and head to a conference!
Somebody said it best…we all put our pants on the same way:)
Sounds like a great experience. So glad you found your tribe!
i’ve always known conference to be so welcoming to mommas and their babies. we are MOM bloggers and all 🙂
Sadly, I haven’t always found it to be the case.
It’s wonderful that you’ve been blogging so long, that you’ve found your niche. And that you found where you fit. 🙂 The event looks awesome!
Looks like you had a blast. Going to a blog conference is on my list for 2015!
It looks like it was a wonderful conference. I haven’t been to this one yet but I want to!
It’s such a good one!
I have not attended mom summit yet. It is on my list, hopefully one day when they are closer to my area. Looks like a lot of fun and congrats on the win!!
It is nice when it’s in your backyard:)
That looks a great group! It is like food to the soul when you find like minded friends that you just click with
Looks like you had a blast. I would love to finally get a chance to go to a conference, hopefully next year. I have made some awesome blogger friends since I started and you are right they just get it.
I am so bummed that I missed this one! But Scottsdale – here I come! So glad that you had such an awesome experience!
Mom 2.0 was definitely an experience! I am hoping I can make it to Arizona next year. B was such a good conference babe too. I am not sure Baby D would have been so pleasant!!
I’m sure he would have been good:)
I’ve attended Mom 2 in Houston and in NOLA and it still remains one of my very favorite conferences! I was so sad it wasn’t in the cards for me this year!
Glad you had such an amazing time <3
Somebody linked up to a previous years’ pictures and I saw your name and got excited! Then I realized you weren’t coming! We need to make a point to catch up next time I go visit the fam!
So glad you went and had a great time – I have yet to go to a conference, but I really want to do so soon.
i love to go to blog conferences. they are so much fun.
i am beyond giddy for you friend. i totally get this and couldn’t be happier for you!
and holy crap dude you came to kansas?!?! FOREVER ago!! sooo crazy!! soo fun!!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon.