I could tell you a lot about Blissdom. I’m sure there will be hundreds of posts chronicling the sessions, the parties, the speakers, the food. Well-written posts about friendships made and cultivated, the beautiful Opryland Hotel and Harry Connick, Jr will surely be out there, too.
And although those things were awesome and I learned so much and met so many, something bigger happened.
Somewhere inside me, in that quiet little place that I sometimes hesitate to share with even my closest friends,
I felt a movement, a revolution.
There were times this weekend when I laughed so hard I cried.
There were times when I was my normal, loud-mouth self.
There were times I stepped outside my comfort zone.
But often I found myself just being quiet.
Watching others. Listening.
Listening to others and listening to that inner part of me that so frequently gets drowned out at home,
shushed and squashed by my to do list.
Blissdom was not a Christian conference.
Blissdom was not about religion or God.
Blissdom was not about growing in your faith
or becoming a better person.
But Blissdom was inspirational.
And Blissdom was educational.
And Blissdom changed me.
Over and over and over, whether in sessions or conversations or within my own mind,
the same three phrases kept re-surfacing:
Be authentic.
Be passionate.
Focus on what’s really important.
Not really novel concepts. Not something I hadn’t heard a hundred times before.
But exactly what I needed to hear,
what I wanted to hear,
what I was ready to hear.
Several panelists talked about finding your voice, but I realized that in order to find my voice, I must first find me.
I’ve gotten lost in the shuffle.
I’ve gotten wrapped up in things that don’t matter.
I’ve let some influence me too much, and others not enough.
It’s time for a change.
Thanks, Blissdom.
This made my eyes a lil’ blurry. Wonderful!
Much love to you girlie. Your words are so true. It was so awesome to meet you this weekend. I can’t believe I haven’t known you forever, because it feels like I have.
xo
DAmmit Bridget.
I’m crying.
This is beautiful and perfect and EXACTLY EXACTLY
I adore you so much and fell in puffy heart love with you in person.
Yes. Just Yes.
You better link this to Jo-Lynne’s link up because everyone should read this.
This was a great post to read….on so many levels. Thanks for sharing your heart here. May you find peace in the days that follow and figuring out how to make your voice the way you want it….
So insightful. Thank you for sharing this.
And I’m so glad that I had a chance to meet you at the very last minute!
I am glad you came home with things to think about. When I saw your link on Twitter I was worried. I hope to attend next year if I can.
It’s so hard to remember when life happens so fast. But it’s so important. I’ve let some influence me too much, and others not enough.
Favorite line? I’ve let some influence me too much, and others not enough.
Thanks for a great post.
You captured the essence of Blissdom so beautifully……. It really was all things..inspirational, educational and empowering.
Bravo! Well said. I was thinking the same things on the long drive home yesterday. Got kinda angry with myself for letting others define what my voice should be or not be. It’s so true for many of us.
Thanks!
Oh girl. You nailed it! So perfect, so very perfect. I feel every single word, concept & emotion you have described here. Love you and love YOUR voice!
Oh yes! The writing panel with Amber when she said her blog is a great place to meet her. And it’s been a great place for HER to meet HERSELF.
Same here. I feel the same things you wrote.
Steph
you have a voice, bridget. and it’s beautiful and brilliant. i am so thankful for the opportunity to share blissdom with you. it was exactly what i needed.
Perfectly said. I have already had four people tell me I seem different since I got home yesterday. And I am. I am looking at everything from an new perspective. And I really, really like it.
So beautiful! So true! Love it!
Exactly.
Yes. Exactly.
Exactly the experience i had too!
Obviously I didn’t attend Blissdom, but I love what you have to say about self-discovery here. Maybe it’s the hormones, but I totally teared up reading what you wrote. You’re awesome, you know (and in more ways than your writing).
A poignant, pensive piece. Well done!
Over and over this weekend (even on the radio as I drove to and from Blissdom), I was bombarded with the same concepts: being busy about what’s really important, and exuding passionate authenticity. What a refreshing conference. My first! It won’t be my last.
I love my people.
Great post. Well said.
Great post!
I was really bummed I didn’t make it to Nashville before, but after reading this I’m even more sad that I couldn’t make the trip. I’m sad I didn’t get to see you and so many other amazing women that I don’t get to see nearly enough through out the year.
I’m so glad that you found yourself, you figured some things out and that you had such an amazing time. I’m still so bummed I wasn’t there.
I’ll be in NY in August and I really hope you will be too!
XOXO
I loved this very zen recap. I am in the midst of a Blissdom recap opus, sad to say.
Beautiful.
I’m so glad you got to go. The only thing I would have changed was me being there, meeting you! Hope that will happen sometime soon!
Sorry we didn’t get to meet at Blissdom. I felt the same way about my experience–although I don’t think I said it near as eloquently as you did.
Awesome post. It captures everything exactly. I wrote about my love for everything and everyone…
I wish I could have come. Part of me thinks I’d have more fun there, then at BH. Shrug.
I’m glad you had a good time.
Oh how did I not see this until now?
I’m teary (who me, get all misty eyed?) reading your beautiful words.
I may print this and frame it.
It’s exactly why I do what I do.
Thank you!
xoxo