You can find many, many posts on the interwebs right now about the BlogHer conference that happened this past weekend in New York. Detailed and descriptive in ways that I can never dare compete with. So I won’t. Besides everyone’s conference experience is different. My weekend was euphoric and it was amazing and in little pocket moments I was disappointed.
I got to New York last wednesday — arriving in time to attend a pre, pre conference cocktail party with an entrepreneur flavor. There I was able to land my eyes on some of my most favorite people from BlogHer, some that I have now known for years and some that I have only recently begun to get to know within my inbox and twitter stream. It was a damp and raining night in New York and the event was close enough to union square that after the final speech had been given I convinced a nice group to go to a place I used to go to all the time in college for dinner.
Thursday I spent the day in Pathfinder sessions honing in on why I love blogging so much and recognizing how much it has been here propping me up through so much of my life. I connected with more favorite people and relished the quiet pre conference lull of time.
Oh and then there was President Obama!
Following the President’s speech (seriously!) I worked at the kiosk on the expo floor for the startup that I work for. It was jam packed and a million degrees and around a bajillion bloggers (ok, actually it was five thousand – BUT STILL). It was nice to be a part of the conference from the outside to the inside and then back to the outside again – in terms of as a writer, a blogger, a reader, a company…
I loved, loved, LOVED doing the blog design audits in the Geek Bar. It ended up not being as much about specific design issues as much as intention issues and being able to to identify why you blog and who your blog is for. I turned the sessions into a group involved one so that everyone could make observations about the sites we audited – I hope it was helpful.
{Side note – there is a very funny story about one of the first sites that I audited, but that is another story for another day. I am planning on going into more detail about those sessions later – I told everyone that attended the sessions that I would audit their site and since we were at beyond capacity I have a lot of work to do before I can get anecdotal here. But it is a good story, promise.}
There were a LOT of bloggers at this conference and a lot of people who were thinking about being bloggers. There was a statistic given on the 1st night that about 50% of the people attending the conference were new to blogging. That is kind of HUGE. I love new bloggers. I get really excited when I find out that someone has found this world. But I don’t like the assumption that this is a ticket to freebies. Blogging is a craft. You can see it as a hobby or a profession – but there are skills and lessons involved that will make you better. Buying a URL and creating business cards is not the only thing to do.
This is my way of saying that there were some people I met at this conference that broke my heart. I overheard things that made me step back. I left conversations with rushed apologies when I knew I could not bite my tongue.
Because blogging is important to me. It is not trivial. It is not camp. It is not a way to get shampoo.
It saved my life.
Which brings me to the out of body part of the weekend – the voices of the year part. I get emotional thinking about every single aspect of this. From the email finding out that I had been chosen. The anxiety over finding something to wear. The panic over the realization that I was going to have to stand in front of thousands (give or take) of people and read my truth. And that I probably would not be allowed to have my hair in a bun.
I was placed inside a loving chamber by BlogHer — led by Polly and Shannon and back patted by Elisa — my friends (those with me at the conference and those cheering me from afar) were propping me up and carrying me to the stage. As I waited back stage I bit the inside of my cheek and focused on the first word of my post to keep from crying.
And then suddenly it was my turn. I was on stage. It was amazing. I loved every minute of it.
(and I am so thankful my friends were in the front row! Julia was able to grab video of it so I can share. WOO!)
And when I walked off the stage (hoisting up my dress because I was SO PARANOID that I would trip) I felt like I could do anything in the world.
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I am SO proud of you! I wish I had been able to chat w/ you more at Type A b/c I feel like you are one of those people I know from afar, but you are doing amazing things & your voice resonates.
I can imagine what you heard & it would have left a bad taste in my mouth too. Blogging is sacred. It saves me thousands in therapy bills and the ability to have a space where I can share my thoughts and have someone, anyone read??? Priceless.
I hope to make it to Chicago next year for BlogHer13!
Dresden I wish I could have heard you and hugged you and spent some time with you. What a powerful message you delivered. I watched with tears in my eyes and is it odd that I am just so proud of you? Thank God there was help when you needed it and thank God there are still leaders who recognize that good people need this help.
Much love!
beautiful, wonderful, and inspiring.
you are fantastic, and I look forward to our paths crossing again.
xoxo
You were amazing. The light that shines through you is brilliant! I’m so glad to know you!
Yes! What Jana said!
You were fabulous.
You ARE fabulous.
You did great. I wish I were close enough to give you a big hug.
I loved hearing you talk, and I love knowing you.
YAY! I can’t watch it now, but can’t wait to!
Awesome!!!
I would have given almost anything to have been able to be there to hear you read your words in person. xoxo
You were absolutely fabulous. Just fabulous.
I’m so glad I got to both read that post when you wrote it and see you read it. Even if it was just the uploaded video and not in real life!
You were great! Very powerful message.
I am so, so proud of you.
And what a delight to hear you bring your acting talents to the reading.
It was so wonderful to be there from hair and makeup to the speech. So FREAKING proud of you!
Wiping away tears. Even though I’ve read this, hearing you read it is so moving on a deeper level. I love you, Dresden. You are beautiful, powerful, luminescent, … just freaking amazing!
Yes, blogging saved your life. And made both of us moms. WOW!
XOXOXO!!!!!
Dresden, in our pathfinder group you said, “Writing [My blog] is like a map back to myself” and it is one of the quotes that I carried home with me. I loved learning your story, listening to you at Voices of the Year, and working with you at the Blog Design Audit–it was the most useful and practical session I attended. I still can’t figure out the url redirect, but that deserves an email
Thank you for contributing in so many great ways to my experience at BlogHer ’12 this year.
This was exceptionally powerful. Congratulations to you on your much earned success and recognition. You are really inspirational. It’s been amazing to watch your journey in these last few years and to see how much has changed and how much good you’ve been able to do by using your voice. Thanks for that.
And because I live in Union Square and am just super curious – which restaurant? I’m always looking for new places to try!
This is awesome!! You are amazing!! So proud and happy for you!!!
What a poised, beautiful speech – goodness you are beautiful in so many ways – love you!
You were AMAZING up there on that stage. I cried for you. I cried with you. I cried when I heard your whole table of friends cheering for you. I’m so glad to know you, even if it’s just online. And speaking of which–what the heck?! I regret not tracking you down to say hello finally! I saw you on the down escalator at one point, but I didn’t want to shout and wave my hands and otherwise embarrass the both of us by asking you to climb back up the escalator.
you are truly amazing. you should be so so proud of yourself. we all are too. bravo!
talk about manifesting a new reality.
You are amazing! Loved your speech!!! Honor to know you Dresden!
You were amazing. There is nothing else to it. You were poised and beautiful and walked the hell out of that dress, fear of falling be damned! And, you spoke your truth that happens to be the truth of so many other people so you not only were honest, but you related. Congratulations again.
You don’t know me, and aside from seeing your name on the interwebs from time to time, and being present for your story at BlogHer (I was alllllllllllll the way in the back), I don’t know you, but I just want to say that I LOVED what you shared, and I can relate in many ways. Stay awesome! <3
I’m so happy I got to meet you even if I did just sort of dive bomb you at queerosphere.
I love love loved your speech <3
You CAN do anything!
It was a rush to see you up there as a VOTY, reading your poignant post. I kind of wish I’d sat at a table of strangers instead of a table of people who already know and love you, because then I could have annoyingly crowed, “I know her! She’s my friend!”
Loved your audit session, too. I have a ToDo list of things I can do to make things better.
Can’t wait to hear..the REST…of the story.
Wish I could have seen it in person. You were beautiful and articulate. Thanks for sharing!!!
You were spectacular, dear woman.
You are poised, articulate, and inspiring beyond words. As a new blogger, trying to find my “way” in this world, your voice stand out as does your amazing journey.
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