A Joyful Place Called Home

This past week was Blissdom,  a conference for 500 women in Nashville, TN.  It was in a word, the “it” event on my calendar since over a year ago.  People I admire were going to be there, people I love were going to present there, and about 490 others were simply people I knew would be fun to meet!

There are few times in my adult life that I simply attend a conference without a role to play.  Often I am the creative strategist, regularly the support system behind the scenes, and every now and then I am a speaker among others.  Blissdom was the opportunity to simply go be a girl, enjoying herself….and I could.not.wait. to be among all the fabulous bloggers. We arrived to immediately receive a Blissdom bag filled to the brim with Bliss….how fun it was!

When you gather 500 women one always wonders if it will roll out as high school …you know cliques of fancy, the geeks, the “in” crowd, the athletic girls, the bandies…..and truthfully that always makes me shiver at the thought for high school was a pretty difficult place for me ….I was one of those invisible people that everyone thought well enough of, but no one knew personally…one of my adult life passions is making sure that no person in my presence is left with the impression that they are unimportant, or not a part of whatever the group. Blissdom is every age, size, color, and type of woman imaginable and they were all beautiful to me….I loved seeing such diverse spirits come together in a time called Blissdom.

Allison Worthington had a vision for a conference where the darker sides of girl gatherings would not happen. A place where all bloggers would be appreciated and part of the group.  I saw and experienced the best of womanhood happening time and time again. Women sharing their lives, reaching out to others, taking care of one another, passing babies around in awe and deeply filling each other’s value cup.  Alli would be the first to say in her sweet teasing voice “I’ll be the first to “shank” anyone who purposefully hurts anyone else’s feelings.”  Blissdom is intentionally about inclusion and community.  I met old friends, gained new perspectives and will walk away with a few new friends who will forever own a piece of my heart…and a new respect for our sponsor companies.  As an aside, the companies who were with us I have always appreciated, but they too gained heart real estate as I watched how they came together and took risks to support 500 women unobtrusively to the conference, simply enriching our experience.   Blissdom met its goal in creating an environment where women would bond together in friendship. I would love to have the words to describe the gatherings in the evenings that went into the late hours…but suffice it to say that 500 women were delighted by the sponsors generosity to pamper and give them the best girlfriend parties ever in some of the most beautiful settings in Nashville. Each party unique and wonderful and fun, all at the same time!  Diverse, alive, wonderful groups of women.

Blissdom is a an amazing gathering of women. All kinds of women…but the thing I absorbed and drank in over and over again like a Route 44 fresh from Sonic on a scorching hot day was the opportunity to be with five hundred of the most intelligent women who were willing to share their hearts, the goals, their hopes, their experiences and their lives…. and it happened non-stop for 3 days…the giggling, the tears, the stories, and the fun….toss in a little Harry Connick Jr to delight us, the amazing speaker Kevin Carroll to take our breaths away while he challenged us to rethink our choices …well…it was…Bliss.  It was a walk in another part of a land that was almost magical at Opryland’s Gaylord Resort where there are staff 24/7 keeping the Bliss in every way…

My sweet husband drove up last  night to surprise his bride and we finished my time in Nashville together…yet another reason I love him dearly….he knows that my bliss could not be complete in this experience without him.

I loved seeing every one of you who were at Blissdom,  hearing your stories and I want you to know you were all a part of my personal bliss. Thank you for sharing you with me!