Alt SLC 2014 – Real is Good

Most images by Justin Hackworth and Brooke Dennis, the photographers of Alt Summit. More found here in the Alt Summit Flickr stream.

Happy frozen Monday to you!

I am home, mostly unpacked and getting back into the motions of real life. Man, it’s hard. :) It was another great trip, like last year and the one in NYC. Having the opportunity to surround myself with individuals who do what I do, know the hardships and challenges as well as the moments of pure joy and are searching for ways to grow and stretch themselves is a treat untouched by most everything. It’s reinvigorating, exciting and just plain fun.

My trip started out a little rough. Winter weather caused my travel to the airport to be slow which then made checking my bag, going through security and racing to the gate very stressful. Once I got on the plane, we sat on the tarmac for an extra 40 minutes or so getting de-iced. I was ever so glad when we arrived in SLC. It took all I had not to crawl over people just to get off the plane. But after that, things got so much easier. I stayed at the Grand America this year, the hotel in which the conference is housed, and it was a luxurious delight. I just don’t know that I can go back to simply ‘nice’ hotels after this. :) I roomed with three amazing women – Ali, Alix and Melissa – and while we could have used more sleep and more down time in our fab room, we had a lot of fun. Lots of laughs and silliness. I’m sad the time went so quickly. View from our 10th floor room and soap apparently made just for me. Or America. Whatever.

One of my favorite connections this trip was with Red Stamp over the sponsor dinner on Wednesday night. It was a last minute change when I was signing up (the ‘Red’ caught my eye) :) but it was indeed serendipitous. Turns out Red Stamp is located here in the cities and their team is made up of very kind, fun and genuine women I cannot wait to see again here at home. Along with a few more MN-ers I met, I am excited for the blogger connections here at home.

As I mentioned before, I spoke on a panel this year, a Being a Contributor and Hiring a Contributor panel. I was joined by Jenny, Melanie, and Kathryn and it went very well. I say it went very well because I didn’t pass out or become a mumbling bumbling fool. Amy for the win! The fear and anxiety I felt before the panel was at a level I haven’t felt in a very long time. While in the midst of it, with my sweaty palms and pits, I was very uncomfortable, however, I do love the feeling. It’s a sign I am pushing myself beyond what I’m comfortable with and I want to continue to do things that make me feel like that so I grow.

After my panel was done, I just had fun. Mingling, chatting, learning, connecting. So.Much.Fun. The party on Thursday evening was hosted by Cricut and we were all encouraged to wear green. The numerous tones and hues were beautiful. Plus, getting a close look at the new Cricut debuting in March was fantastic. I got to chat with the CEO for a bit, all the while he wore a headband made possible with parts cut from their new machine. :) I was very nerdy and tried to get as much info about the conception and production process because I just love knowing that stuff. I was very inspired at the attention to detail and subsequent pride they feel for their new product. They worked hard and it is amazing. Having fun with Alix and Hailey.

The mini parties were Friday evening. Many of my friends hosted parties this year and I enjoyed seeing their work come to fruition. They all did a great job. Again, it was fun to talk and laugh and do ridiculous dance moves together. Me and my bed mate, Ali. Our roommate, Alix, had a hand in this flower party.

I wore my homemade tulle skirt and I unabashedly told every person who commented on it that I did indeed make it. :) I was sad to take it off when the evening ended. I’m writing up the steps for a future post and am on the look out for another reason to wear it.

So now what? I’m back to reality, the noise, the mess, the responsibilities, what was the take away?

First, it’s the pursuit of doing things that scare me. I want to push myself, to keep growing, to keep stretching myself. The deep waters I launched myself into with this blog a few years ago have become familiar. I still love the work and my connections but I need to find the deep stuff again. Really get the adrenaline coursing. Not sure where it is but I’m searching. Posing.

And secondly, it’s the reminder of how amazing it is to be real, all the time, with everyone. The outside might be coiffed, Spackled and wrapped in something pretty but connecting on a real level about real life is so moving. Maybe it’s wearing pajamas down to the lobby when most are still dressed in their finest (let’s be real – jammies are more comfortable than Spanx and heels). It might be sharing birthing stories with other moms or trading experiences of working with the same company. It’s sharing the fear of the struggle to finding a direction and meaning in our work year after year. It is also cry-laughing in a corner of the hotel bar way past midnight about the absurd behaviors of our spouses. All of it feels so true and genuine.

In sharing the real and the true, the illusion of perfection is obliterated with no feelings of failure on my own part. I know in my heart of hearts no one is perfect but sometimes I can convince myself I am the only one struggling, schlepping along, failing. But perfection IS an illusion. No one attains it. And we are all beautiful in spite of it.

So now, I’m back to the grindstone. I’m back to the workbench. As I try to remember how to keep up with my children, I have a head full of ideas, plans and dreams I hope to get laid out in the next few weeks. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. But I’m headed for the deep water and seeing what happens, imperfections and all. And it’s going to be grand.