I laughed, I cried, I sang, I meditated, I ate raw, I cried some more, even did a bit of crafting.
And then I did it all again the next day - but with lots more crying.
I spent the weekend attending the Big Hearted Business Conference. It has changed my life. Reaffirmed my belief that I CAN make a living from being creative. That I really am a creative at my core. That the past four years of struggle, doubt, sadness, uncertainity are behind me. I'm BACK. And I have found my voice.
I can't adequately explain or describe the shared experience that was BHB2013. It was about connections, community, love, honesty - nearly everyone who attended has expressed, via facebook and blog posts, the impact those 20 hours had on them. Profound, life changing - reaching into their heart and soul. A community has been created, bound together by connections that time and distance are unlikely to break.
And this experience was created by Clare Bowditch, CB to her friends. (She now has 200 new ones, all of whom can put "Back up singer for Clare Bowditch on their CVs!). She followed her heart, had a BIG dream and made that dream a reality on the weekend. And by doing so she opened our hearts. Two hundred women (and a special man or three) are looking at the rest of their lives through new eyes, believing that anything is possible and that they can write a bigger story for themselves while saving the world. Oh, and make some money along the way.
Some amazing takeaways that will stay with me - wise words from wonderful speakers:
What you want wants you.
You are the sum of the parts of the 5 people you spend most of your time with.
Find your "people".
Let your worlds collide.
Allow yourself to fail as you dare greatly.
Procrastination is a function of narcissim.
Catherine's guide for time management - write 50 words & then you can pee. Write some more & then you can make a coffee. Write a bit more & then you can have a shower.
I'm not a perfectionist, I'm a completionist.
You are making a LIFE, not a living.
If you don't know what to do, do anything.
Be so good they can't ignore you.
Pip's "10 rules to make my life AWESOME".
Hope some of these are meaningful for you.
Pip has a great post with lots of photos of the weekend.
And join the BHB mailing list so you can be there next time.
