The BlogHer Conference is the largest gathering of women bloggers in the world. When I was invited to speak on a panel, I was completely excited. I thought that it was a honor to get invited to speak about how I manage a chronic illness as a woman, a professor, and blogger. Additionally, I had an opportunity to help encourage other women in similar situations (and to learn from them).
But, I had no idea that attending the BlogHer Conference would be one of the most amazing and inspiring events of my summer.
MY PANEL
My HealthMinder session (held on Thursday) was entitled “What is Enough?” and I shared this panel with Elena Sonnino, Erin Kotecki, and Heather King. These women were exceptional, inspiring, and caring. We each cope with different challenges and together we created a list of strategies that help us manage our lives from emotional, physical, and social perspectives.
MEETING OTHER BLOGGERS
Meeting other bloggers was a phenomenal experience. One that is highly encouraged at the conference. About half of the attendees were first-time attendees, so I was not alone. To my surprise, this translated into a feeling of comfort about entering any room and asking if I could sit in the empty chair at the table. Although, I traveled to the conference alone, I didn’t feel alone.
THE EXHIBIT HALL
The exhibit hall was extraordinary! As an academic, I attend conferences all the time. However, I have never had so much fun at an exhibit hall in my life. At my academic conferences the exhibit halls are full of publishing companies SELLING books and/or journals so I never enter without a form of payment, but at the BlogHer Conference, it was the opposite. I did not buy anything, but I left with more swag bags that I could fly back home with. I will post reviews of products soon, I certainly have a few favorites. This post, however, is solely about the phenomenal time I had at the conference. Here are some highlights!
I won a Nike+ sports watch from Best Buy
I won a Nike+ sports watch from Best Buy
BlogHer is a MUST! I can’t wait to visit next year.
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Here’s a special shout out to some of the wonderful bloggers I met
Hi This is Patrice’s (Afrobella.com) sister and thank you for your wonderful email to her for me.
I will definitely be reading your blog as well as hope to contribute to your diabetes mention request.
Coincidentally, I used to do outsource head hunting for Saudi Aramco Oil and still have a few fellow Trinidadians living and working out that way….hard to be a Western woman out there,
Again, thanks for encouragement and keep up the fight.
Regards
Petal in Trinidad and Tobago