By nature I’m not shy. I’m not afraid to go up to strangers and strike up a conversation. I can stand up and talk in front of many people without freaking out. I love a chat and am a bit of an extravert.
However, driving into the Melbourne CBD at 7am last Saturday morning, I had knots in my stomach, full of nervousness and apprehension. I was on my way to attend the Empowering Women Conference 2015. I wasn’t going with anyone, I didn’t know any the other 200 odd women that were attending and I was quietly pooping my pants.
I live about an hours drive from the CBD and driving into Melbourne always brings on anxiety for me. Those bloody hook turns and all {seriously, who invented those!!} cars, trams and taxis everywhere, not my ideal driving environment.
Safely arriving at the Rydges Hotel – I quietly stood out the front chugging down a cigarette before heading in.
Here’s me keeping my cool {on the outside but not really} – first time attending a conference as a blogger.
{Shitting my pants}
And who arrives at that very moment in a taxi? Kristy, who is the founder of the Imperfect Mum and who created and organised this event. Out the other door, Eden Riley, blogging royalty! right there stepped out. I shat my pants. These two women that I have been following online and have such respect for were in front of me. And I was smoking! Eden looked towards me and with the biggest smile said “blissandmayhem?” which I replied “Yes! Hi!” she came straight over and gave me a hug; Kristy came around the taxi and with her beaming smile “Hi! So nice to meet you.” I was instantly calmed.
From the booking table gorgeous women who were helpers for the conference greeted me. Everyone that I met was so kind. I sat at a table of women who all worked Education field of work. We had a blast sharing stories, where we were from, what we did. The conversations were so genuine. This conference somehow instantly created such a safe vibe throughout the room – it was pretty extraordinary.
We had amazing speakers throughout the day. Women that spoke so honestly, about their own experiences as women, mothers and business. Topics like:
- Motherly Guilt
- Post Natal Depression
- Re-evaluating your own value system
- Finding your truth
- Listening to your real you
- Being kind to yourself
I feel so honoured to have been given the opportunity to listen to these women’s stories. Their braveness through baring their truth and talking openly about their experiences while also providing brilliant tools, strategies and ideas for self-empowerment I know impacted me and I’m sure impacted all the women in that room that day.
Being a woman, a mother, can at times feel so overwhelming and hard. You can feel alone, un-loved, rejected, inadequate.
This day, in the city, was a day that I defientely needed. I was given so much more than just a day out.
We are all so beautiful people. And beauty comes from kindness, empathy, love.
One of my highlights from the day happened at the end of the conference. Packed up, and ready to drive an hour back home, I took a quick stop to the toilet. I walked into the first cubicle, you know to do what you got to do. I looked down and saw a hand come from underneath the next cubicle full of toilet paper, “I saw that your toilet had none – here’s some toilet paper hun.”
I hugged this woman when I got out.
It so is the little things.
If we can be kinder to ourselves and others around us, just a little, how much better could it be?
Some links you may be interested in:
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia http://www.panda.org.au/
Kristy Vallely http://www.theimperfectmum.com.au/
St Kilda Mums http://www.stkildamums.org/home
Eden Riley http://www.edenriley.com/
Suzie Botross http://botross.com.au/
Amanda Stevens http://www.amandastevens.com.au/
Nathalie Brown http://easypeasykids.com.au/
Bianca Shugg http://yumglutenfree.com.au/
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