I feel as though I should probably warn you in advance – just in case you happened to think it would be otherwise – my gratitude list today is going to be rather BlogHer ’14-centric! Because the whole trip was an amazing experience from start to finish, and left me feeling grateful in all sorts of ways – and this seems like the perfect place to share it. So please bear with me! 🙂
Hope you’ll join me in this week’s Gratitude Linkup!
(If you’d like a bit of background on why I started the Gratitude Linkup, check out this post.)
How to get involved in the Gratitude Linkup
- Write and post an entry in your own blog containing your gratitude list for a moment in time.
- Share the URL to your gratitude blog post by clicking the “add your link” button at the end of this post and filling out the information.
- Share the Gratitude Linkup with your blog readers by clicking the “get the InLinkz code” link at the end of this post and copy/pasting the appropriate code into your gratitude blog post.
- Visit some of the blogs listed in the Gratitude Linkup and comment on their posts.
My Gratitude List
In no particular order, here is my own gratitude list for this moment in time. I hope that after reading it you’ll go on to write and share your own!
- Safe travels to and from San Jose for BlogHer ’14 – uneventful flights, no missed connections, luggage delivered on time and (almost) intact. (Well, the pull-out handle on my suitcase somehow managed to get broken while in transit, but apart from a bit of inconvenience it was really no big deal. It’s not an expensive piece of luggage, so I’m not too torn up about it!)
- Being able to share a hotel room and hang out with my dear friend Sabrina for the third year in a row. We even ended up on the same flight back for the first leg of our journey, with a long layover in Phoenix, so were able to spend even more time together. Truly a blessing!
- Taking baby steps in the process of learning to be ok with seeing photos of myself, both selfies and those taken by others.
- Friends: people I’ve met in person at earlier conferences and caught up with again this year… people I’d only previously known online and managed to meet face-to-face for the first time… people I’d never met (or, in some cases, never even heard of!) but ended up being introduced and forming a connection.
- Being gently confronted in various ways throughout the conference with the “I’m enough” message.
- Successful meetings and networking with various company reps that could lead to future blogging opportunities.
- My blogging friends who generously shared their words with Alphabet Salad readers as guest posts while I was away.
- Sleep: A good night’s sleep, sleeping in on the weekends, afternoon naps, cats who sleep on my desk when I’m working.
- Having a blog post I wrote about Kiva featured in Diibl, a new digital only business and lifestyle magazine. Exciting for me, but also wonderful to think that new people might be introduced to and participate in Kiva.
- (Finally) having the roadwork on our street (mostly) finished… what a nice surprise to return home to! It’s so nice to look out the front window and see a paved surface instead of dirt and gravel… and to actually be able to drive on our own street.
- NOT getting a cold (even though it felt like one was coming on).
- Being inspired.
Twitter: vidyasury
August 3, 2014
So happy you had a great time, Laurel! I enjoy reading your lists. It is great when we stay healthy during trips! Truly a blessing.
Vidya Sury recently posted… What Is Your Coffee Personality?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
Thank you, Vidya! There was one point in the afternoon of the second conference day where I was sure I was coming down with something, but a quick nap seemed to cure whatever was ailing me. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: sojossojourns
August 3, 2014
Gratitude is so powerful! Yay, to BlogHer 🙂 I’ve been a member for three years and have yet to go to a conference- next year! I’m so happy you had a great time 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
I hope you get to go sometime – the conferences are wonderful!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: just_anothermom
August 3, 2014
It can be such a challenge to find something to be grateful for at times, but then again, maybe not so much of a challenge. I think if everyone just really looked at their life, without over thinking it, they could find something to be grateful for. Thanks for sharing & will definitely check out the Link up.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
There is always something, I think! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
A lovely list, Laurel. Looks like you had a great time at the BlogHer conference…
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
It was wonderful. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Glad you had such a wonderful time. Maybe next year I will make plans to attend.
Congratulations on having one of your blog posts featured! That is a great accomplishment.
One thing I am grateful for is your sponsoring the gratitude link-up. Doing the list has certainly help me remain positive even on bad days.
Have a great week
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
I’m so glad you’re a part of the linkup, Kathy – I always look forward to reading your posts, and am thankful that you choose to participate each week. Hope we can connect at a future BlogHer conference! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Once again, I’m grateful to have your gratitude lists to remind me that there’s always something to be happy about. I love reading your blog even though I don’t always reply. I’m trying to be better about jotting down what your words make me think about. I know it’s important to let you know that your words do have an impact.
On the top of my gratitude list right now is finding out some very good news (which I can’t share at this time) about a family member I was worried about.
Second, we were invited to a BBQ and games day at a neighbour’s place today and were lucky enough to have beautiful weather for it. We met several new people, had a fun and interesting time chatting with them and long time friends, ate some good food (it was a pot luck kind of BBQ – the hosts provided the meat) and are now home snuggling with our visiting kitten. What a great day! 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
Thank you for your support, Cheryl – it is very much appreciated! So glad for your very good news and for the fun you had – and the kitten! Such a sweetie – love seeing the pics of her on FB. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Great list! Sounds like you had a great time at the conference. Wish I had been able to go :(.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
Maybe another year, Val!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: shyvish
August 3, 2014
Indeed a blessing when we can give thanks for the little things. Loved the list. And you go, girl. I adore networking and looks like you got your fair share at Blog Her! Yay!
Shailaja V recently posted… Knowing -#Write Tribe
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
It really was a fabulous time!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: beloome
August 4, 2014
It is always heartwarming to read your gratitude posts! I very much like the last three items on your list, those are really the kind of things we often ignore to be thankful for. Thanks Laurel for this post.
Beloo Mehra recently posted… Rains and Pains
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
You are welcome – thank you for reading! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: jyothisdayout
August 4, 2014
Hey, I was in San Jose during the second week of July. I guess I too feel grateful that my Holiday trip to the USA last month didn’t have many things going wrong. So much could have gone wrong because there were 25 days of road and air travel. Maybe I should write a post on this too. 🙂
Jyothi Nair recently posted… In the thick of it
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
So glad you were safe during your trip to the US! You just never know what could happen when you travel, can you? As it turns out, the very day after we all left from the conference there was a murder in the park opposite our hotel in San Jose. Scary!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: writercat
August 4, 2014
Loved your gratitude list, Laurel. I am so glad you enjoyed BlogHer so much. It did sound like a wonderful event that made you feel rejuvenated and even more excited about blogging. Good to get away and do things like that. That’s great!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
I’m already counting the days until the next one! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: black tortoise.com
August 4, 2014
I loved having a roomy this year at BlogHer14. The first time for me. Also, all those photos, and TheMrs. My, I had some tears in my eyes. Different women told me about how difficult it was to look at themselves in the mirror for that long and how they avoided looking at different parts of their bodies. Whoa Mama! For me, all the while I heard how great my smile is, I kept thinking, “You’re so thick, you’re just so thick.” (I am much thicker than I used to be, despite a lot of working out.)
Adela recently posted… Photo Friday: BlogHer14 Selfies
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
That mirror was a rather thought- and emotion-provoking experience, wasn’t it?!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
Twitter: CorinneBlogs
August 5, 2014
So glad that you had another wonderful experience at BlogHer, Laurel. Sabrina must make a lovely travel companion! 🙂
Thanks for creating this, I’m hooked!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted… May God Make This World As Beautiful To You
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
Sabrina is a WONDERFUL roomie and friend – I am so glad we’ve been able to connect every single year!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
I love gratitude lists and it is mostly the small things that we should be grateful for. We shouldn’t take anything for granted. I love this idea!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 8, 2014
So very true – it’s all valuable!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: From Nature
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