I saw my daughter, 8, do something really great on the playground last week. My typically introverted and quiet little girl, content to build sandcastles solo, stood up straight, pushed her shoulders back, lifted her head confidently, smiled, and walked right up to the group of kids – kids she didn’t know – that were playing sand volleyball.
She has always wanted someone her age and size to play sand volleyball with, and here was her chance. I sat on the other side of the playground and i didn’t take my eyes off of her. You couldn’t tell it by the looks of her that that wasn’t easy. I know it took every ounce of courage in her petite little body to do what she did. She was brave.
She jumped right in the game, made new friends, and had a blast playing the game she’s longed to play. She was beaming. Beautiful.
Watching her got me thinking about situations where I have to be brave, and step out of my comfort zone a little bit, so I can get to that place of making new friends and having a blast being myself. The first situation I thought of? Blog conferences.
We can all probably agree that most bloggers are introverts, and a blog conference seems like an event for extroverts. The parties, the hallways, the meals, the meet-ups…all the people! All the talking! It can be overwhelming and exhausting for both everyone, introverts and extroverts alike.
But blog conferences can be so much fun! I think in order to make the most of our time at blog conferences, we have to be brave.
Smile at everyone. Imagine every person you see is one of your blog readers. When you smile, you look approachable and less intimidating, sweet and happy. Go with the mindset of being friendly and making new friends. Your mouth might hurt by the end of the weekend, but you’ll have had a really great time and met a lot of new people.
Pretend to be an extrovert. Get a little bit comfortable with being a little bit uncomfortable. Say hello and introduce yourself to the girl behind you in line at a book signing or lunch buffet. At meals, find a table where someone is sitting alone and join her. Pretend you’re the extrovert, keeping in mind it’s only for the weekend.
Stay at the conference. I know, believe me I know, it is so tempting to escape to your hotel room in between sessions for some solitude. But don’t do it. Fight the urge and stay. Linger in the vendor hallways, or find a sitting area near the conference rooms to rest. Be present, available, and open to the idea of possibly meeting new friends in your down time.
Make small talk. Bloggers are notorious for wearing the latest accessories, whether it’s jewelry, shoes, a camera strap, laptop bag, or hairband. Be brave and make small talk out of it. Compliment her chevron infinity scarf! Her gussy zip pouch! Her monogram necklace! Her posy pins! Here’s a tip- wear/carry a statement piece yourself and maybe it’ll be the topic of small talk for another brave blogger.
Pray. Pray before, during, and after the conference. Pray for confidence, peace, comfort, divine appointments, joy, and strength. Pray for the speakers, sponsors, hosts, venue, other attendees, and attendees’ families. Pray god’s will be done at the conference and in your life. You never know when or how he will use you!
All in all, you got this, girl. So go ahead and buy your conference ticket. Book your hotel room, and add the flair to your sidebar. Stand up straight, pull our shoulders back, lift our chins, smile, and go. Jump in the game.
Being brave can get us to that place of making new friends and having a blast being ourselves. Even at blog conferences.
You belong here! Our heart is to equip you to be an effective Christian communicator.