My Beautiful Struggle During #BloggerWeek

"The revolution is inside of you
People, the revolution is here, yeah.
...The revolution's here
No one can lead you off your path
You'll try to change the world" -Talib Kweli, Beautiful Struggle

Last week (May 1-2, 2015), I traveled to the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia) area to participate in Blogger Week. First and foremost, I love traveling to the DMV area because I feel that the Mid-Atlantic region is very progressive and breeds greatness. Secondly, I love to travel and anytime I can share my story as a blogger, writer, and certified life coach, I am in the place to be. Thirdly, I have actually manifested all my speaking engagements for the year. I remember sitting down at the beginning of the year, writing my goals and plans for 2015 and actually seeing them unfold before my eyes are unbelievable...Brown Girl From Boston is the illest. Just a little evening humor!

However, My Beautiful Struggle started on May 1st when my flight from Providence was delayed by an hour due to the mishaps and malfunctioning of US Airways/American Airline which is one of the most incompetent and mismanaged airlines on the face of the Earth but I'll digress. I spent two hours waiting on a flight to DCA in which I missed out on networking with some of the brightest, brainy and brown bloggers. I also missed out on seeing my BFF and husband who were in town as well. Thanks, US Airways/American Airlines!

I am thankful for social media because I was able to receive a preview of what was in store for Saturday. I was like a kid in the candy store, tossing and turning and unable to contain my excitement for Saturday. I am thankful that my co-facilitator, Krystal from The Love Jump who was gracious enough to check in with me and unofficially welcome me to Arlington. Early Saturday morning, Krystal and I prepared for the final run-through of our presentation: Storytelling, Connecting and Healing Through Blogging. I felt confident that we were going to killed our presentation and help others to start their healing process during our presentation. I was feeling like I could walk on water because we just had that natural flow to our presentation and love stories. As human beings, we often forget that we are interconnected.

Fast forward to #BloggerWeek Unconference, I walked through the door of blogger greatness. I felt the magnetic, positive and happening energy. I met bloggers from NYC to ATL. I felt like we were at a huge Think Tank for bloggers of color and I was loving every minute. Danielle Belton from The Black Snob was an #unapologeticFLYgirl who has a snarky sense of humor and knowledge of the blogging world. She presented on "Building A Brand When Everyone is A Brand: How to Survive Journalism 2.0." She kept it upbeat, authentic and honest about writing. 

Some of the key information I received from her session were:

1. Be memorable and consistent when writing

2. Be authentic and be inspiring when writing

3. Owning your ish! Yass

4. Finding your voice and niche!

The breakout session hosted by Marc Polite, Ni'Cola Mitchell and Yalanda P. Lattimore, "From Blog to Book: Leveraging Your Social Media Presence to Become An Author". I attended this session because I spoke with Marc Polite before the conference started and he gave me some insight on how to use my previous blog post to create a book. One of my dreams is to become a New York Bestseller. It is on my vision board to remind me of what I will accomplish very soon. While listening to the panelist, I was inspired to review my blog post and start piecing my blog post together to create an amazing book. 

Some of the key information I received from the panelists were: 

1. You should be selling something

2. FREE Fully Reimburse Each Expense

3. See yourself as an expert

4. Likes are good but dollars are better! -Yalanda P. Lattimore (@DryerBuzz)

Here is where My Beautiful Struggle started! I wasn't feeling too hot before we went to lunch in which I was becoming irritated, hangry (hungry and angry) along with dealing with an onset migraine. I was praying to the Higher Being to take away my headache and help me, period. Chile, when I went to Chiptole with three beautiful bloggers, I was slowly but surely feeling normal until I got back into the building. I knew something was off because I took only a few pictures of other people but not myself. My outfit of the day was dope, very Brown Girl From Boston chic and unique. 

I kept telling myself that I am going to make it. After all, I don't have a choice because I am speaking at 4:30pm. I was comfortable with being uncomfortable. During Teresa Dowell-Vest, "From the Drinking Gourd to #BlackTwitter: Social Communication for Social Change" I was alert and Tweeting. I still felt lousy because I had to keep my mind occupied. I was doing some major praying because I had two hours until my shining moment. Teresa's presentation was the bomb.com because her energy and passion were full. She served us from her overflow and I was like Jamie Foxx singing the National Anthem during the Mayweather-Pacquiao. I wanted to shout out Hallelujah and Amen at the end.

Some of the key information I received from the presentation:

1. As people of color, we are amazing storytellers

2. We are the originators of creativity and communication

3. We have to ask ourselves how are we using our words?

4. Change is chaotic. Change is disruptive. Change is inevitable. Change is natural.

In between the next session and my session, I was doing some serious praying. I was completely out of it, already vomited and just wanted to lay down. When you are at the peak of your greatness, all kind of distractions and barriers are thrown in your direction. This time I was faced with food poisoning at the very same time I had to present. Chile...by the presence of the Lawd, I was able to get through my presentation. I was flowing right along with Krystal while asking Jesus to take the wheel over. I was flowing while holding back the vomit down my throat. Very disgusting and graphic, I know but I had to tell my story. 

After I finished my presentation, I had enough strength to meet and greet the participants along with giving hugs. The Higher Being, my co-facilitator Krystal, and the participants gave me strength and life because your girl was holding back vomit and tears. Once fulfilling my speaking duties, I quietly slid in the bathroom and violently puked my guts out to the point a beautiful being offered their help to me. I politely decline while puking out of guts until bile was coming out. 

I am just thankful that I was able to get through the day and my presentation because someone needed to hear my story and voice. I had to muster up the courage to finally blog about my experience because life happens to the best of us but you have the choice to move forward or lay in your vomit. I chose to suck it up and vomit later because ish happens!

Much love to all the Higher Being, Jessica the founder of Blogger Week, Bloggers, Speakers, Krystal, the beautiful participants during "Storytelling, Connecting, and Healing Through Blogging" and myself for being courageous to muster up the strength to get through the day. 

I am taking a break from Chipotle. I am highly disappointed that I got food poisoning from my salad. Damn you, Chipotle!

Make sure you check out Blogger Week to support their events. 

Much love to Yalanda at @DryerBuzz! I was the winner of her gift basket. Her book "27 Answers to Create Buzz" is a must-read. 

Thank you for reading Brown Girl From Boston. Remember spread love and light it's the Brown Girl way!

Love, 

Andrea