In just over a month, I’ll hop on a plane, fly to Kansas City, and attend the tenth anniversary BlogPaws conference.
It’s my ninth conference… I missed 2013 because it fell right after I’d finished a year of chemo, and I just couldn’t. And here’s the thing: Way back then, in 2013, long before I contracted for BlogPaws and long before I joined the staff, long before I had many readers here, and long before I had a handle on most facets of blogging, people noticed I wasn’t there.
To a wallflower like me, that’s a big deal.
This community sees me.
I took a look at past BlogPaws-related posts, and I found my recap of that very first conference in 2010. Interestingly, though not surprisingly, my three core takeaways from that first event are the same as they are heading into this tenth conference: community, authenticity, and advocacy.
Also interestingly, and also not surprisingly, those are three of my own core values.
Last week, the BlogPaws team traveled to Florida to visit Chewy.com’s HQ. ICYMI: Chewy acquired BlogPaws, and they wanted us to head down and see their operations prior to the April conference. While there, they set us up in their film studio so we could each record our thoughts about our BlogPaws experience. Again, not surprisingly, the first thing that popped out of my mouth: community.
I am not exaggerating when I say that some of my very best friends have come through my connection to BlogPaws, and some of the most exciting opportunities and engaging professional relationships have emerged from the organization. I’ve laughed and learned and hugged and cried and patted piles of dogs, cats, rats, a capybara, and a mini-pig.
Eight years and 10 conferences is, sadly, a lifetime for many pets, and we’ve mourned the loss of each other’s dear animals and have said goodbye to some of our friends and colleagues. We’ve celebrated pet adoptions, marriages, babies, job changes, books being published, and we’ve helped each other over life’s big and little hurdles. At last year’s conference, my dear, cherished friends and colleagues threw me the biggest baby shower I could imagine to celebrate our adoption of Violet. She spent the first year of her life cuddling the stuffed dogs and cats, wearing the adorable outfits, and enjoying the piles of books that our beautiful friends showered us with.
We get each other.
Our hearts love the same, no matter if it’s a bearded dragon, a dog, a horse, a cat, a ferret, etc. at the end of that leash.
We see each other. We see each other’s joy and we see each other’s pain.
I’m honored to be part of the BlogPaws community, and I can’t wait to see everyone and meet all the new folks next month.
If you’re on the fence, or if you haven’t been before, or if you haven’t been in years, you really do need to join us. This tenth anniversary conference is one not to miss. It’s an incredible learning opportunity for anyone online, as well as a major love fest for pets and the people who love them. Learn more and see you there!
In the meantime, if you want to dig super deep into learning how to be an authentic blogger, check out my ebook, Authentic Blogging. It contains everything you need to harness your authentic voice and grow your audience by leaps and bounds!
Community is definitely the right word. I feel like it’s the song of my people. 🙂
I’ll be sad to miss everyone this year, but hopefully next year will be in the cards for me.
Wow, what an amazing group to be part of and surrounded by!! This is the dream, to work with animals and around people who love animals on the same crazy, off the charts level that I do! You are living my dream!! Congrats and enjoy!!
I wanted to go to Myrtle Beach last year; but family issues just prevented it. Same this year. Maybe one of these years I’ll be able to go. Just have to take it all one day at a time.
As Jodi said, “community is definitely the right word.” We “get” each other’s devotion to our non-human family members. I feel closer to many of my blogging buddies than I do to some people I’ve known most of my life.
This blog post is all the feels and then some. What a beautifully written and spot on message. BlogPaws has always been about community for me and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Pet bloggers are the absolute best. See you in April in Kansas City!
Although I’m not sure if/when I’ll attend another Blog Paws, my experience in 2016 was seriously one of the coolest experiences of my life. It is an unforgettably welcoming, generous community and I know the connections fostered there go far beyond my blog.
Great post. One thing that makes me sad when meeting some BlogPaws newbies is that their first priority is getting excellent help in making a living writing about something they love. But they don’t (yet) realize that the community, while also being fun, is an amazing way to find the support you need to reach your other goals.
Of course, they probably figure that out pretty quickly. 😉
I love this post. A little more than a year ago, our gang of BlogPaws folks were secretly planning your baby shower which included countless messages, calls to the hotel, packages shipped in advance of arrival, and using glue guns indiscriminately the day of the Nose to Nose awards.
It seems like I’ve known you forever and I can’t imagine life without you in it. I cherish each moment we get to spend with each other through the world wide web, but seeing you in person is priceless. Thank you for you, ALL of your hard work for BlogPaws, for your help building and maintaining this community, and for your friendship.
Everyone here has said it. This community is irreplaceable and you, my dear, sweet friend are priceless! Your post describes it all beautifully. Thank you all, past and present, who keep making the BlogPaws community great. Can’t wait to see you in Kansas City!
What a wonderful, heartfelt post! The learning, help & support we give each other are amazing, Community is definitely the greatest part about BlogPaws!
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them