Inspiration and Perseverance: AWBU Recap

Over the weekend, I spent some quality time in Mountain View with some amazing bloggers thanks to Arkansas Women Bloggers. It was awesome to see so many women with the same love of writing that I have. And Mountian View is absolutely beautiful. A hidden gem in the Ozarks.

This is just one of many beautiful site to see at the Ozark Folk Center.

I was super nervous when I got to the conference center Friday night. I only knew one other blogger who was going. So stepping into a room of bloggers was pretty crazy on the emotional side of things.

It kinda felt like the first day of school. Sweaty palms, awkward introductions, lecture halls.

But as the weekend went on, a sense of comfort and unity was created. A we-are-all-in-this-together feeling emerged. Bloggers unite.

After listening to keynote speaker Lela Davidson's The Why of Blogging, I sat in my seat at a crossroad. Why am I doing this? Who am I online? What is the point of this journey?

I mean it's questions like those that slap you across the face and tell you to get it together. But it was not until I was sitting in a content workshop listening to a powerpoint on archetypes and a panel of experts until I get slapped with inspiration and purpose.

Kyran Pittman, author and blogger extraordinaire, was spilling her heart and soul to us about attitude and passion. "If you don't have powerful emotions about it, it's going to be weak," she said.

I sat there in awe. Mouth agape. Mind reeling. Stunned into a silence I haven't known myself capable of to this day. Clearly this woman is brilliant. The way she spoke and what she said was everything I needed to hear.

Later that evening, another blogger and I were discussing freelancing options and questioning the world of writing when Kyran sat down in a chair next to where we were standing.

It was one of those pivotal moments in life where you are terrified to say something to someone you feel is a genius, but you know you have to say something because this is the one chance to get some serious one-on-one insight into things you want to know about.

I choked down the lump in my throat and took a leap of faith. I was completely honest about my current situation. And she was completely honest in her response.

She said...and this is my interpretation of what she said...not direct quotes...but a summary.

It's not easy. You're in the place where you need experience to get experience. It's a tough place to be, but you gotta keep going. Push passed it. Don't get discouraged. If you give up and quit, you will never get it back. It's gone. So just keep plugging away and know that you can do it.

Ummm....did you hear that?!?!?!?!

If you give up and quit, you will never get it back. It's gone.

How completely terrifiying is that??!?! Then it hit me. People say that all the time, just not like that. Most people say follow your dreams. I have never ever heard anyone say if you give up and quit, it will never ever happen for you. The dream is gone. Completely gone.

I felt like I had been hit with a Mack truck. I fought back tears because I knew she was right. So incredibly right.

I've been wallowing in my depression and current situation. Basically waiting for someone to hand me the most perfect job. And it's not going to happen that way no matter how much I think I deserve it or how easy the writing comes to me.

I've been teetering on the edge of quitting and giving up with the thoughts that I can always come back to it...like someone who gets a law degree and chooses not to practice.

The difference is I can't just come right back to it when I'm done wallowing. It will be gone because I gave up on the passion to write. And to be honest, I'm not ready to throw in the towel. I got stuff to do. Things to say. And no one can push me to move forward but me.

Now everyone raise your glass or mason jar....

Because I'm not giving up on this dream. It's not going to be easy, but it will be awesome.

Ching-ching, friends.

Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged #awesome

I am completely thrilled. Today's the day I leave for my first blogging conference. What an opportunity this will be for all of us attending. I am nervous-excited about meeting everyone and getting started. All great things should make you equally excited and nervous. That's how you know you really want to do it.

I would like to thank Healthy Families Now for sponsoring me with a paid scholarship. It's the only way I would have been able to attend this conference. God does provide for His children when the time is right. And he definitely provided this opportunity for me.

I would also like to thank some of the other sponsors attending the conference this weekend. Country Outfitters (even though I was tardy to the party, I can't wait to see all the amazing boots everyone picked out...Maybe I will win a pair on one of their blog giveaways), Arkansas Farm Bureau, Ziploc, All You Magazine, Petit Jean Meats and everyone else who took the time to invest in Arkansas Women Bloggers and its conference. I am truly thankful and honored you would take the time to network with all of us here in Arkansas. We are so blessed.

On the agenda today:

• Pack bags for conference.
• Check on Asher at Arkansas Children's Hospital. She is currently in Round 5 of chemo this week, and she should get out Saturday if all goes well. If you would like to follow Asher's journey and get to know an incredible 3 year old, like The Brooklyn Project on Facebook. It's her official page that we keep updated. We welcome any new Prayer Warrior who wants to follow along.
• Put gas in my car.
• Other minor things (lunch, print off directions to conference center, etc.)

I can't wait to share everything I learned with you when I get back. Get ready. Monday is going to be one of many conference recaps.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. Follow me on Twitter (@ashtenbrook) for live tweets from the conference. TTYL!! (The inner third grader in me loved that. See what I did there. Ha.)

An Impromptu 5K

There is no going back. We have ran 3.1 miles. THREE POINT ONE MILES. That is a 5K.

It was glorious. 39:40. 315 calories. Best pace 9:24. Average pace 12:48. HOLLA!!!

Here's what we did. Logan, Lindsay, the roommate and I started out with a very fast paced walk for 2-3 minutes (which went undocumented by the watch so we could get an accurate sense of the time it would take with the 5K).

We would run 10 minutes at a 12:00 pace. And then walk for 1 minute. Until we reached the goal of 3.1 miles.

The only difficulty we ran into was running out of light. Since the days are getting shorter but not cooler earlier, it is hard for us to commit to a specific time. We want to go, but we don't want to burst into flames or melt on the sidewalk.

This impromptu 5K means we can never go back. There will be no more running 25 minutes. No more 2 milers. This is crunch time. We are six weeks out until race day, and I don't want us facing something we aren't ready for, but could have been ready for.

So we will run 3.1 miles each time. And pray that it cools down enough to bear it before dark.

I'm so excited to have ran the distance I set out for so long ago. It is a major accomplishment that must be repeated. I won't get to run again until Friday since I have class tomorrow night. Dang school for making me miss a group running session.

I guess I will just have to make friends with school work and knock it out so I can still have some fun. So tonight I will go home to this.

I still have some chapters to read and a few things to prepare before tomorrow night's class.

Hope you are having a glorious Wednesday!!

If you haven't read Cely's blog Running Off the Reese's, you definitely need to read it today. She writes a weekly WTF Wednesday post. And when you are from rural Arkansas, like me, you will (might) enjoy the WTF topic she talked about this morning. Cely is one of the funniest bloggers I've ever read. Sometimes she makes me laugh out loud. Check it out!