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ShiftCon 2020: Virtual Shift

14 Oct

Well, the closing of 2019 and going forward apparently did not go as any of us may have planned. I had big ideas and well intentioned plans to do so many things including posting here regularly. And I even had the makings of some drafted posts in my brain as I finished the last one back in October of 2019. But not only does SHIFT happen as those of us who attended ShiftCon like to say – but SHIT happens, too. And lots of it in the past year. So while it may have been a ridiculously long time since I connected with folks here on the website, it was not for lack of caring or wanting to.

I am back again, for now. Until the next shift or shit happens I suppose. But I’m happy to report that even with all of the heartbreak, stress, loss of multiple sources of income, along with neverending grief – I miraculously made it to the 2020 Virtual ShiftCon. And boy, am I so grateful that Jessie from Tiny Yellow Bungalow and I purchased our tickets during the closing party fun at ShiftCon 2019. We both made it virtually, and had another incredible experience in 2020. ShiftCon Virtual Shift may very well have been the BEST thing to come out of this year. Just ask my parrot Merlin who attended at least half of the sessions this year with me. If she learns any new words in 2020 I do hope they are in the vein of sustainability, zero waste, regeneration, environmental justice, soil health, and collaboration.

ShiftCon 2020 was different in the sense that we were not there in person able to hug our friends, shake hands with and eventually hug the new friends we would inevitably make, sample things during the Expo, or sit down to share a meal with everyone during the Keynote sessions. But that does not mean it was any less meaningful, worthwhile, or successful. And honestly, considering all that had to be done to put this together, I was beyond impressed with how engaging it still was even with us all attending virtually. Kudos to everyone who helped make the conference happen. What a remarkable accomplishment to bring all of us together and get so many people not only connected but also getting so many people fired up and ready to go MAKE AN IMPACT!

The motivation to do all we can to support and educate others about regenerative agriculture is sticking with me. I had already felt this way for a while. But after attending the breakouts, keynotes, and watching the documentary “Kiss The Ground” and attending the Virtual Q&A on Day 3 of the conference, I can’t STOP thinking about it, or talking about it with others. I am now officially fired up, too – and that takes a lot after the devastating Winter, Spring, & Summer I just endured. There are so many more things I am still processing and want to share about this year’s event. But for now I am needing to rest while I process, and support my own wellness practice that is crucial to me being able to attend these types of things to begin with.

I am sincerely hoping that this change in energy which I could feel from the moment I logged onto the online platform for this year’s event is just the start of many good things to come and I welcome the shift and inspiration I felt during and now still after the conference (even though like last year I got all sappy and cried a little after it was over).

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FABlogCon 2017

25 Jan

FABlogCon2018SwagBags

Another long overdue blog post in process. I start to feel like a broken record when I continually have to share that the reason something was delayed, or I had to cancel a trip, or I bowed out of an activity I was very much looking forward to was that I am recovering from yet another flare of some sort. I may be outwardly very sick seeming in appearance. But most of the time, I am still functioning because I have to, and keeping it together the best I can. But in regards to my energy levels and symptoms, I am struggling. And that is what things have been like since November when my partner and I went to Denver and San Francisco. An absolutely whirlwind few days of travel. But it came with a price. One that I am still not quite fully recovered from it seems.

First of all, I have to say that the Food Allergy Blogger Conference FABlogCon was amazing. Jenny Sprague really outdid herself this year. And the people I met, brands I learned about, and presentations were inspiring, educational, and validating. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend again this year. I just regret that it has taken me this long to report back about it.

The main thing I took home from the 2017 conference was a sense of community and strength. I rarely feel understood or validated, simply because it can be so difficult to navigate the real world with food allergies. I don’t expect the level of understanding or even accommodations that we experienced during the conference when I go back into the real world. But I do feel that we all deserve compassion, AND for people to at least WANT to understand. I have seen great strides, and I can tell that the more work the folks who were at the conference do, the better things out there in real life will be. I was incredibly impressed with so much of what I heard. There are some determined and resourceful humans out there fighting for this cause, and I am thrilled to have connected with all of them at FABlogCon.  Here are some of the photos of the vendor fair, conference, and social events that we snapped during our brief adventure in Denver. I am certain there are more photos floating around that I hope to share at a later time. But for now at least I can look back with such a sense of pride and comfort knowing what an incredible group of people I have in my corner. If you are considering attending a conference in 2018, and have any interest, personal experience, or compassion for food allergies, you should absolutely attend.

FABlogCon 2017 Photos

 

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