BLEND: Out of my Comfort Zone + Link-Up

So I have been back from Blend a full week now.  Goodness I miss those lovely views!

Back porch at our cabin

In case you didn’t know, Blend = Blogger + Friend (although some of the ladies were just readers).

Amanda, Katie, Elizabeth, Christine, Me

Also in case you didn’t check out my other recaps:
Blend Retreat Kicked my Booty
{WIAW #25} Blend Retreat: A Foodie’s Dream
Fitmixer Giveaway (Product from Blend) **Make sure to enter the exciting giveaway if you haven’t already!!**

This is the recap I have been putting off because I want it to be just right.

I’ve wanted to somehow convey the gratitude I have in my heart for each amazing woman I met at the retreat.

Names in last recap..so. many. people.

But how to do this?  How to explain just how I feel?

Blessed.  Grateful.  Humbled.  Empowered.  Loved.

Just words…they can hardly explain how full my heart has been since the trip.

All of the people I met exceeded my expectations.  My experience went from being completely Uncomfortable the day before the trip, to feeling so welcomed by people who I had never met before.

Melissa, Lindsay, Amy, Maria, Dena, Jennifer, Me, Sarah, Heather, Katie Photo credit: Janetha

This was my first ever blogger meet-up of any kind.  I will be honest, the reason I felt I should go to this one was because the other conference I was looking at was BlogHer or BlogHer Food…and those cost hundreds of dollars for a ticket, not to mention they were held in New York (I think) and the lodging would have been much MUCH more expensive.

I had no idea what would come of me hitting the “submit” button with my payment information and my selection of a twin bed.

I had no idea we would be staying in such a beautiful and peaceful place.

 You better bet your booty I will be going back to Chatauqua again…with or without my Blends!

I had no idea I would meet such amazing roommates and feel like we belonged with each other.

Dena and Katie

I had no idea that the bloggers I had been following for over a year would actually smile at me, hug me and say “It’s so good to finally meet you!”  My heart melts each time I think about these meetings!  (This means YOU Lindsay and Lee!)

I’ve been trying to figure out why this trip meant so much to me.

The first reason is: I’ve been going through a weird friend-transition in my life.  

Right after high school I got involved in somewhat of a “pyramid scheme” (although it was legal) and a big part of that was shutting out people who didn’t believe in “the dream.”  I distanced myself from family and my best friends for over two years.

When I left that group, although I had learned a lot, I had no friends.  My friends were that group and when I left, I was an outcast. Terrible right?

My friends that I had ignored for two years had different lives.  Our paths had gone astray for so long that it was impossible to get back to where we were.  Not to mention the fact that some of them weren’t too keen on the fact that I ignored them and acted like I was better than them for that period of time…

I made some friends at my restaurant job, but many of them were into going out and drinking…and that’s just not the place I wanted to spend all of my time.  Not that I never go out with them, and not that I don’t love them…it’s just not something I can do very often and as a result, I feel like an outsider when I do go.

Love this girl!  Wish we hung out more!!

I’ve made a couple of friends at church and one really good friend (who was with me in the “pyramid scheme” and got out of it like me), but she has a baby and sometimes it’s a challenge to get her out of her house. (Still love you Em!!  And your little babe!!)

Blogging and social media like Twitter and DailyMile has helped with my social gap, if you will.  I have friends online that I have never met, but I value their friendship just as much as those I know in person.

Except that on this trip I actually got to meet some of them in person!

Haha I’m hiding behind my roomie (help me with photo credit friends!  can’t remember who took this!!)

How cool is that??  So they aren’t just my online friends (who could possibly be total creepers)…they are real-life friends!!

Thanks Lindsay and Tina for kicking my booty in bootcamp AND being so nice in person!!

But with blogging and Twitter and DailyMile…there is always the ability to think for a couple of minutes about what to type.  This is very helpful for someone who tends to be as introverted as I am.

Which brings me to..

The second reason this has meant to much for me: I was forced to stop hiding behind my keyboard and actually get out and shake hands (and give hugs) and hold conversations with people.

It really wan’t as bad as I thought it would be.  If you feel the same way I felt when I wrote my “Uncomfortable” post, please just know that I was to the point of anxiety and making myself sick over meeting these ladies.  I mean even the morning of, I couldn’t find my photo ID for the plane and was almost relieved I didn’t have to go.

But stepping out of my comfort zone was so worth it, friends!  Please trust me in this!

Just look at the pictures.  These really were amazing people I got to meet.

Christine bought me my first and only shot of alcohol on the trip…tequila!  (Photo credit: Heather)

Even if you are a little worried to meet the bloggers you know and love over the internet, do it anyways.

Heather (photographer), Christine, Me

I did not expect to actually MISS the girls I hung out with for only two days!!  And to feel such true friendships with people I had only just met in person.

The third reason this trip was good for me: I was completely humbled by the other ladies’ health and fitness levels.  

There were many different levels of fitness, for sure, but coming from Nebraska, where some people think I’m crazy for buying whole wheat bread and running 5 or more miles at a time, I generally feel like one of the fittest person in the room. 

But pride is not a good thing and I soon realized on this trip that many of the ladies there ate WAY better than me, were more in tune with their bodies than me, and could hike MUCH MUCH better than me.

I needed the humbling experience and I thank God I had it!

Thank you to Lindsay, Janetha and Katie for probably going crazy for months arranging all of this.  You made it possible for me to overcome my fears of meeting people (and flying by myself!!) and make some real BLENDS!!

Thank you to every single person I met for making me feel welcome.  Even if I only spoke with you for a few minutes, you were helping me overcome my fears and gain just a little more self-confidence.

Photo Credit: Ashley

This is why I was so sad to leave.  These are the reasons I want to go back next year.

I will treasure the friendships I made over the weekend and hope to continue them over the years to come.

AND  I can’t wait for next year!!!

Please join us won’t you?

Also Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommas out there!!  It feels weird because I’m not hanging out with Mama Sue today since she is a hard-working nurse and worked last night AND tonight. 🙁  

We are hanging out Wednesday though! 🙂

Have a great week friends!