I learnt so much – which I am sure I will share here once I’ve had a chance to put my thoughts together – but one of the biggest things I learnt, was about myself.
I Must Confess – I’m not as extroverted as I thought I was!
The lovely people at Blog Chicks organised a get-together for the night before the conference – as I walked in, I was stunned to see at least a hundred bloggers chattering nineteen to the dozen!
Talk about feeling like the new kid on the block – I didn’t see ANYBODY I knew, despite having attended two bloggy events (Redland Bloggers Meetup, and one held at Wenatex by Blog Power Events) earlier this year.
Over the next two hours I met and talked to about 30 people – no mean feat, as the room was so noisy we had to shout to be heard over the din. My voice started to give out so I ended up having not one, but two, drinks, to try and keep it lubricated …
Of course then came the inevitable result of so much liquid refreshment – I had to go to the loo!
And it was while I was in the loo that I realised, this party girl was all partied out. My voice was almost gone, my feet were sore, and I was ready to go home.
So I ran away, back to my lovely unit for a quiet toasted ham sanger and a good book.
The reality is, I needed a break from all the people. Maybe it’s a side effect of mostly working from home, on my own – or maybe it’s just a sign that I’m getting older ;-).
I guess it just goes to show I’m not as extroverted as I thought I was. I find making small talk incredibly draining; I think I’m better at getting to know people one-on-one rather than in a big crowd.
Although I ran away early, I was still proud of myself for making the effort and getting out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, I also knew I’d be back in the morning, and much more comfortable in the more structured environment of the conference.
“Fear is a signal that something important is about to happen – so pay attention to it!”
Joining up with My Home Truths for another round of I Must Confess.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?!