Yeah…I discovered the cure** to FOMO at Mom 2, yall! Now, I will tell you… But first I’m gunna make you read all this extra stuff!
::clears throat::
Four days you guys. Four. I languished in the hot shower while detangling my hair. I slept. Full nights sleep (almost). Not a speck did I clean. Not a meal did I cook. I prepared only one person to face the day, ironed one set of clothing and only helped one person find their missing shoe. (spoiler: it was me.) The meals I ate were hot and unshared. No sticky hands, no broken anything, no whining…except from some hard-to-please influencers. And when I heard baby cries, or little voices calling out “momeeeeeyah” I didn’t even flinch or think about turning around.
That’s right ladies and gentlemen…(Hi, Dad.) I had four whole days of non-momming at Mom 2.0 and it was glorious. I didn’t even call my kids. Yeah…I said it.
(photo courtesy of Best Buy)
Last year was my first time attending and speaking at the #mom2summit conference for digital influencer moms. (read that recap for comparison!)
This year, I did not speak, I just fled…er…flew out to the Langham in Pasadena California to enjoy as much of this well executed conference with my peers as I could. I had visions of taking copious notes in all the sessions that I had carefully circled in my agenda, taking a selfie with Veronica Mars, stealing a quick convo with Brene Brown and showing THE Debbie Allen my faux tapdance. (She would’ve loved it) I packed a stunner of a dress and my highest heels for the Iris Awards red carpet and after party. (PS: Shout out to all the incredible winners!!)
I even set some intentions for Mom 2 this year:
- Take selfies and ussies with friends old and new (A few…I forgot, too busy talking)
- Pull off a #blackgirlmagic photo and a #mom2summitincolor photo (Didn’t even try)
- Actually attend some sessions instead of hopping around talking to everyone (kinda did it)
- Get cards from each brand as potential sponsors for the HBM Summit (Done!)
- Do a bunch of activations and have fun at each suite/booth (So effin Done!)
- Hug the mess out of a few select people…and babybumps (Done x 1000)
- Livestream for my peeps who couldn’t make it (Done…a lilbit)
- Do mini intuitive coaching sessions and readings for extra scratch (Nah.)
- Talk to people I do not know online (Done!)
- Learn something from everyone I engage with. (KindaSorta)
Overall: Crushed those goals like an empty Pepsi can..
But the rest of what I expected to do at Mom 2…. ummm….
Had an awesome time though!!! There were a few firsts, like: first pinkberry (i know, shutup), first In-and-Out experience (I KNOW, Shut UP), first ride in a Kia Stinger (OMG. SO Sexy).
I laughed a lot, saw e-friends and made new ones IRL, left with contracts #score!, learned cool stuff about the blogging world, myself, and others, I shined my light, secured a sponsor for HBM, got revved up to write again and be a better entrepreneur all around, I was inspired by almost everyone I met, was affirmed at random by so many ebuddies and blogger OGs that I so admire, (Thank you ladies!! I love you!), I even got my hair did and made a new friend in the process.
Oh, Back to the point… I made a lovely discovery. Lemme tell you!
So…while Debbie Allen was being all legendy on stage in front of the Mom 2 attendees…I was in my hotel room alone, eating chocolate squares that I hoarded from turn-down service and journaling/listening to some yogi guru philosophize.
While Brene was shining her spiritual light on folks, I was at the buffet enjoying carbs. Lots and lots of them. And having upbeat conversations with people I’ve never met. And one person I did know (shout out to Ari my roomie) about biz stuff…and life stuff. Did I mention the carbs?
When Veronica Mars (some may refer to this woman as Kristen Bell but I know better) was on stage being charming AF as per usual, I was chit chatting with brands and filming an impromptu interview for a documentary, talking about real life ish like raising mixed children, impersonating a soap star to trick somebody’s mama, and meeting kindred spirits like woah! (Shout out to Black Rob)
Then it was time for the Iris Awards. Missed the entire thing. All of it. I almost feel like I should care…but I don’t. While talented colleagues were accepting awards handed to them by the fake thug B-Rad hired, (please tell me you know this movie reference – I’ll love you forever.) I was in bed…again with the turndown chocolates…chatting with Preeti (my other roomie) and Courtney (my adopted roomie) about all things business. I got SO much out of that conversation it was ridiculous. Pretty sure I gave all I had too. It was that high vibrationy, open sharing, idea throwing, resource giving, link sending, contact naming, hold-on-let-me-text-her-your-number, type of convo. It was just love (pause for effect….) disguised as networking.
For realsies, the thing I wanted most out of the conference was nourishing conversations like that one, with like-minded women.
……And relaxation time alone.
….And biiig carby meals with fun chats.
….And lighthearted brand networking.
Did alladat.
So legit, what I wanted most out of the Mom 2.0 Summit’s 10th anniversary is exactly what I got, despite skipping so much of it!! #attractionista
Now, normally I’d suffer from FOMO from missing so many heavy hitting events, especially when I’m so close to the action. However, I discovered that the cure to FOMO is finding the love you crave in the disguise it’s wearing right in front of you.
It is guiltlessly doing exactly what the F you truly want to be doing (read: the thing that equals love ) instead of what’s going on elsewhere. (No matter how fun elsewhere is.)
Note: I aint that evolved. If Idris was handing out awards, Or my telepathic best friend was keynoting and I missed it….I’d be salty A.F. You hear me?! Pure. Sodium.
…
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**It’s love. The cure is love. The cure is always love.
Nicole Morgan says
I LOVE you, and we can catch up for all kinds of carbsie, bizlike, chocolate filled gatherings if we drive just twenty minutes each way – let’s get on that thang dahling!
April says
Lady, you are awesome and so, so right! Amen!