The BlogHer ’10 Serenity Suite

June 17, 2010

(Grandma, I’m about to make no sense to you. So please don’t feel bad if you don’t get what I’m talking about. I love you!)
~~~~~

“Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside-down, now I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, and I’ll tell you how I became The Prince….”

Oh wait…I love that song, but it’s just (sadly) not my story…

Actually, this is a story all about how The Serenity Suite at BlogHer ’10 came to be. It’s actually more exciting than “shootin’ some b-ball outside of the school…”

Maggie and I were talking about BlogHer ’10 on the phone one night right after we quit drinking, “when a couple of guys who were up to no good, started makin’ trouble in my neighborhood….”
Or wait….okay, um…we started talking about how Maggie is speaking at the conference this year and then I was being a selfish friend and refusing to support her by showing up because I was scared of the booze at BlogHer. I was all,
I don’t knoooow, it sounds so stressful…all the booze around… (whine whine fuss fuss)

I said something about how I might consider going if I knew there were meetings for we recovering addicts on hand, or something like that, a safe place to go and hide, basically. And then Maggie said that she and Stef had just been talking about that, brainstorming ideas on how to make people in recovery (or anyone who may need a reprieve) more comfortable in an often overstimulating conference environment.

Long story short, I ended up emailing Lori at BlogHer. And I’m writing this today to say thank you to her and her team for supporting this idea so earnestly. I’m not kidding when I say that it took Lori less than five minutes to respond to my initial request for a safe haven for people struggling with anxiety, sobriety, etc. while at the conference. She was on it, immediately, and has brought our vision to a reality. Thank you, Lori!

So, Maggie, Lori and I put our heads together and had the idea to have a suite available throughout the conference, a low-key environment with the purpose of allowing anyone, not just we recovering addicts, a reprieve from the beautiful mayhem that is the BlogHer conference.

So today, with a hugely grateful heart, I introduce, The Serentiy Suite. (click for all the details)

If you’re going to BlogHer, please make a note of Room 4307 and stop by to take a break while chillin‘ with these inspiring bloggers:

(Not all of these fantastic people will be there all at once, mind you, but on a rotating in and out sort of basis.) (So when you stop in, it’ll be kind of like pin the tail on the donkey, seeing who’s there when you open your eyes. Or maybe kind of like roulette. Or like spinning that wheel on The Price is Right. Or something.)

(Suite (and sweet) buttons for your site will be available later on today-hopefully. If you’re going to BlogHer, you can spread the word about the suite by letting people know you’re planning to visit it while you’re there…you’ll be letting them know with a button. On your site. That’s what I meant by that…but you knew that. You can find it right here on this post, later, or on the BlogHer community page. The button, that is. But you knew that. Bye.)

P.S. Please come. I promise not to sing The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song if you do.



{ 21 comments }

Ann Imig June 17, 2010 at 2:06 pm

Awesome advocacy. So forward-thinking, and I'm thrilled to hear that BlogHer jumped on board so enthusiastically.

Corinne June 17, 2010 at 2:12 pm

I can't tell you how excited I am about this – thank you guys for putting it together, and for dreaming big for serenity and all that good stuff ;)

Ryley @ That's My Family! June 17, 2010 at 2:34 pm

I'll bring the wine!!!

(oh wait.. did I already say that??)

gosh, I love you and your Serenity suite! :)

Kristen @ Motherese June 17, 2010 at 3:09 pm

Good for you for seeing a need and making it happen. And good for the good ladies at BlogHer for meeting you halfway.

Hugs all around!

Aging Mommy June 17, 2010 at 4:05 pm

First of all all credit to you for coming up with this proposal and to BlogHer for so wholeheartedly supporting the idea.

I am not going to BlogHer but if I were I would definitely be stopping by to say Hi to you, Corinne and the others involved.

MidnightCafe June 17, 2010 at 4:15 pm

What a fantastic idea! You're awesome for making this happen (rather than just talking about it, which, alas, is what I might have done)! Great work!

Rachel June 17, 2010 at 6:34 pm

Thank you again for helping make this happen. I think it is important to recognize those of us who need a break from the parties and crowds for one reason or another.

I quit drinking less than 6 months before Chicago last year. It was really hard to keep ordering diet Coke and lime, especially when my social anxiety flared at some of the parties.

Cameron June 17, 2010 at 7:03 pm

Unfortunately I won't be there but if I were I'd love to hang out in there and have some introvert downtime! I'd sit in a corner on the floor in a cross-legged yoga pose with my eyes closed so I could zone out. It would be awesome. :)

So so so proud of you for doing this. :) xoxoxo

From Tracie June 17, 2010 at 8:27 pm

That is a great idea! I'm glad to hear that BlogHer is supporting you by facilitating this!

Hyacynth June 17, 2010 at 8:36 pm

If I were going, I'd so be there. I love that you guys took this idea and ran with it. I'm sure it will be a refuge for so many people. :)

明英 June 18, 2010 at 3:34 am

不要把生命看得太嚴肅,反正我們不會活著離開。..................................................................

kirsten June 18, 2010 at 6:38 am

Yet ANOTHER reason to be jealous that I'm not going to be in there with y'all. But that's kind of against the spirit of The Suite, isn't it? ;)

What an incredible idea, and SO important. And clearly, the fact that you've assembled a tremendous (aka FREAKING AWESOME) bunch of bloggers is indication of just what a beautiful concept it is.

Enjoy the serenity.

alita June 18, 2010 at 8:00 am

Hopefully this isn't redundant, but I hope that your serenity suite really does give you the peace you deserve. I've never been to a blog conference but I can imagine the "socialization" that will be going on and I understand why you would want, no wait, NEED a room just for some peace of mind. I know I would.

Enjoy the conference!

Adventures In Babywearing June 18, 2010 at 8:44 am

This sounds wonderful. If I were going, I would totally be hanging out in there with you and all those fabulous people.

Funny thing for me, my anxiety about leaving my kids, among other things, is what is keeping me from going in the first place. Hmm. I'm working on it. (Not the going part, but the anxiety part, in general.)

Ok, signing off now…

Steph

Jenny June 18, 2010 at 11:21 am

I wish I was coming just so I could hang with all my beautiful recovery friends. I love you for doing this.

Lolli June 18, 2010 at 12:13 pm

Awesome idea. If you're there, I'm there. I'm a recovering anxiety-er. Yeah, I know that's not a word, but I think you catch my drift.

Last night, I had a nightmare that I was teaching at a conference and forgot my slideshow presentation and notes. I made a mess of everything.

Let me know if you need any help!!!

TKW June 18, 2010 at 1:06 pm

Heather and Maggie, this is an amazing idea. I'm so glad you did this. I will be stopping in to meet you both; your journeys have meant so much to me.

alexis June 18, 2010 at 3:18 pm

if you were anxious about going to blogher because of all the booze, you should have just thought of me, your favorite mormon. because i will be there completely sober, the whole time. that doesn't mean i won't be streaking and dancing on tables, but i will be sober while i'm doing those things. trust.

can't wait to sleep in the same room as you.

Kazzy June 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm

SOunds like a great group of ladies! And maybe next time they can hold BlogHer in Utah so the booze issue goes away… :)

Kim June 21, 2010 at 12:06 pm

I am so proud of you my love. I will be there. Even though I am not a recovering anything (other than complete and total dork), I will very much appreciate a space where I can just go and relax.
xoxo

One Crafty Mother June 21, 2010 at 3:06 pm

I am so excited!! This is the BEST idea. It gives me so much comfort to know it's there, and that all those amazing, wonderful, SERENE people are part of it! :)

Thank you thank you thank you!

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