Chip Lutz, one of my NSA buds!
I just returned from the annual convention of the National Speakers Association. This is THE event for professional speakers. It is a jam-packed five days of non-stop learning, laughter, and ideas from brilliant people. I have made good friends through this organization and this is the event where we all come together to take our businesses to the next level. It is a highly inspiring and an action packed week.
I LOVE this event and have attended for 19 years. However, since I became a Mom, I battle a little guilt, leaving my entire family behind to travel to this convention. I prep my children and explain that I must go to learn how to have a successful speaking business. This year, my children were excited for a week of “Daddy’s rules” which made me feel better. My husband knows how important this event is to me and encourages me to go, every year.
The hubs is also very supportive when I return. Maybe it is the organization or maybe it is the people, or the excitement of being responsible ONLY for myself for five days (or all the above), but it usually takes a few days to re-enter my life at home, again, post convention. I call it “convention let down”… and this year was no different.
There is nothing like going from a glamorous, exhilarating event that helps me be at my best to then wiping behinds and answering the call of “Mommmm! She hit me!” all within a few hours. It is as if I went from a cocktail dress, heels, and full accessories, to three day old yoga pants, and a pony tail, in no time! The contrast of my different roles last week was stark. Luckily, I’m learning to appreciate each distinct role, while I am in the present moment.
It has been almost a week since I have been back and I am finally settling into my newly reinvigorated routine…including the implementation of what I learned at NSA14 at a pace that my family enjoys too.
Do you travel? Do you ever feel guilty for not wanting to go home because it was SO exciting to be in a hotel room by yourself? Have you ever struggled with re-entry after a trip? Of course, deep down, I could not wait to hold my children in my arms again, after being gone. However, that not-doing- a-dish thing and the haven’t-made-a-meal-in-a-week thing was pretty exciting!
