In 2010, I attended the second annual Healthy Living Summit in Chicago. At the time, I had been blogging for nearly 2 years, but was still very unsure of what I was doing. I attended as a nervous, excited, star-struck blogger who’d never met anyone else who did what I did. I had an amazing time at the summit and really started to feel comfortable on my own blog. When I returned home, I felt satisfied. I’d met some of my favorite bloggers, learned a lot about blogging and felt good about myself and my site. I’d gotten out of it what I needed to get and wouldn’t require a return trip.
HLS 5k Fun Run/Walk 2010
But then the announcements for the 2011 HLS started appearing. It was in Philadelphia, a city I’d been to recently, so I wouldn’t need to take the extra days to attend. The keynote speaker was the author of The Flexitarian Diet. And I really wanted to reunite with some of my blogger friends I’d never get to see again. So I went to the 2011 summit.
My reaction to the 2011 summit was identical to the 2010. A wonderful time, but I didn’t need to repeat the experience. Other people could go; I could do something else with my summer. In fact, Brian agreed to The Great GoogaMooga partially because I was going to attend *instead* of going to HLS. But then I found out that it was going to be in Boston, about as convenient as it could be. And then, just a couple weeks ago, the agenda was posted and 2 of my favorite bloggers (who I haven’t yet had the chance to meet) Rachel Wilkerson and Holly the Healthy Everythingtarian are going to be speaking. I honestly never thought I’d see their names on an HLS agenda.
So, just like I have the past 2 years, I bought a ticket for the 2012 Healthy Living Summit Tuesday night, moments after dashing out of our 8th grade awards assembly where I’d just been handing out certificates. And then I promptly returned home and joined a Facebook conversation about roommates for the summit, which I’m super super excited about. In fact, I think I’m more excited about this year than any previous: many of my favorite people in one of my favorite cities? I can hardly wait for August.
Previous HLS posts:
2010: Recap 1: Pregaming, Recap 2: Frito Lay Tour and Cocktail Party, Recap 3: 10 Things I Learned, 7 Things I Won’t Do at HLS 2011
2011: Summary post: HLS 2011 in Short, Saturday keynote: What Dawn Jackson Blatner Taught Me, Saturday dinner: Pizza and New Friends: Perfect Together
I love this post SO MUCH. This year’s summit is going to be the best yet!! We are trying to listen to what people had to say about previous years, what they liked – what they didn’t, and use that in tackling this year’s weekend of awesome! I am so excited to hear you will be there!! HOORAY :)
Thanks Heather! The agenda looks great and definitely includes some of the things I know people missed in past years. And honestly, if I hadn’t gotten a ticket, I was going to harass you until you magically found one for me.
Awww.. I loved this post! Can’t wait to see you in Boston!
Looking forward to it!
I was really excited to see you were going! I was a little nervous about attending for the first time (even though I’ve been blogging for a while, I still don’t feel like I have a clique of blogging friends) and I’m so relieved that you will be there AND we get to be roommates!