Hi lovelies!

For both Friday and Saturday, I attended an amazing conference, SocialMediaCamp 2012.  (Thank you boss!)

SMC is meant to inspire businesses and people to use social media and engage with the online community; and it did.
In two short days, I listened to some of the brightest social media experts, who all shared and explored different aspects of social media tools. The speakers included Chris Brogan, the New York Times Best Seller and  Kris Krug, who was by far my favourite. Kris is originally from the Silicon Valley and now lives on the West Coast, like me. He has good taste.

This man touched me with his story and passion. He left a ‘successful’ job in the corporate jungle to follow his love for photography.

Now he travels the world, documenting events and issues that affect the environment and people. He shared how to remain positive when facing negative and heart wrenching issues, such as the tar sands and other threats to the environment.

I also battle with a feeling of helplessness, especially when I immerse myself  in the media and listen to  depressing news regarding the Northern Gateway Pipeline.

Kris explained that we cannot simply listen to negative news and watch sad documentaries without doing something. Allowing ourselves to feel drained and disheartened is what enables negative events and issues to win. Instead, make the decision to stop listening and spread love, literally.

Talk to your friends and those who feel the same about an issue, then discuss how it affects you and what you want to do to change it. Kris said he does this each time he returns from a difficult trip. He explained that through group discussions, a large issue that seems overwhelming can feel more manageable when we break it apart into smaller pieces. The connection you build together will inspire and motivate you to act and make a difference.

As Kris spoke to the audience about his experiences and feelings, you could feel the room’s atmosphere change.  The air felt prickly, like we were all charged and ready to take action together. That is the power of community and communication, my friends. Kris wasn’t sharing facts and statistics, he was sharing about himself – his feelings. It is so powerful, and yet we overlook spreading love because somehow we think using aggression is more effective.

I left Kris’s presentation with a different perspective on how to process and deal with things.  From now on, I will stop listening to negative stories  if I’m not going to do something about it.

I will share and talk with people about how something makes me feel, not just that I disagree with something or don’t like it.

I will listen to my soul and know when something is hurting me, rather than motivating me.

I will channel my emotions into positivity and action.

I will use love and a positive attitude to encourage others to understand and promote change.

I will share myself with you.

I’ll also share a pre-view of a documentary he helped put together. Watch it and I think you’ll appreciate the lessons he shared…. and be inclined to stop using so much plastic.