Indeed, I did attend the Blissdom Canada conference this past week. Unlike other post-conference posts you may read, I am probably not going to share any game-changing learning with you, because, basically, I learned what I already know.

I learned that Canadian women are strong, smart, beautiful, capable, lovely, inspiring, amazing. I learned that there’s just never enough time to spend with everyone—especially the kindred spirits. I learned that I am a pretty capable writer and that I can go ahead and call myself A WRITER. I learned that there’s nothing sexier than someone who knows how to use an m-dash correctly. I learned that I am still blogging like it’s 2004 and I will continue to do so until the words run dry and there’s nothing left to say. I learned that carrying around my big honking camera does not necessarily mean that I will take photos with it, as I will be too busy stuffing my gob with delicious head-sized cookies and talking my fool head off to take pictures. (I took four.) I learned that there’s tremendous power in a good pair of black tights.

(image credit: CLBuchananPhoto)

You are welcome.

I learned that I need to start watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I learned that my subway commute will always give me instant material. I learned that I still have no idea how klout works or why it’s important. I learned that I fit into Haley-O’s daughter’s pink camo booster seat pretty darn comfortably. I learned that I still want to put Heartland’s Graham Wardle into my pocket and take him home and bake him some pie. I learned that authenticity beats out pageviews every single time. I learned that comments are down, and it doesn’t matter.

I learned that I am doing what I was meant to do. 

I am a story teller.

Sometimes my stories are funny, sometimes they are heartfelt. Sometimes I cry tears of joy and sometimes I cry tears of sorrow. I get angry, I get frustrated, I get flustered, I get proud, I get protective. I have good days and bad days. There are things I know. I am an ellipticizer, a mother, a wife, a lion-tamer, a diet coke quitter, a juggler, a getter-of-drinks. I drink my coffee a little sweet and a little light. I like the smell of clean sheets and the feel of almost everything from anthropologie. I chew minty gum and love history more than the average person should, really. I am an expert in the art of time suckage. I like to quote movies, eat cookie dough, and read. I love Jon Hamm and I miss LOST. I stopped wearing my confidence glasses because I don’t need them anymore and because they were becoming too trendy. (Yes. It’s true. I’m a closet hipster. And I’m pretty proud of it. Let’s all raise our PBR and rejoice while I run out and take pictures of myself in front of my vintage baby blue bicycle. Come on, you know you want to!) I was raised by my television set. I wish I could rid the world of LOLspeak. I am Canada’s Emma Pillsbury and Annie Edison and my children tell me that I am a DOF (destroyer of fun). I am learning to use my camera better and love my thighs more. I am a senior online editor at Canadian Family by day, and a helper-with-homework and expert snuggler by night.

And I always write about it.

Because I was meant to.

Some people were meant to save lives. Some were meant to educate. Some were meant to fight for others. Some were meant to entertain.

I was meant to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard, if you will) and weave a tale.

And that is exactly what I’ll continue to do.

And if this doesn’t work out, I can totally work for the CW, choosing the soundtracks for their shows.

Because, honestly, I may have been born to do that too.