This is such a wise and thoughtful post. I've only enjoyed going to conferences (still something I would rather avoid!) in the last few years because of the largely textual relationships I've built with people before the conference rolls around. It's a delight to get to see people in person whom I already know, and it gives me confidence. That confidence makes it easier for me to talk to people I'm meeting for the first time. But I still find I need big swathes of quiet time in order to process all the conversations, whether with new people or familiar ones. I left POD on Tuesday afternoon, and was absolutely at capacity by that point.
If I am being honest I haven’t been able to sleep properly since I returned! There are always trade offs. I’m glad this resonated in whatever way it did!
This is such a wise and thoughtful post. I've only enjoyed going to conferences (still something I would rather avoid!) in the last few years because of the largely textual relationships I've built with people before the conference rolls around. It's a delight to get to see people in person whom I already know, and it gives me confidence. That confidence makes it easier for me to talk to people I'm meeting for the first time. But I still find I need big swathes of quiet time in order to process all the conversations, whether with new people or familiar ones. I left POD on Tuesday afternoon, and was absolutely at capacity by that point.
If I am being honest I haven’t been able to sleep properly since I returned! There are always trade offs. I’m glad this resonated in whatever way it did!