10 Best Social Web-to-Life Moments of 2009
The best social web moments of this year are too many to count. These are just a few highlights. (This is day 27 of the 31 day #best09 challenge.)
1. Meeting Masafumi Matsumoto - first on Twitter, then in person at the studio. He brought a printed version of my guide, Yoga for the Social Web, to our annual "all you can yoga event." After that, we chatted about social media, Japan, yoga...all the good things in life. Masa, thank you for the quality of your attention - both online and off. And thank you for bringing your vision map for me to see. It was one of those unexpected moments that made me remember who I am and why I do what I do.
2. Virtually meeting Gretchen Rubin. Her interview with me for The Happiness Project (and Slate) made me think. And our subsequent emails and letters exchanged have brought both of us happiness. I finished her book yesterday and can't recommend it highly enough (full review coming soon). Suffice it to say: fistful of gold stars. Gretchen, I look forward to hearing about The Happiness Project II.
3. Meeting Chris Guillebeau at the airport - and the subsequent hours spent connecting about our current and future work together, his numerous travel adventures and my theories on life. It was riveting and accelerating all at once. Chris, it is an honor to know and work with you. And to watch you fly.
4. A night at the Pink Cow in Shibuya with a bunch of #youguys. And especially you, Sandra. Thank you for organizing and facilitating the conversation - I had a delightful evening with all of you. And look forward to our next meeting - either there or Stateside (or somewhere in between).
5. Spending a week in Vancouver with Kristen Darguzas - we first met at BlogHer and shared our love of high heels and high highness. Then we shared a bed at Broad Summit (you were right, Maggie). Finally, I spent a week with Kristen in her beautiful place in Vancouver. It was my first trip to Canada and I couldn't believe the stillness and loveliness of the place. Kristen, you're a soul sister. And you have inspired me to train for the Tiarathon (woah, right, I know). You're a blessing in my life. Thank you. Thank you thank you.
6. The women of BlogHer Every year, once a year, you rock my world. Thank you for continually showing up. To learn, to party, to be you.
7. Recording the HP commercial It was my first time doing anything of this nature and Kyle was terrific. He brought his team, set up, made the process painless (alright, hecka fun) and even went out of his way to include a friend of mine. As if on command, it began snowing at the end of our six hours shooting - a light, flaky snow. LA-based Kyle was thrilled (alright, so was I). Kyle, I'm grateful to have gotten a chance to meet you. Boulder would love to have you back sometime.
8. An evening with author Julie Powell on the Brand About Town weekend with friends and fellow advisors Kelly, Christine, Julie, Amie. And Brand About Town team. We had a heart-opening evening with Julie that was moving - hysterical and thought-provoking and poignant. It's a cherished memory of the web come to life. Ladies of Brand About Town, members of the advisory board, thank you. It's an honor to be included in your number.
9. Liz and Sarah! You came to Boulder without having ever met in person. Some of you slept on my living room floor (hi, Glenn! Thanks for restraining yourself from doing your stiletto dance). And we threw the clothes swap event of the year. In Boulder, anyway. Liz threw the other one in Sacramento! Sarah, thank you for getting the wheels turning on getting systems into place. You moved me to think harder. Liz, thank you for telling terrific stories. So many I can't begin to count. You two have a special place in my heart.
10. Best for last! Everyone who has shared their #best09 stories - there are now over 700 of us recounting our best moments of the year - thank you, each of you. I have read your stories, shared as many as I can, both online and offline. I've been moved to laugh and to think and to pay attention. Thank you for sharing the stories you've shared - I look forward to the last five days of the challenge.
And... to what comes next.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Reader Comments (6)
Gwen -- I'm thrilled and honored to be included on your wonderful list! Getting to know you virtually was a highlight of my year, and somewhere, somehow this year, we will meet in person.
Best09 has been such a delightful surprise - I have learned about myself and learned about so many phenomenal people along the way. Whoever thought I could find such material in topics I first scuffed my heels over, like... best article, best packaging (?! I thought!), best stationery, best... I see "ad" coming up... another one I will have to REALLY consider closely... and it is in looking at 2009 closely I have come to be intimate with what it has meant to me on a grander scale. I knew it had been transformative, but Best09 magnified and made it all that much more clear for me. THANK YOU, magnified and multiplied, Gwen Bell, for making that difference for me and so many others.
Ditto everything Julie Jordan Scott said! And I'd like to add that my heart has been touched reading your posts, Gwen - your wisdom astounds me and even more I'm sooooo glad to see young people* with big hearts.
I think I was looking in the wrong places, because I wasn't seeing many young people with compassion and concern - with focus on more than how to get by. Though I wasn't AT Woodstock, I was part of the Woodstock generation, and I grieved the loss of all that caring in the younger generations.
But NOW I'm seeing them coming out of the woodwork (you think they might have been there all along?) - I thank you (and other young ones I've "met" through the Challenge) for opening my eyes!
*I'm in my 50's, so I can call you "young people" - lol - be glad I didn't say "kids"
stilettos! pumps! in, the club! (yeah).
Gwen, you and Joel both have a tornado of positive, organic energy that most people lack now-a-days. See you both around, yes!
I'm so glad I got to meet the beautiful Boulder, CO & it's people :) Lots of love for you and Joely, srsly. We need to plan our 2010 meet up!
Man oh man, Boulder was definitely my top in-person social media experience of the year. Hoo-rah for all the great things I learned (tri-tip anyone?). Love you guys bunches, and can't wait to do it AGAIN!