In Her Words
Here I am asking for callouts from the audience before launching into a warm-up playback of the responses. When asked “What is sparking in you already at this conference?” participants said:
a murmuration • sisterhood • liberation • I’m not alone • waking up together
What an honor and a joy to be a speaker at this year’s “In Her Words” conference presented by WeHeroines. The day was filled with interactive, embodied storytelling and listening, inspiring prompts, delicious food, amazing company, dance, energizing speakers, and lots of heart.
A couple of interactions stood out to me before the conference even began.
As women began to arrive, I was placing a few books on the free book swap table when I heard a voice say, “Hey, I wrote that book!”
I looked up to the smiling face of the author of the book I had just put on the table!
I told her how much her book meant to me. She graciously received my praise in the moment, and later I overheard her telling others about our encounter and my inner smile grew wider.
We are always connected.
As attendees began to trickle into the main space there was one woman I was drawn towards. As I approached her and welcomed her, I was candid: “I’m not sure why I’m coming up to you besides to say hello!”
How do you do it? You integrate and synthesize so much so fast! It’s incredible to watch. I was so moved by what you did. Thank you. –Conference participant
We naturally got to talking and realized we had been in the same circle of friends in Portland twenty years ago in 2006 and had drifted apart.
It was a wonderful moment of reconnection as we caught each other up on our life movements.
We can always renew our connections.
Can you feel the excitement? (Note: you may see it as blurriness ;) This “ussie” was taken moments before I took to the stage in front of over 100 women to perform solo playback based off of their spontaneous responses and volunteered stories at the “In Her Words” conference this weekend in Yarmouth, Maine. My dear friend Emily was one of the first people I ever did playback with, back in 2008.
Images of me thanks to my friend, Emily, who said: “I didn’t take many pictures. I was into the performance too much. 🤩”
By the time the conference was wrapping up, I had heard so many incredible stories. Stories that featured:
the bravery to sail alone
the decision to have a leg amputated
the courage to leave a marriage
the boldness to start a business
the instinct to say Yes, I can when everyone else was saying Don’t you dare
the resilience to keep going in the face of utter despair
the brilliance and unconditional love of supporting a neurodivergent child who grew up to become a leading car designer
and… so many more!
I came away feeling even more empowered by and grateful for the women who speak their truth and live as the heroines in their own stories.
I am one!
I learned so much from seeing the playback of my story. It helps me understand where I am today and where I am going. Thank you. –Storyteller at the "In Her Words" conference
“There are no words. Wow. ”
Curious what it takes to become a heroine in your own life? Check out the School for Real Life Heroines and the WeHeroines offerings. Then reach out to me. I’d love to partner with you on the path less traveled.