By now, I think people are beginning to realize that this whole social media craze is not really that much different than traditional networking, dating, or just meeting new friends.  All SM does is give us a platform to expand on the traditional approaches and increase our individual reach.

I am sooo excited to meet with everyone in SF on Thursday for the Tweetup.
Finally meeting Jenny Blake, Jamie Varon and Jun Loayza in person is going to be so much fun!! Plus I am meeting up with one of my best friends for the weekend and we plan on going to tour Napa.  How much better can it get?

Seriously, as I have become more active in my groups/organizations such as QRCA, AMA, and SM communities, I have realized even more that my passion in life is meeting, connecting and sharing with new people.  The ability to introduce someone to another person who will have an impact on their life is absolutely amazing!!

This has been a definitely stressful past few days, but I am quickly reminded of the reasons why I love what I do for a living.  My career is based on meeting new and interesting people and having great coffee shop style conversations with them.  Having them share their insights and opinions and creating a rapport.  To me, this truly is "livin the dream"

Tonight I am in KC for a group and working with a soon to become great friend Abby.  Talking with her tonight I again realized how valuable professional organizations can be.  We are both very active in the QRCA organization and we both seem to get so much from being a part of the group.  I think everyone should have some sort of group/organization that they can feel part of.  The experience is amazing and the way you can mentor and be mentored is extremely comforting.  I'm quickly reminded of a friend of mine, Sydney Owen, who has mastered the art of the mentor and fully taken on the task of changing the way PR operates.  Check out her blog and enjoy the absolutely amazing insights!

All in all:
1) I love people - new people, old people, young people, tweeple - it simply does not matter.  I see the value in making relationships one by one .

2) Loving what you do truly does make life a whole lot easier!  Advice I followed after graduation was given to me at a young age "do something you love and the rest will fall into place"  I have never forgotten those words of wisdom and truly appreciate what success has come from doing something I love completely.

3)  In stressful times, seek first to understand, then be understood. 

4)  Sometimes when you feel completely overwhelmed, take a step back and look at life.  You need to take a breath and soak it all in, so the memories and experiences truly set in.

Alright, off to bed and then early to rise and fly to SF tomorrow!!  Hopefully the weather there is better than the rain we got in Dallas and KC.