It's just a few brief days since I journeyed home from Blogher 08 and my thoughts are still embracing lessons learned and invaluable moments shared. I wanted to recap for all some precious keepsakes in hopes of nudging my next footsteps and holding hands with all as we move forward from that historic weekend:

…that my voice, your voice, our voices—ias women—matter, and more, must be shared.

...that blogging is as natural as breathing and just an invaluable way to record our voices.

…and more, that our voices –individually and collectively—are moving thought forward to stand for true womanhood and be heard, to shape media and what the world deems important…and to put on record what we know counts as the substance of our lives—whether that’s our individualities or our chosen roles.

…that each one of us has the right to invest in what we believe not the least of which is our voice. (consider where we would be had not Lisa, Jory, or Elisa took that leap and invested in the idea of blogher.com).

….that each one of our voices is vital and necessary to reshape the scope and content and process of media (thank you Jenn Pozner and Catherine Orenstein for your session on Top Political Op Ed Writing--to Jenn for enlightening us about the work of WIMNonline.org. And as Catherine pointed out, when 85% of op-eds are written by men, who are we not to contribute our perspectives?)

…that my place in that pool of thought is significant, is not redundant, repetitive, or in any need of reformation. Just as who I am and what I wish to say, I have the right to blog (thank you to the panel on Race and Gender: what are the lessons of 2008? for their honest retelling of personal experiences: Caille Millner Maria Niles, Jill Miller Zinon, Cynematic and especially to its facilitator, Adele, for her thought provoking questions which engaged us all in deep, heartfelt and open discussion. Great interactive session!).

...that technology enables two conferences to converge and bloggers from different spheres can unite (thanks to the progressive panel: Erin Kotecki-Vest, Joanne Bamberger and Diane MacEachernfor their contributions).

…that our blogs can have bring healing solutions and uplift the whole tone of the blogosphere (thank you to the panel on Beautiful Blogs/Positive Posting including: Kyran Pittman, Krystyn Heide, Alyssa Royse, Jen and Lucrecer Braxton--your commitment to each of your individual causes pushed my resolve to pursue my own and helped unite us all in a 'beautiful blogging' community).

…that when we feel like bearing it all and exposing our deepest, darkest moments, we build community with readers all over the world. A special hug to each of you who poured forth your integrity in Friday night’s live blogging session. You will all remain a constant reminder to press on in the face of that inner critic that always wants to shut up truth and debase my/our existence. Thank you for your courage and poise, your grace and your trust.

…that we need to keep our stories flowing and we need to keep writing, keep sharing openly because big media is noticing as admitted by Redbook editor-in-chief Stacy Morrison and Bravo TV's Senior VP of New Media and Digital, Lisa Hsla, and Lesley Pinckney, Director of Digital Development of Essence Communications, through Lisa Stone's quality facilitating. And to me this matters because our blogs may just well have the impact of shaping media coverage and content for upcoming reality shows and tomorrow's headlines.

...that our blogs can introduce pressing issues to a global audience and galvanize interest in causes we deem invaluable. (thanks to the whole panel on Tools for Fundraising: Marnie Webb, Catherine Connors,
Donna Callejon, and Beth Kanter). Even on the plane ride home I began thinking "Beth used her blog to raise $100k for Cambodia...what if we each took a country and a cause? What will the world look like in another year, 5 years, 10 years?).

…that all of us can evolve a book from our blog (kudos to the whole panel of Blog to Book: Ellen Gerstein ,
Neeti Madan, Jennette Fulda, and Rita Arens for their frank retelling of the trials and hardships of pursuing publication.

….And surely the closing keynote panel (Heather Armstrong, Stephanie Klein, Elisa Camahort Page) reminded me that while we may strive for integrity and for retelling of our genuine, authentic lives, our stories remain uniquely our own and while some may bash, there will always be a ralliying when hearts speak and genuine connections are made.

To be sure, Blogher 08 filled me with ammo to defend the integrity, beauty and precious uniqueness of our own individual expression…whatever it looks like..however it sounds…however it’s manifested. Kinda like the validity of our lives. I hope everyone left with that same zeal for blogging a life as I did. I feel so blessed to have met so many of you and hope that through twitter and the blogher community posts we’ll stay connected. Last year, I left blogher wondering if I had anything worthy of blogging about. This year I’ve left realizing who am I not to blog….Can any of us count the cost of not representing our voices, our lives, our beautiful selves?

Thank you to the founders for perpetuating their vision…and thank you to all of you for coming together to embark and further this journey. It’s such a privilege to blog amidst you all…☺ Be well and feel the value and the imperative worth of your voice. Happy blogging…Tre ☺