I am a QUITTER and I am proud of it. I know that sounds odd because quitting is typically shameful. But I am not ashamed, not now.

You see quitting is unnatural to me. I have always stuck with things to the very end, always felt too responsible to bail out of commitments, always worn myself out with impracticable commitments.

But not anymore, because today I proudly said, “I QUIT” to a volunteer commitment that had been hanging over my head and exhausting me. (more…)

I went into Catalyst with some incredibly high expectations. And I did not leave disappointed. I left exhausted, like every ounce of me (body, soul and mind) was stretched to the absolute limit, but not the slightest bit disappointed. Brad Lomenick and his team have certainly figured out how to produce a WOW event.

As you can imagine, I need some time (like a year) to process everything I experienced, but here are some quick highlights:

• Hanging out with friends, new and old at Brad Ruggles’ Bloggers Meetup. The event was a wonderful testament to how powerful social media in building community.
• Hearing some strong and passionate Christian voices like Matt Chandler, Reggie Joiner, Andy Stanley, Dave Ramsey, Louie Giglio, and Priscilla Shirer. Each left their “mark” on me.
• Worshiping with 13,000 believers. One of the most moving moments of the entire conference was when Todd Fields led us in his beautiful rendition of It is Well.
• Spending time with my boss, Michael Hyatt, and his daughter, Megan, and the entire Cross Point Church staff. I am so blessed to have all these people in my life and I am thankful for every moment that they invest in me.
• Watching a grown man in a leotard dive (or more accurately perform a belly flop) from 35 foot high platform into a baby pool. Don’t take my word for it, you can watch it here.

And some quick pictures:

More details about Catalyst ’09 aka #cat09 to come. I promise.

If you attended, what were some of your highlights?

On Tuesday afternoon I am headed to Atlanta for Catalyst ’09.

I can not wait. This will be my first “full” Catalyst experience (I attended the One Day this Spring) and I can’t wait to soak it in.

The Catalyst Conference is the largest gathering of young leaders in the country, but it pains us to call it just a conference. Catalyst is more than just a three-day event – it’s a movement, a convergence, an experience where you find yourself fully immersed in learning, worship, and creativity. Catalyst brings people together – the influencers, the do-ers, the cultural architects, and the change agents who will reclaim our communities and culture for good.

Catalyst has been described many ways but once you’ve experienced it, you’ll call it what we call it – pure leadership adrenaline.

Here are a just a handful of the things I am excited about:

1. Spending a few days away with friends and colleagues. We have about ten folks from Thomas Nelson attending and the entire CrossPoint Church staff will be there not to mention other fun friends that I don’t get to see enough like Megan Miller and Jessica Esch. (more…)

I don’t know really what it is. But something is definitely going on with me.

Probably the best way to explain it is to say I just don’t feel like myself. I feel like a stranger in my own skin. Or more accurately, I don’t feel like I am the same girl that I was last year, last week, or even last night.

I am smack dab in the middle of a season of change.

I am experiencing the pains that are representative of growth, but I can’t quite see the changes in the mirror. What used to fit now feels strangely uncomfortable like last year’s skinny jeans but I haven’t figured out what alternations need to be made to embrace the transformed me.

So here I sit in limbo land, not comfortable living in the past and not sure what the future holds, yet feeling strangely encouraged. Encouraged because I am confident that my discomfort is a road sign reassuring my path; my trepidation is a herald of the extraordinary adventure that lies ahead; my anxiousness a reminder that I am fully living in the present. (more…)

Most of my “in real life” friends are not very into Social Media, Web 2.0, Blogging, Twitter, etc. Yep, they think I am kind of freaky, or more accurately geeky. But a few have even expressed interest in reading my blog but complain that they never know when I have posted something new.

So…I thought I would share with simple step-by-step instructions on keeping up with their favorite blogs using a Google Homepage. Google Homepage enables me to keep up with all my favorite blogs and is very simple and easy-to-use.

Here’s how:

1. Make a list of blogs you want to read regularly. (more…)

Last Thursday morning, I had the privilege of hearing Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan), the New York Times bestselling author of Trust Agents, speak at an event was hosted by JTMarCom and Stage Post Productions which benefited Social Media Club Nashville. I soaked up a vast array of knowledge from Chris Brogan (literally I took six pages of typed notes).

If you are not familiar with Brogan here’s what I can tell you about him, his blog is a must-read and his twitter feed is quirky, informative, and engaging. He is a master of social media, partly because he acknowledges that the game is constantly changing and that the only rules is that there are no rules.

Here are a couple of things that Chris Brogan reminded me that have stuck with me (like super glue):

1. Social Media is work. (more…)

what it was like to be a teenager?

Really what it was like? Not some dreamed-up idealized version of high school where you felt secure, loved, and popular? Because I do. I try to block it out sometimes, but it is there, still haunting me.

I grew up in Dallas, Texas, in an area that some people like to call affectionately “the bubble.” A common misconception is that where there is wealth and conservative values that life is easy, but oh how that is wrong -especially if you are a girl trying to fight your way through high school.

I fared pretty well. I made good grades. I had boatloads of friends (I guess you could call them that, but more accurately I always had lots of people around.) I was actively involved in Younglife & K-Life. I didn’t really drink. I was Associate Editor of the yearbook. I thought drugs were bad. I was elected as a leader of “the” girls’ service organization. I had it together, or that’s what I wanted to believe. (more…)

Yesterday I started a new series on my blog, “Why I Love Social Media.” This series is for all the folks that are resisting blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc. because they are convinced that the internet is full of cunning predators. This series is hopefully will give them a taste of what they are missing out on.

Here’s a link to Part 1 (in case you missed it yesterday).

And without further ado, “Why I Love Social Media, Part 2.” (more…)

I have decided to start a new series on my blog, “Why I Love Social Media.” This series is for all the folks that are resisting blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc. because they are convinced that the internet is full of creepy strangers. This series is hopefully will give them a taste of what they are missing out on. So without further ado, “Why I Love Social Media, Part 1.”

You get random but completely uplifting birthday notes from practical strangers.

Lindsey,
I saw on your blog about the “blah’s” and your birthday…not that I think your birthday causes the blah’s, but sometimes the two “B” words do coincide.  I had your email address from a few weeks ago when I won a copy of Don Miller’s latest book (which I read the day I got it and it had a huge impact on me), so I decided to email you.

Just wanted to say, I have been there.  Last December, I turned 33.  On a normal year, birthdays aren’t that big in my family, but last year was a doozy.  Having been in similar circumstances, I wanted to do a little something for you to make your day special.

Why turning 33 is great!

• It’s your birthday, so you can eat cake.
• You only have to remember one number to write your age – 3.
• Thirty-three is old enough to sound mature when you want, but young enough to still act silly at times.
• Thirty-three is the largest positive integer that can not be expressed as a sum of different triangular numbers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_numbers> .  (Ok, had to go to Wikipedia for this one – I don’t exactly understand it, but it means that there is significance in the number 33.)
• You can run for president in 2 more years, which is enough time to plan your campaign.
• You are younger than 5 in dog years.
• People give you presents.
• Random internet people send you “why turning 33 is great” emails.
• And again, can I say CAKE!

So I hope the blah’s just were in for a quick weekend trip and not an extended stay.  Here’s to a great birthday.
Kate

Thanks Kate. This, along with several other sweet notes and calls, made my day!

I kind of have THE BLAHS today. Actually, I have had them all week.

You know the feeling? The feeling that you are a blink away from tears. The feeling where you actually can feel a heavy heart beating in your chest. The feeling that you are alone fighting the world. (more…)