instead of shopping let's go swapping!
So this past weekend I had my Swap Not Shop community event in the city of Baldwin Park. It was a special one because this is where I live and I know a lot of people on a personal level. I was extra nervous to host this event for that reason.
Every event is different, and I grow in so many ways. I want to share with you the lessons I've learned through hosting this event.
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Don't freak out
I had the location planned out and where exactly Swap Not Shop was going to be hosted. We were going to have it in a certain parking lot where there would be great amount of space, but when I got there I saw multiple cars parked. I quickly asked where could I contact the owners of the cars, but they were at an all-day event and those car s where going nowhere. Then I decided to move to a different location and quickly after that we moved to a different location. We had about 30 minutes to set up. I tried not to panic and just laughed at the situation because no matter how much you plan and organize you never know what may happen and as the leader of this event you set the tone of it all. So be aware of how you react in these situations. Just breathe, smile, and like my girl Beyoncé says be flawless.
Where you at?
So the day has arrived, you've invited people to come, you've annoyed people on their social media about your event, you've prayed about it, and now you just wait. Patiently. When I see that first person arriving and walking towards my event I get this incredible feeling and I seriously have to stop myself from hugging them too hard. They took their time out of their day for you and your passion. It's truly a special moment.
But there is a time in the event where you start getting texts and messages of those people who apologize for not making it out. I've learned to no longer let that bring me down because when I look up I see all the people who did show up. Do not take that personally because it will affect your mood in a negative. Just count your blessings and enjoy the moment.
WTF just happened?
I am always mentally and physically exhausted after a Swap Not Shop event. It's a good exhaustion though. I invest so much of my energy that after the event I just need to rest. From the minute I wake up I am thinking of the event and running through my check list for the tenth time. It is an exciting moment and of course my favorite part... to finally help those in the community. After my event I go into my introvert phase and close myself from people and take that time to reflect. I reflect on how the event went, but mostly how I can improve for my next one.
Gratitude
I could not stop saying thank you the day of my event because I could not have done it alone. After an event I am filled with so much happiness and that is why I do what I do. There is a feeling of great accomplishment and gratitude for all those who supported you. Always think of the positive of your event and later on you can think of all the million things that you can improve on. It is all about the journey and growth of your journey anyways.
Related: Swap Not Shop Journey
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