December 2018, I was in that end-of-the-year mood…considering my big dreams and life mission…am I still doing what I love and how can I do even more of it? I missed doing nonprofit work, so I set intentions for 2019 to inspire others with my creative story and to get back to event planning with a cause. I fully believe in enjoying how your dreams play out without having the “how?” figured out.
Fast forward to last summer when Nashville Design Week started taking applications for events. Nashville Design Week is a newly founded nonprofit who runs a full week of events, panels, workshops, studio tours, and oodles of inspiration for anyone in design and creative fields – what an amazing mission! I had the idea to put together and speak on a panel with 5 creatives whom I greatly admired to talk about “Taking The Leap” …. making big risky moves to go after your passions. It couldn’t hurt to apply, right?! After all, I make a scary decisions to leave my successful healthcare job 5 years ago, and I want as many people as possible to know that they can too!
My speaking event was accepted for the night of the opening party! Nashville Design Week gave me the most amazing opportunity to hit all my buttons for non profit event work and inspiring other creatives and WOW! It was a total dream.
It didn’t come without hard work, major friend support, and…a big dose of confronting fears. As I considered speaking about facing fears….I also faced fears around putting together a great event, reaching out to speakers who were playing in a bigger sandbox, and speaking effectively myself. It turns out that facing fear is a muscle that needs continual flexing. I couldn’t be more thankful that people packed the room, that panelists I’d never met said YES to my wild hair idea, and that I found myself on a stool under a bright light thinking….this is it….it was imagined and now it’s here….
Nashville Design Week: Opening Night 
Setting up for the event!
Left to Right: Jeremy Cowart, Bethany Bauman, Erin Laughlin (myself), Annie Choo, and Jonathan Malphrus 
Packed House
So I did a thing. And it felt amazing. And when days got busy, I kept asking myself…how can I enjoy this part? What is my why? And most importantly, am I taking care of myself. And that’s what I want 2020 to be about. Inspiring others, health, challenge, courage, and sending out as much love to everyone I come across as I have, and enjoying every moment of that process. Cheers to the infinite possibilities of a new decade #2020
