The Benefits of Crying at a Conference

Yesterday, I went to a conference marketed for high achievers – ASPIRE; I only felt a little out of place.

Not because I cried or was drunkenly hit on (which we'll get to later) but because the information seemed geared toward entrepreneurs. Money-focused individuals.

That is minus two keynote speakers: David Goggins and Marcus Lemonis.

David Goggins is a retired United States Navy SEAL, an ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, public speaker, and author of two memoirs. If you don't know who Goggins is, watch this video. The inspiration he exudes from personal experience is intoxicating. I mainly went to the conference to hear him speak, but it was Marcus that really got me emotional.

Marcus Lemonis is a Lebanese-born American businessman, television personality, and philanthropist. He started off his talk completely different than the others. One by one, he randomly picked people from the audience to publicly share what they wanted to change in their lives.

(Thank God I was in the back corner.)

The first two women he helped cried. He was able to extract such vulnerable answers from them while providing validation and support. It was truly touching. The third woman was different. She had an estranged brother.

Marcus: "Would you like to fix things with your brother?"

Woman: "NO."

"Did he physically harm you?"

"NO."

"Did he rape you?"

"YES."

(That escalated quickly.)

My body immediately brimmed with panic, and I was out of my seat in milliseconds. I barely made it through the back doors before I started hyperventilating, rushing to the bathroom. I don't like people to see me cry let alone have a panic attack.

It was the first time I ever heard someone so publicly and vehemently acknowledge their rape. I wasn't prepared for my reaction to it.

Luckily, I was able to calm myself down. I cried, drank some water, and finally walked around outside in the designated smoking area. Taylor Swift's "Mr. Perfectly Fine" playing through my headphones. (My go to song during a panic attack.) It felt good to know that I could calm myself down. Take care of myself in a panic.

Eventually, I sat down to soak up the heavy sun. That's when Prince Charming walked outside. His heavy lisp hid his drunkenness. I didn't hide I had been crying.

"Ah don't be so sad. You're too sexy to be sad."

"Umm, okay ... Thanks, I guess?"

(Which lead to the "perfect segue" by him.)

"Can I have your name and number?"

I smiled and laughed.

"... or just name?"

I couldn't help it. The whole situation was absurd to ask a crying woman for her number.

He left with just my name and a determined attitude to find cocaine. (Best of luck, Robert.)

He did lighten my spirits though.

With newfound strength, I decided to leave the conference early and made my way to the shuttle/valet area.

And here comes the true benefit of crying at a conference.

Who else happened to be leaving early? Marcus.

Part of me wanted to hide, but a bolder part wanted to share my feelings with him.

(What I want to do more with everyone.) So I walked up to him.

"Hi, your talk really moved me, thank you."

It started a small conversation between the two of us. He asked what I did for a living, and I shared that I'm a graphic designer turned writer. By the end of it, he was giving me invaluable advice and wanting to read my memoir when ready.

I got his email, he got in his car, and just as quick as it started, the moment was over.

***

What an experience.

It's amazing what the Universe/God (whatever you want to call it) will put in front of us when we are open and honest. Authentically ourselves.