Thank You Chicago ♥

I’m sitting here at my desk on Wednesday evening. I just got back from Chicago last night completely exhausted from our 5-day trip. Ed and I went to Chicago for the International Home & Housewares Show. We had a really great time.

While we were in Chicago, Melissa and I hosted a Cleaning & Organizing Meetup as most of you know, especially those who attended. It was the first YouTube Meetup I’ve ever hosted. I must say, while we were planning the event weeks in advance, inside my head I had no idea what to expect. I was definitely nervous to say the least.

Fast forward to this past Sunday, the day of the Meetup, the event couldn’t have gone better. In fact, the Meetup was probably one of the most fun things I’ve done in awhile. And when I say awhile, I mean the past 6-12 months.

Although you could say the Meetup was considered “work” (since it was work related), it actually felt more like a really fun party with my best friends who all genuinely love (or have learned to love) and are super excited to organize. It was totally my kind of party and an event I’ll always remember.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time out on a Sunday, brought the entire family, brought the kids, missed their pastor’s birthday, drove from Milwaukee, traveled across the country from St. Pete, Florida, reunited with their best friend from college, brought their two daughters and mom, traveled from the suburbs, brought their boyfriend, dragged their friend, brought their sister, bravely came alone, took time off from Spring Break, came early to help us setup, visited from Ireland and France, skipped the Housewares Show, or even dared to fight traffic and drive through downtown Chicago to meet ME.

You have no idea what it meant to me.

Your stories of how the timer changed your life in both your home and classroom, to how you condensed your DVD collection to save space, to your beautiful before and after pictures you showed me of your organized shoes and jewelry, to your transformation of your organized pencil case in your home school, to your love for organizing your school supplies in your desk drawer, to re-arranging and organizing your bedroom with chalkboard paint and colorful chalk, to your son filming his own organizing videos mimicking my voice! to moving across the country to Arizona and moving back to the same home 6 months later and being thankful you took before/after pictures to know how to setup your home the exact same way again, to introducing me to a new pen, and to inspiring mom to keep the fridge organized. Your stories have truly touched my heart in a way I will never forget.

I also want to say thank YOU for taking the time out of your busy schedule and weekend to meet me and say hello. Your presence, stories, pictures, tears, smiles, and support mean more than you will ever know.

For awhile I’ve been feeling a bit lonely and disconnected in my personal life. Something I’ve been keeping to myself for the past year but quietly struggling with.

Ever since we moved to the new house in the suburbs 1.5 years ago, away from the city, far from friends and family, I’ve been feeling a bit isolated. Combined with an online business where most relationships are “virtual”, and working from home everyday means you have to literally force yourself to leave the house (which can be difficult for a natural homebody), it can feel a bit lonely at times to say the least. The saying “Entrepreneurship is a lonely road” definitely holds truth.

At the same time, I’m learning that the older you get, the harder it is to not only make new friends, but keep old ones when some friendships naturally take their course, people move, people grow apart, people change, we change, etc. Being a shy introvert doesn’t help with the whole “meeting” new friends type thing.

Anyway, this past Sunday’s Meetup reminded me what friendship feels like. Something that I’ve been missing in my life for awhile. And I thank you for that. Even though it was our first time “meeting” in person, everyone made me feel as though we’ve been friends for years. Something I really needed.

I told Ed later that day that I really wish everyone I met lived here in Virginia so we could all be best friends and show each other everything we organized and have fun organizing parties on Sunday afternoons where we talk about everything bins and labeling while sipping tea and eating desserts. How FUN would that be?!

Maybe that’ll happen one day.

Until then, I will continue sharing my organizing message and look forward to our next organizing party wherever and whenever that will be.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for not only welcoming me to Chicago but warming my heart when I needed it the most. I am truly grateful I got to spend the afternoon with YOU! ♥

Alejandra