I’m planning on going to the BlogHer conference in August.
While it all sounded exciting on paper, as the date got closer and closer, trepidation became outright anxiety.
I hate leaving my kids with someone else, even their dad, who is the greatest dad ever and for the record can totally take care of them without my help.
It’s because I’m filled with so much need to control every aspect of their lives, cough, love for them, I think.
But I’m going. They’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. I want to go.
I am going.
And it’s a good thing because last week, I was informed that my writing will be recognized at the conference in a very special and highly public way.
Apparently, out of around 1000 submissions of various bloggers, 90 finalists were chosen, and out of those 90, 15 of us were chosen to read their submissions at the Keynote.
I’m one of those fifteen.
OHMYGOD!!!!!!!!
I realized this was a big deal when my very dear friend, Britt, who ranks among the 90 finalists and is very famous on the Internet, screamed, I HATE YOU!!! upon finding out I was chosen to read my post aloud.
The great thing about being friends with Britt is that if you want to know whether or not something that’s happened to you is a big deal or not, you just have to wait for that I HATE YOU!! and then you know it’s a big deal. I HATE YOU!! in Britt-speak means, I am so incredibly proud of you that I want to weep sweet tears of joy.
It’s a complicated and highly nuanced language.
So, my dear friends, you are now reading the blog of a BlogHer Voice of the Year.
I want a take a moment to thank a few people who need to be recognized for their incredible contribution to my blog.
I started this blog a little less than three years ago, just to get my voice out there, just so I could feel heard. As any blogger knows, those initial posts were sparse on the comments.
We can all say it’s about the writing and expression, but deep down we know the comments let us know someone is listening… in the beginning, it let me know someone cared.
Tariq, Adam, Britt, Sybil Law, B.E. Earl, futurowoman, Mr. & Mrs. Traci, Mr. & Mrs. Shabina and RW?
In the beginning, it was you that made me feel heard and let me know that someone cared and that someone was reading. Your regular commentary propelled me in such a way that I began to grow as a blogger, as a writer and as a person. Even now, when I write a post, you are the first ones whose opinion I consider. Then, of course, I write whatever I want even if I think you’re going to hate it.
But you are still the ones I think of first.
This Voice of the Year thing? You helped me get here. So much so, that I would say that I would not be here if it weren’t for you. So, thank you.
That said, every single person that has ever read or commented on this blog is also very important to me. If I had the time, I would list each of your names, as well.
You are the ones that continue make me feel heard and thus each of you fulfill a very important role in my every day life. You are my anchors when I am adrift in a perceived state of loneliness.
So, thank you for reading.
I appreciate you and honor each of you as well for having contributed in a very important way to my receiving this opportunity to present my work.
(I’d also like to thank God without which none of this would be possible, the Academy and David Boreanaz.)
(Trite and expected, but completely necessary.)
(Well, the David Boreanaz thing was a little unexpected, right?)
Congratulations! Absolutely deserved! xo
I’m really happy for you and proud of you, too. I think you deserve it, and I don’t think in any way that you’re going to trip, fall, and then vomit all over the stage when you’re up there in front of 1500 sobbing women.
Congratulations, Faiqa! I LOVE reading your Blog but don’t get to read it enough, probably spending too much time clicking the ‘like’ button on FB…. Regardless, you are lovely, brilliant & You TOTALLY deserve it!
I hate you…
No, the David Boreanaz thing made perfect sense. To me, at least.
Congratulations! I read about this on Britt’s blog yesterday and meant to send you a congratulatory note, but I was distracted by a shiny thing.
I won’t be in attendance for your big deal at BlogHer, but I’ll be around afterward for cocktails. Deal?
You just made me cry, because I’m so proud of you, and honored to know you! You’re going to have a great time. I love it when super-smart, talented, compassionate, fun, awesome people get the recognition they deserve!
For the record, when I left UCF, I wasn’t too sad about leaving most people, but I was sad about leaving you, and I’m so glad we’ve stayed in touch as friends. You are so awesome, Faiqa, and so is your beautiful family.
Oh freaking A this post made me cry.
Also? If this is a test script for how you’re going to end the reading of your post… yes. This will do. Good job.
David Boreanaz – totally unexpected for me, anyway!
You’re going to be amazing. I have absolutely no doubt about it. You definitely deserve it, too!
Just please don’t forget us little people when you wow the Blogher crowd! (I’m kidding! I will stalk you so you won’t forget me.)
Really – You will be so freaking awesome – I wish I could be there to see it!!
Congrats! That is pretty darn awesome!
Wow! THAT is very cool! Don’t worry – you’ll do great! Just read it like you wrote it. And I’m sure the kids will do just fine. But this is awesome!
This is sooooo well deserved. I’m freakin’ crazy proud of you lady! xo
Saw you on the list yesterday…congrats.
Congratulations! Woot!
Congratulations! I’d argue your entire blog makes you a Voice of the Year, not just a piece of it, but it’s hard to quibble when somebody so deserving is honored for her work.
Congratulations! So great to see your name on the list and I can’t wait to hear you speak.
Congratulations !!! Can’t wait to see you again and to hear you speak ! I’m honored to know you !
Finn stole my comment. So I no longer hate you; I hate her instead.
Congratulations! This honor couldn’t go to a more deserving blogger. Knock their socks off!
You got this because YOU DO have things to say that matter, that spark thought and discussion among people and that, in even some little way, change lives. And you say them in such a way that’s like sitting down with you over coffee.
Which I adore.
Assalaamu alaykum,
So very excited and happy that your writing is getting recognized. Now everyone knows its awesome
lotsa love from Mr n Mrs Shabina
WOO HOO…This is AWESOME!! You totally deserve it and now I can hardly wait to see what comes next.
Congratulations and well done.
You really do deserve this recognition. I haven’t been reading your blog for long and already I have been inspired so much from your words. Yay for you!!!!
Congrats!! Now I really want to go to Blogher!!
Congrats!! Now I really want to go to Blogher!!
Faiqa, this is just fantastic. I am so pleased for you and wish I could attend the conference to hear you speak. Way to go!!!
David Boreanaz is totally unexpected – I would have guessed Johnny Depp
Congratulations – I’m so happy that your work is being recognized! You’re going to do awesome and Britt and Adam had better get video.
I wish I started reading your blog earlier…before then, I only knew you as that awesome chick from “Clearly, You’re Retarded” who calls in towards the end of the show and always drops some MAJOR knowledge.
I will be there to watch you in your glory in a few weeks.
congratulations! oh how thrilled i am for you. crazy wonderful opportunity. so deserved!!!
i’m so not a blogher kinda girl and yet i wanna hear you speak at this event more than i can possibly describe. please ensure that there is video.
and please wear the outfit you wore to britt’s birthday party. you were stunning. i mean you totally would be stunning regardless of what you have on, but BLAM, that night you were like radiating gorgeousness.
I have always believed that your writing is exceptional and that it was only a matter of time before your talents were recognized. And this is just the beginning, inshaallah. I hope you do fantastic in new york. N, Y, and I love you and are very proud of you.
this is cooler than a cucumber.
I am so proud of you! You are a great writer and an even better person. The world needs to know you and this is just the start.
Wow-wow-wow! Congratulations! I am so proud of, excited, and happy for you! You more than deserve this, and I hope that it brings you the recognition that you deserve for your amazing and thought-provoking writing!
I’m late to the party, but CONGRATULATIONS!
I read you because of your humor and insight and mostly because you teach me.
I hope there’s video of your reading.
How TOTALLY AWESOME, Faiqa! Congratulations, BIG time!! I learned of this today, via your father, and had to run right to your blog to give my personal congrats!!
I love your blog, but haven’t been keeping up as I really should! I say should, because I really, really should! I enjoy it, I learn from it and, well… I just should take more time for myself to enjoy the heck out of your writings!!
Way to go!!!