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Innisfree Women in Business Host Bloom Conference
Innisfree Women in Business Host Bloom Conference
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
While the weather outside wasn’t all that spring-like, the inside of the Millennium Building was warm and inviting as Bloom Conference organizers Marilyn Newton and Kristina Brummer welcomed attendees on March 22.
The day long event was a time of enlightenment and introspection as attendees listened to three speakers and participated in various activities to reflect on who they are, how they want to grow, and build the life they want to live. The theme of the conference was appropriately termed, “A Day to Cultivate Your Personal Growth and Grow Community.”
The first speaker was Carla Cavanagh, Community Programmer with Mannville-Minburn-Innisfree Family & Community Support Services (FCSS). Cavanagh is a member of the Village of Innisfree Library’s Women in Business Program, which she said “has a special place in her heart” and she thanked them for accepting her as a working woman and not a business woman.
She retold a story from her mid-teens on her grandfather’s ranch near 100 Mile House, BC and guiding a family on a horseback ride with her friend. There were many twists and turns during the story, but overall message was taking responsibility for your lack of knowledge and actions, and once you know what your deficits are you can plan for that and build on it.
Most importantly, Cavanagh said, “You have to live your path. If it’s not the path you’re intended on being on, it isn’t going to feel authentic and then you’re going to end up in that cycle of regret and having it happen over and over. That is how we bloom. I think. Once we are vulnerable enough to accept where we are, to have deficits, we can make the accommodations that we need to bring us up to the level we feel we should be at. That’s how we bloom.”
Speaker Jessie Morris, who currently resides in Bonnyville and serves as Manager of Member Services for Northern Lights Library System, shared some of her personal story of love and loss and intentionally mapping out what was important and how she wanted to fill her life. She recalled a chapter in her life about joyfully failing and how her journey of self-discovery led to other discoveries and ultimately, what she needed to fill her soul.
Morris guided participants in a mapping exercise to help them determine what they want and need, and what kind of impact they want to have in their lives and in their communities.
Speaker Kerri Lorenson is a psychologist, meditation teacher, yoga teacher in training, counsellor and facilitator. She created ‘The Nest Project’ in Vermilion. In her words, “Just as a nest provides shelter, warmth and a place to grow, this project is designed to nurture your well-being through therapy, yoga, and various other holistic offerings.”
She led participants on a mindful meditation exercise in addition to giving time and space to explore happiness and joy. “Happiness is something that we measure over time, and joy is about feeling good in the moment. And it’s really about these small and simple moments.”
