A Roadside Revelation: Lessons from a Busted Tire on the Way to Dreamin' In Color

As I'm headed to Cairo Dreamin , I thought I would share a story from last year's Dreamin' In Color Conference .

My very good friend, Detra Sheard , and I were cruising down the interstate, deep in conversation with some good music in the background, when something felt off. The car wasn't gliding as smoothly as it should. I turned down the music and pulled over, only to find our journey abruptly halted by a completely shredded tire. (not just a regular flat tire....smh...)

I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach. My husband was miles away, rerouted by traffic (thanks Waze), and here we were, stranded. The clock was ticking, and the realization that all tire shops were closed hit me hard. Our only option was to put on a spare and stay the night in Greensboro, a little over an hour away from Raleigh.

The next morning, I was the first in line at the tire shop, naively hopeful that this would be a quick fix. But as hours passed, my phone became a relentless source of stress - calls and texts from sponsors, speakers, and volunteers. I felt a growing sense of panic. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized how late I would be, and how many things were waiting for my attention at the venue.

But here’s the thing: outside my little bubble of crisis, it was business as usual. No one except the other organizers knew about the flat tire, the delay, the mounting pressure. That’s the hidden reality of conference organizing – a whirlwind of responsibilities, decisions, and unexpected challenges.

So, why am I sharing this story? For two reasons:

Firstly, a gentle reminder: send good vibes to conference organizers, especially during the event week. If there’s bad news, perhaps it can wait...(seriously...)

The behind-the-scenes of a successful event is a balancing act of countless priorities and unforeseen fires. A little kindness and thoughtfullness goes a long way.

Secondly, life has a way of throwing curveballs when you’re on the path to doing something amazing. There may be moments when tears blur your vision, but then you remember the strength of the team around you, the friends by your side. What seemed like a disaster at the time becomes a lesson in gratitude and perspective. (And sometimes, taking an Uber to Target and finding cute clothes helps, lol :-))

In the end, I was late to the venue, but the lessons I learned were right on time. (and I didn't spin out into 4 lanes of traffic) Sooo...as I embark on this new adventure to Cairo (I'm so excited!!!!), I carry these insights with me, along with an extra sense of preparedness and a deeper appreciation for the journey itself.

Here’s to the unexpected lessons and the resilience they build.

(and shout out to the best conference organizing team ever!)