Urban Campfire is designed to provide the spark for women to experience sweet moments of inspiration, both business and personal, through joyful kinship and conversation. Set the World on Fire. In August 2013 I launched a new event called Urban Campfire. I never imagined I would be on a stage telling the world about my nervous breakdown and year of depression. Could I combine marshmallows, flashda
nce and ted-style talks around the campfire...and interest anyone to come play with me? Well, 500 women showed up and I was blown away. Our speakers told stories from the heart that everyone could relate to. When we broke up into small groups, more intimate stories were shared and set free. At the end of the day we had a s'more fest and dance party. I didn't even know how to take it all in, and was so overwhelmed with LOVE as letters poured in. My life changed that day, and since I’ve been working on “changing the conversation" at Urban Campfire dinner parties in Vancouver, Portland, Tacoma, Washington DC, Seattle and Denver. I’m so humbled by the amazing speakers who participated at these events, who met the challenge I gave them to give the speech of their life. Everyone has a story. Knowing your good friend’s stories is one thing. Now that I have heard women’s stories in Urban Campfire events in several cities, I look at everyone differently. When I walk down the street or into a room of people, I say to myself….everyone looks OK, they are all dressed up and have cute hair and shoes. They’re all FB perfect. If you could sit down with any random one of them, and gave them permission to talk about something going on in their life, it would blow you away. I found out all it takes is to be vulnerable yourself, and the layer holding up their identity is stripped away and the floodgates open. When we gather around the campfire, whether in the woods or a candle at the dinner table, let our hair down and breathe out our real truth, magic happens. Friendships are formed. Sometimes all we need are authentic listeners. I’m so happy to be bringing people together for these conversations. It feels good to have a platform for connections, to see ourselves in each other’s stories. Urban Campfire is all about giving permission NOT to have it all together. I’m so impressed to hear how people handle adversity, how they bounce back, learn and inspire others from their experiences. It is not all doom and gloom. The rising from the ashes stories are the most inspiring to me. It gives me hope and that’s the first step to moving forward. I found my love, my light, my marshmallow...in creating Urban Campfire. My favorite question to ask is ? XO
Melody Biringer
PS. These events wouldn’t be possible without the SPONSORS we’ve had in each city. My many thanks to them, and most especially to Susan Gibson, our true Angel from day one.
