Cheers Sexy People!
Well my chicadees, another year another World Domination Summit (WDS). Wait, what? You don’t know what World Domination Summit is? I’m delighted to share with you. This spectacularly awesome event is created by Chris Guillebeau and is in its seventh year of taking Portland, Oregon by the most kickass kind of storm. This gathering of about 1500 creative, open-hearted, and like-minded individuals strives to answer the question: How to live a remarkable life in a conventional world” with the values of service, adventure, and community as its guiding light. I have attended this event three years in a row, and don’t intend to stop anytime soon. Why? Because I get such a massive injection of exhilaration, educational opportunities, connections to last a lifetime, and oodles of good ole fashioned fun! Honestly the event is hard to describe but I will do my best as well as share some photos to illustrate and illuminate the magic of this fantastic display of amazingness.
This year the overall theme of the event was “Building A Better World” and that theme was very visible throughout the week I was there. From the speakers who focused on global change and health crisis, down to the inclusiveness of different sexualities and orientations, this year had an overall feeling of joy, love and “We are in this together” that shined through. I proudly donned my “Team Everybody” t-shirt at the closing party and enjoyed seeing them all over the wonderfully creative and open-minded city of Portland.
To explain further, as stated by the WDS Team:
“As we move forward, we want to make sure that we don’t ignore world events and the collective environment that we all share. This community has been affirming and inclusive from our first year. We value diverse perspectives and want to hear from different voices. However, we also want to take a clear stand: when entire groups of people are threatened or victimized, we will speak out and do everything we can to support those people.
We also know that anything we do is a two-part process of coordination and community: We’re all in this together! Let’s do everything we can to build a better world.”
During the breaks between the main stage sessions (think TedX style talks), day one featured over 30 drag queens serving donuts, treats, and delicious snacks – while day two featured acrobats, creatively dressed live musicians, unusual dancers, and balloon art makers to entertain us as we enjoyed the beautiful park behind the theatre. It is absolutely THRILLING to be surrounded by this many like-minded, welcoming, and uniquely diverse as well as courageous members of this planet we all spin on. There are moments where you can just feel the love, appreciation, and inclusiveness enveloping you, and you start smiling from deep, deep inside.
I’d like to share some of my favorite and deeply inspiring quotes from some of the main stage speakers. They all were absolutely amazing and insightful. I’ll highlight some peak moments for you:
Agapi Stassinopoulos
— You’re not supposed to blend in — you’re supposed to stand out.
— Let your light dominate the world.
— Open your heart, be still, let spirit in.
— Stop comparing yourself to others – enjoy the uniqueness of who you are.
— Tell your inner critic to take a vacation to the Aegean Sea.
— Don’t think about writing a book, think about imparting knowledge.
— The key to success is radical generosity.
— Four magic words: “Can you help me?”
Charles Hunt
— Do you know how many people would take your problems right now?
— When the bad luck truck pulls up and unloads, and you unpack and deal with it, you can still use the box.
— Hope is the foundation upon which resilience is built.
— You are as resilient as you think you are.
— You cannot be resilient without adversity.
Scott Harrison
— Give joyously! (versus “give back”). One of the few things in the entire world we can agree on —> we all deserve and can fight for clean water.
— “Toothpaste is peddled with far more sophistication than the lifesaving work of aid groups.” — Nick Kristof, New York Times
— “Do not be afraid of work that has no end.” — Avot de Rabbi Natan
Firuzeh Mahmoudi
— Activism is personal.
— Activism is joyful (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise).
— Activism is paying it forward to ourselves.
Mohammed Faris
— Are you a human being having a spiritual experience or a spiritual being having a human experience?
Vanessa Van Edwards
— Worrying is not failure prevention.
— Every part of the hustle teaches you something about yourself.
— Every business is wearing Spanx to hold in the wobbly bits.
— Shame fuels the fire of worry.
Yes Yes Marsha
— When you are your most authentic version of yourself, you attract people in your tribe and repel those who aren’t.
Fred Rogers (“Mr. Rogers” from Sesame Street as quoted by one of the speakers)
— When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
THRIVING in ALTERNATIVE RELATIONSHIPS and SEXUALITIES MEETUP
One of the remarkable things about WDS is how the founders encourage group educational opportunities and unique ways to connect. Attendee-led meetups happen throughout the week all over the city – in open parks, in restaurants, at hotels, on buses going to adventures. If you can dream it up, you can host a meeetup! So I took this challenge and held a polyamory luncheon last year. While this year I decided to team up with fellow IPEC-trained coach and former podcast interviewee, Rick Clemons, a Coming Out Coach, and creator of The Coming Out Lounge. Rick and I came up with the idea of co-hosting a meetup when I visited him several months ago on my West Coast America tour. It’s so exciting to dream up an idea of collaboration, and then watch it come to life. Just awesome!
We held the meetup at McMenamins Ringlers Pub, where the Live Your Legend crew hosts their WDS events. Somehow this made our event have some extra magic knowing that one of my heroes, Scott Dinsmore had graced these rooms just a few years earlier. His loving, accepting, and insightful energy could still be felt in the room. We had about 35 wonderful, beautiful, and open-minded people turn out for our event. Rick and I had a blast sharing our knowledge about choosing and living an authentic life, how to have courageous conversations, how our energy levels become filters through which we view the world, and finally the pros and cons of “Coming Out” as being uniquely you in your life. One quote I love to share is from last year’s WDS: “You can’t be unapologetically joyful until you are unapologetically YOU! (Jonathan Fields).
I’m delighted that my new friend, colleague, and fellow IPEC student attended and offered these kind words:
“Kitty’s energy is infectious as she easily creates a space that is safe and filled with compassion. In this creative space, we were able to explore our beliefs and blocks to achieving the thriving relationships we desire. The commonality that unites us all is love and I found comfort in this gift shared – received!” — Ebony
Lastly, I’d like to share some exciting news with you!
MULTIAMORY FEATURED ARTICLE on COMMUNITY BUILDING
Speaking of community, I was recently honored with the opportunity to write an article for Dedeker Winston of Multiamory.com fame, “The Polyamory Guide to Community Building.” Special thanks to Tim from PolyChicago for helping contribute to the article via a workshop of his I attended as well as having him as a special guest on our Loving Without Boundaries podcast. When we work together to make our entire community better, it’s a win-win-WIN! Thank you for the opportunity to share!
Wishing you peace, love and happiness,
(and thrilling, fun sex too!)
Kitty
Photo Credit: Armoso Studios
