Brighton Summit Blog: Sometimes We’re Forced To Look Up.

When I was asked to write a few words about my Brighton Summit experience I jumped at the chance. 2018 has been a turbulent, difficult year as it began with news that made everything stop, made me look up, and demanded I get fresh perspective. I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive breast cancer and my life came into sharp focus. My body demanded that I focus all my attention on what really, really mattered, staying alive. I did and I am. That’s good news, isn’t it!

Having finished the bulk of my treatment, I was eager to be back in the Summit space, surrounded by familiar, friendly faces with knowledge, talent, humour, warmth and generosity abounding – and perhaps some loud music! I got all of that, the music being brass from above to guide us all to look up and walk up (!) the stairs to our sessions – loads better than someone shouting, or gentle nudges from lots of chamber staff. One of the things I love about the Summit is that it never takes the usual path of a corporate event. The speakers, attendees and advocates share generously, giving time, ideas and fresh perspective to each other freely, and the message is always relevant but grounded in us as humans who are part of a community, not the sum parts of money-making or service providing entities. The community spirit reigns and success, endeavour and support are celebrated. It shines a light on all that is great about this city.

I arrived expecting great things and I wasn’t disappointed. I brought with me my own personal story – bravely shared (I think!) in the Event Horizon hour Come and be Herd. Participants were asked to share a story based on the theme of living in the moment, and boy has cancer made me do that. Frankly, I could’ve stayed in that room with that group all day as listening to such a range of honest, funny, sometimes moving stories was very special indeed. Only one featured work. Interesting that!

In the breaks and networking time throughout the day, Snails and cancer were the main topics of conversation (obvs) as people asked how I am and waxed lyrical about the magic of the giant gastropods Martlets, my wonderful organisation, has installed across the city. We discussed the magic of giant, painted snails being aligned with the message that we should all slow down. That to #BeMoreSnail is to appreciate what’s around us, to engage, to live in the moment, to Look Up!

What I took away from this year’s Brighton Summit was that to Look Up takes bravery. As the brilliant Claire Mason said at the very start of the day, quoting Churchill, ‘if you’re in hell, keep going’ and that’s a quote I can relate to. We are all seeking stability and a brighter future, some of us at the most basic, personal level. Today reinforced my view that we live and work in a community that will push forward with optimism, taking note of what’s around us and we’ll continue to seek out the magic in the mundane (I wish I’d gone to that horizon hour too)!

Most importantly I took away a reminder. That life is precious, and while we strive to make magical things happen, we can’t do that if we’re drained and depleted, or worse still, sick. Life is for living, and to create is magical, but we can only do this if we, the individuals behind the magic, are at our best. So, Look Up and see what’s most important to you and the magic will flow!

Emma Knight is Head of Partnerships & Major Donor Giving for Martlets Hospice. She is also a writer, sharing her honest, funny and inspiring story at www.queenemmaknight.com

Thanks to Emma for writing this blog

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk