Whatever I was expecting, it wasn't this.

And I should've known better.

It's dark out and I'm walking through the courtyard. This is a retreat center in Texas but it reminds me of a Spanish villa or something. I'm here for a conference and, while walking from one building to the next, I can feel myself smiling. It's the first time I've been alone all day. Looking up at the staircase in front of me, my smile fades. Shit... the door code. I reach for my pocket and fish out my phone. They gave us all a slip of paper with the building access codes when we checked in but mine's in my room—as is the case with every single other attendee—having taken a picture of the slip of paper rather than carrying it with me.

Click, click... click... click-click BEEP.

Walking down the hall to my room, my eyes glide over the stucco walls and my feet scuff their way along the carpet. I've been volunteering with this organization for 17 years, but I've never been to this conference. For starters, it's new within the last few years. I was actually supposed to go last year but was unable to attend at the last minute. Everyone here runs teams similar to mine, just in other parts of the country. We're here to get to know each other, to test-drive some new leadership development modules, and generally compare tricks and tips.

Pulling the door to my room closed behind me, I flop onto the bed. It's been a loooong day. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. And I definitely should've known better. My smile's back. I can feel it in my eyes.

I recently wrote about feeling like I've never really found my people.

Welp, these are them.

* * *

Have you ever found what you were looking for when you stopped looking?

onward.

For more on this daily column, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.