At the recent XOXO conference, I spoke about that burning feeling I get right in my upper abdomen when I’m overwhelmed with excitement or inspiration or drive to do something.

I mentioned that I’ve been feeling this a lot over the last few years, even as I too am witnessing what many of us think about as “the web” rotting right in front of our eyes. Working outside of that rot pile, and perhaps motivated by it, there are so many people who are excited about the potential for a better web.

I don’t travel much, partly because even short trips sap my energy in a way that requires a long recovery. But even as my low battery alarm is beeping away, I am feeling that burning feeling very intensely. I met so many people at XOXO who feel it too (whether about the web or a different passion).

I wish I could bottle the feeling of being surrounded by hundreds of people like this. People like Erin Kissane, who will just do the thing that needs doing because no one else is doing it. People like Gita Jackson at Aftermath, the people at 404 Media, and all of the others who are writing what needs writing, even if it means using a model for their businesses that people told them couldn’t possibly work. The too many people to name who I talked to who also feel the feeling of needing to write or draw or film or paint or code or sing or dance or photograph or tell stories because they too fear their heads might explode if they don’t.

XOXO, Molly

P.S. For those who weren’t able to attend, the video of my talk should be available online shortly.