You know how you dream of meeting someone who has been an icon in your field? Someone who has shaped conversations, inspired change, and left you wondering, *How do they do it? How do they get to be so...well, *them?* As Razina so perfectly put it, this was *The Amitabh Bachchan* of the *Disability and Advocacy* world. And me? I was just hoping for a glance, a moment of eye contact, maybe a tiny nugget of wisdom I could absorb through sheer proximity.

And then -BAM! Instead of just a glance, I walked away with a "longggggggggg" hug. Like, not just a "nice to meet you" pat-on-the-back hug, but a full, deep, *I see you, I get you* kind of hug. And I? I shamelessly walked right onto the stage for it.

I could have just burst into tears right then and there. No clue why. But that hug? It felt like she just *knew*. Knew what I was feeling. Knew what I was carrying. Knew how much I needed that exact moment of reassurance. And when I, in true dramatic fashion, ran to stand right behind her for the group photo (non-negotiable, by the way), she didn’t just let me, she held both my hands. That simple gesture screamed: *I’ve got you, Seema.*

And just like that, all my *how-will-I-do-this-alone* worries melted into *just-remember-why-you’re-in-this.* She didn’t have to say a word. She just *held space*—for all my feelings, for all my thoughts, for everything swirling inside me. And maybe that’s what we all need, right? People who will just *be there.* Not to fix, not to change, not to advise—just to *hold space* until we find our own clarity.

Shoutout to the dream team! Razina, who made this happen with the energy of a thousand suns. Anita, the ultimate go-to person. And Chitra, the super-enthu cutlet who booked the tickets while the rest of us were still overthinking. You ladies are pure magic! Muaaah!