Anyone who’s ever tried creating momentum in Second Life knows what a challenge it can be. Rallying the troops, keeping the energy up, getting everyone moving in the same direction—it’s a bit like herding cats on a dance floor made of pixels. And it’s understandable. After all, most of us didn’t log in to work. We came here to dream, to build, to connect, to escape.
But it’s easy to forget that this incredible virtual world we all love is entirely user-built. Every avatar, outfit, experience, and place of social congregation exists because someone decided to create it. And that, in itself, is miraculous.
Still, there are days when even the most enthusiastic among us feel the weight of it all—the slow starts, the missed deadlines, the ghosts who vanish mid-project. My giddiness, at times, has been tinged with a quiet despair. Why do we do this?
And then comes something like The Gathering.
This year, The Gathering has absolutely stunned me. Somehow, through the chaos and the quirks, we’ve managed to bring together one of the most unusually committed, passionate, and invested teams I’ve ever seen. Through moments of doubt and stretches of silence, this team has carried the vision forward with kindness, humor, and sheer grit. Watching something that once lived only in my imagination take shape before my eyes is an indescribable honor.
Our Tribe Liaisons deserve a special mention. They are the lifeblood of this whole operation—our connectors, our motivators, our cheerleaders. Their job isn’t easy. They face ghosting, gaslighting, and (let’s be honest) the occasional side-eye of indifference. Yet they keep showing up, armed with patience, empathy, and a dash of mischief.
To the liaisons: you inspire me.
We’ve laughed ourselves silly in team meetings, stayed up far too late troubleshooting scripts, and celebrated the tiniest wins as if they were grand victories. (Did you know that the average Second Life event takes over 120 hours of volunteer coordination behind the scenes? Multiply that by 10 tribes, and you start to see the scale of the madness!)
And yet—surrounded by this incredible team—I’m reminded why we do it.
Because we love it.
Because it matters.
Because when people like this come together, there is simply no failing.
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