I’m still coming down off last night. Goddess on the Go, Autism Okanagan‘s celebration of caregivers, filled the Capri Coast Hotel Ballroom with exactly the kind of warmth and energy this cause deserves, and I’m so grateful to have been part of it.

I played violin for the evening’s program alongside a lineup of guest performers, and later took the mic for a keynote on what living with neurodiversity in our family has taught me about resilience, patience, and showing up for the people who show up for everyone else. Caregivers rarely get the room; last night, the room was entirely theirs.

The whole evening had that quality of thoughtful, unshowy generosity that makes an event like this work. Coast Capri Hotel opened its ballroom. Barefoot Venus, Rexall Care Network, and Urban Liquor Store all pitched in as sponsors. There was a silent auction, door prizes, and gift bags for every guest, but the real current running through the night was the crowd itself: caregivers, families, and supporters of Autism Okanagan who came out to be celebrated for once instead of doing the celebrating.

Performing for a room like that changes how you play. I found myself leaning into the quieter, more tender passages a little longer. It was a lovely exhale! That’s the wonderful gift of an event like this: for an hour or so, nobody in the room is managing anything. They’re just listening.

Thank you to Autism Okanagan for having me, to everyone who bought a ticket knowing the money would go straight back into supporting families, and to the caregivers themselves, who deserve nights like this far more often than they get them.

Sophie XO