Kindred Collective
There are moments in life that feel quietly significant long before they ever arrive.
Moments you carry in your heart as a distant hope, a whispered prayer, a dream you are almost too afraid to name out loud. For me, Kindred Collective was one of those moments.
For years, I watched from afar. I followed along, admired the beauty, the artistry, the caliber of creatives gathered in one place. It felt untouchable, reserved for the best of the best. I was a small-town girl from the Mississippi Delta, now living in Alaska, building a business between the South and Jackson Hole. It felt worlds away from me. And yet, something in my heart continued to return to it. Quietly. Persistently.
Over a year ago, I applied to be on the list, almost as an act of surrender more than expectation. I remember thinking, “This will never happen,” and releasing it just as quickly as I had sent it.
And then one ordinary day in August, an email appeared on my phone.
“You’re invited to Kindred Collective 2026.”
I read it more than once, convinced it had been sent in error. Why me? How could I possibly belong in a room like that?
But deep down, I knew.
I had been praying for growth. For clarity. For doors to open that only the Lord could open. And this invitation felt like exactly that—a gentle, undeserved gift placed in my hands. So I accepted with humility, and with a prayer that stayed with me in the months leading up to it: that I would be a light, that I would connect deeply, that I would walk away not just with business relationships, but with something far more meaningful.
I arrived at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel with a full heart and quiet nerves. The kind that sit heavy in your chest. The kind that whisper, “You don’t belong here.”
Imposter syndrome has a way of making even the most beautiful opportunities feel intimidating.
But I kept returning to the truth I knew: God had placed me there. And if He had, then I would walk forward with open hands and an open heart.
That first evening, as I stepped into the welcome cocktail party, something shifted almost immediately. I was met with warmth, not intimidation. With kindness, not comparison. Rebecca and Erin greeted me with genuine joy, and within moments, conversations began to unfold with ease. Laughter came quickly. Walls came down just as fast.
I met people who felt like old friends within minutes.
There was a moment I had promised my son I would embrace. Before the trip, he had asked me who would be there, and when I told him Mindy Weiss would be attending, his eyes lit up. He encouraged me, in the simple boldness only a child carries, to go introduce myself.
So I did.
Not because it felt easy, but because I didn’t want fear to have the final say.
And just like so many other moments that weekend, what I found on the other side was not intimidation, but kindness. A warm smile. A gracious conversation. Even a thoughtful video message for my son. It was a quiet reminder that behind every title or accolade is simply a person.
The beauty of that first evening was breathtaking. The deep midnight tones, the ocean stretching endlessly behind us, the florals, the thoughtful details layered with intention. But what stayed with me was not the aesthetic, as extraordinary as it was. It was the feeling.
Connection.
By the end of that first night, sitting around the dinner table with women I had just met, laughing and sharing stories as if we had known each other for years, something in me settled.
I went to bed with a sense of belonging I had not felt in a long time.
Day two unfolded with that same intentionality.
Every detail, every space, every moment was curated not just for beauty, but for connection. Conversations deepened. Stories were shared. And then came one of the most impactful moments of the entire experience.
We were invited to reflect on something we had carried as a failure.
To write it down.
And then to break it open.
Inside each shell was a pearl.
A quiet, powerful reminder that what we often perceive as broken or insufficient can, in the hands of grace, become something refined and beautiful. That nothing is wasted if we are willing to learn. That growth often comes disguised as disappointment.
It was vulnerable. It was sacred. And it set the tone for everything that followed.
The one-on-one conversations were equally transformative. Thoughtfully paired, intentionally designed, each meeting felt purposeful. It became clear very quickly that no one was there by accident. Every person carried their own story, their own fears, their own hopes. And yet, the common thread was unmistakable.
We were all more alike than we realized.
We had all walked in with nerves. With questions. With quiet insecurities.
And we all left feeling seen.
That evening, as the sun set and the space transformed into something almost otherworldly, I found myself overwhelmed in the best way. The design was stunning, layered in texture and light, soft and luminous in a way that felt like stepping into a dream. But again, what marked me most was not what I saw.
It was what I felt.
At dinner, I found myself in conversations that felt divinely orchestrated.
The kind that meet you exactly where you are. The kind you didn’t even realize you had been praying for until you are sitting in them.
Later that night, gathered with a small group, conversations turned to faith. To purpose. To the deeper “why” behind what we do. We spoke openly, vulnerably, without hesitation. It was unguarded and genuine, and it left a lasting imprint on my heart.
It felt like home.
Even the unexpected moments carried meaning.
A shared Uber ride after a bout of car sickness. Late-night laughter. Conversations that stretched into the early hours. Each one layered into the experience, reminding me that sometimes the most meaningful memories are the ones you never planned.
As the days unfolded, one truth became abundantly clear.
It was never about status.
Not about follower counts. Not about recognition. Not about where you’ve been or how long you’ve been doing it.
It was about heart.
It was about the way you show up. The way you love people. The way you connect.
There is room for all of us.
There is space for each story, each perspective, each journey.
And perhaps most importantly, others often see the beauty in us long before we are able to see it ourselves.
Kindred was a reminder to extend ourselves grace.
To lean into vulnerability. To pursue connection with intention.
Because at the end of it all, that is what we are all longing for.
Not perfection.
Connection.
I left with a full heart. With friendships I know will last. With a renewed sense of purpose. And with deep gratitude for every person who poured into that experience so selflessly and beautifully.
To the creatives, the planners, the artists, the team behind the scenes who served with excellence and humility, your work did not go unnoticed. It was felt in every detail.
And to the quiet supporters in my own life, the ones who pray, encourage, and stand behind me without recognition, this moment is just as much yours as it is mine.
Because I would not be here without you.
If there is one thing this experience has solidified in my heart, it is this:
Pray boldly.
Dream freely.
And trust that what is meant for you will find its way, often in ways far beyond what you could have imagined.
Because sometimes, the things we once believed were out of reach are simply waiting for the right moment to unfold.
Xoxo,
Latham
The Incredible Vendor Team that made Kindred Collective Possible:
Photo and Video: @drydenandemily of @forma_mgmt
Venue: @ritzcarltonlagunaniguel
Planning and Design: @indigoeventdesign
Florals and Production: @flowersbyedgar
Stationery, Paper Goods, Signage, & Gifting: @papertreestudio
Business Support / Socials: @masterfully.managed
Vendor Liaison: @hllovely
Entertainment Company: @jordankahnorchestra
Cocktail Sponsors: @forma_mgmt and @ingoodcompanypr
Cocktail Hour Musician: @moseslinmusic
Cocktail Hours, Breakfast, Dinner and After Party Rentals: @flowersbyedgar
Lunch and 1:1 Furniture Rentals: @foundrentalco
On-Site Support: @soecollab
Kindred Team HMUA: @pagebeauty
Weather Reports: @ironicreports
Production and Fabrication Support: @backupbackdrops
Tabletop Rentals: @catalogatelier by @adorefolklore
Lighting: @jacobco_creative
Specialty Heaters: @mtb_event_rentals
Text Communication: @wedping