Loss in a person’s life creates a need for replacement, said Blackburn. If the healthy relationships in a person’s life are strained, the more apt they are to turn to objects to relieve their pain.

“The mood change we experience when we turn to those objects seduces us into believing our needs have been met,” said Blackburn. “This causes us to develop a dependency on the object to alleviate our fears. The object becomes more predictable than our healthy relationship and the seduction is complete.”

Blackburn encouraged participants to take note of the objects in their lives and to keep them in check in order to grow healthier relationships.

Other speakers for the all-day event included Dr. Carolyn Hawley, NSU professor; Rev. Thea Nietfeld, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tahlequah; Gina Olaya, Cherokee Nation Enterprises; and Sandra Hill, licensed counselor. Topics included “Exploring Relationships - Family and Community,” and “Effects of Addictions on Relationships.”

Joyce Rose, president of the Tahlequah branch of AAUW, is involved in many community events.

“This conference is the event I look forward to most each year,” said Rose. “We have such fun. My brother is coming in from western Oklahoma today and I told him he’d just have to wait until this evening to visit with me, this conference is that important to me.”

Betty Brown, mission president for Antioch Baptist Church, attended the conference and spent the morning networking.

“We’re planning a similar conference in May,” said Brown. “We came to visit with the ladies here and to get ideas. We’re planning on using this same building, and would like for everyone here to come to our event, too.”

A light lunch was provided to participants by Talking Leaves Job Corps; snacks and drinks by NSU Sodexho Marriott; all at no cost to attendees. Talking Leaves Job Corps and NSU/Sodexho were co-sponsors for the event, along with the Tahlequah branch of AAUW.

The afternoon sessions included speakers and round-table discussions on the affects of addictions on womens’ lives.

Vendors participating in the event included Bill Willis Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Cherokee County Health Department, Cherokee Nation, Copy Shop Mailbox and Bead Store, Curves, Deborah Duvall, Arbonne, Art Connection, Beauty Technical College, Help-In-Crisis, Lucid Dreams, Oasis Health Foods, Tahlequah Friends of the Library and The Palms Therapeutic Massage and Body Spa. Vendors contributed over 40 door prizes given throughout the day.