A Sense of Community

I have been thinking about blogging lately and why people do this and what it all means. For some it is a fun new toy to play with. It is amusing to tinker with lay outs and templates and fixing up your blog "home." For others a blog is their showcase for their artistic talents and writing. For yet others a blog is way to share information about a particular hobby or interest. There are others who use a blog as a daily diary, to transcribe the events of their days to share with family and friends. Then there are more "professional" bloggers who are all about marketing themselves to garnish the biggest audience for whatever they are wanting to promote. There are as many reasons for blogging as there are colors in the rainbow.

But for me...I would say that the biggest reason I love to blog here is for that sense of community. This is very important to me. And it is strange really as I am such an introvert. Yet part of me has always been committed to bringing people together as a way both to help myself and others.

I am a firm believer that you can't do this all alone. You need other people to get through life's struggles and challenges. Self sufficiency and independence are great qualities no doubt but for me...I value INTER-dependence more...which to me means....people helping people.

Don't worry...I won't break into song..."people....who need people...are the luckiest peeeeeoppple in the world!" sorry....couldn't help myself. :>)

Seriously though...as I have been immersed in the blogging world now for many years, one thing really strikes me as profound. And that is...that for so many....the blogging world IS their world. We are so very lucky to have this technology to bring people from around the world together. I can talk to someone half way across the world from a different continent....about everyday life matters...who I otherwise would have never met. And likewise I have met folk who maybe lived a hop, skip, and a jump from me in real life...but still otherwise would have never befriended them had it not been but for this marvelous technology. Blogging can be a wonderful way to connect easily with other people. Think about how difficult it would be otherwise. "Hey over there in England...you wanna come over for some tea?" Uhhh yeah...not gonna happen. So we have our tea and conversation right here where it is do-able.

But back to my original point...which I am losing in my runaway trains of thought here....one of my big revelations about blogging has been this: There are people out there who count on the blogging connection as their primary social support.

And this is not a bad thing...it just is. For some this is the reality. It would be nice if all of us had a wonderful supportive family. It would be ideal if all of us had tons of real life friends who came over all the time. It would be great if the real life community were always adequate to meet every one's needs. It would be peachy if we all had the time to meet up with a real life support group. But the reality is that illness, family needs, just life in general prevents us from reaching out in the ways that we would like to. One way to get social support needs met is through this on-line medium.

Everyone is on a continuum of how much social support they need or are able to give. Some folk literally have nobody and some folk may seem to have a lot of family, friends, and real time community but for whatever reason feel uncomfortable to ask for help. Then there are people who are more trapped by their physical or mental illness...who are more unable to get out and about. There are individuals who are struggling with a particular life circumstance which makes them feel that they are all alone. For whatever the reason, there are so many people who rely greatly upon the on-line experience of blogging to help them get through their day.

I know about this because...hey...I am one. I can't tell you what it has meant to me for you all to visit and just say you care. I have been helped by your friendship and I am so very grateful.

I would say that most everyone of you is already doing this in some way....some of you in huge ways...but maybe take the time to visit folk from the blogging community who might need a little cheer and a spiritual boost. Leave ego at the door and the unspoken blog rules of a comment for a comment....and go reach out to someone who may need you. Every one of us is going through some sort of challenge. Nobody is immune to pain and suffering. But it doesn't mean we all don't have something to give. When you can, when you are able, reach out to others and give of your gifts whatever they may be.

It all has a domino effect. You make someone smile. They in turn are more happy and able to give more to their kids or even a stranger. I really want to believe that the good stuff travels.

I am reading a book about MS...it is called "My Story: A Photographic Essay on life with multiple sclerosis." It is a collection of small essays by people who have MS. I was most inspired by one young lady named Liane who had gotten the diagnosis of MS in her very early twenties and her reflections upon how this disease has impacted her life. And believe me...I am not into polly anna cliches. I like real. I honestly did feel a genuine connection to this young woman's words. I shall leave you with a small passage from her remarkable essay:

"However, as I learned more about MS I had to decide that I would not live in fear. It is frightening indeed to learn that there are so many unknowns in the realm of MS and that there is still no cure. I began to feel all my dreams slip out of the reach of my numb hands. Would I ever be on Broadway or in a movie? Would I get married and have a family? Would I still change the world? The questions were interrupted by a visit from my pastor who gave me life changing and inspiring advice. Pastor Wayne encouraged me not to ask, "Why God? Why me? Why now?" but to ask, "What is your plan Lord? How can I use this to help others?"

And like I have said before...I am not too terribly religious. But there is profound meaning in these questions. These are the very questions I have been reluctant to ask but perhaps it is now time.