Blogging – How it Changed My Life

I began what I call blogging in early 2000 when my writing was published on a parenting site regarding fertility and trying to conceive.  While writing on that platform, I met several woman, two of whom I still stay in contact with, one more than the other, but still, enough that I consider both of them RL (real life) friends.  I did actually meet one of them during the time my third marriage was ending.  I’ve yet to meet yet Nino, but someday, someday I will meet her and our friendship will feel so normal.

As I began my trip down blogging-lane, I didn’t know anything about platforms and hosting or even free services versus paid services.  I quickly did my research and my first blog was born.  That was almost 7 years ago and I do not even remember the name of the blog and really 9 years if you count the “diary” site.

The statement made by someone on the diary site “Blogging is the New Black” resonated within me although I don’t remember who was responsible for such a profound statement. And indeed, for me, blogging has opened up more doors than I could have ever imagined.  I’ve received products to review and then write about, from food, to baby products to DVD’s and online services.  And, I’ve found several sites willing to pay me small amounts of money to advertise their product on my site.  But the friends I’ve made, that’s where blogging has been good to me.

For me, blogging started as a great way to release my thoughts, interact with those around me who were experiencing the same joys as well as the same trials and tribulations.  Sometimes it was fertility, sometimes it was child bearing sometimes it was dealing with an irrational spouse and sometimes, sometimes I just needed a friend who was willing to listen.

The simple nature of blogs allowed various people to read and comment to the on-goings in my life on their on time, much unlike what it was like to pick up the phone and call someone who may or may not have time to talk and/or listen at that very moment.

The comments on my blogs or on various other blogs have kept me moving forward, helped me keep a positive attitude, honed my writing skills but first and foremost, blogging has helped me gain my confidence as a socialite.  I went through some hard years after my father died and I entered a huge university where I couldn’t survive on previous merit alone.  I lost any and every sense of confidence in my ability to enjoy other people’s company.

Through blogging, I find myself on other blogs commenting numerous times a week regarding jut one sentence that they may have written that struck home with me or entire posts that resonates deep in my heart.  I have found myself communicating with women in various parts of the country and various parts of the world for that matter.

In closing, I’ll leave you with my most prominent memory of “what I learned from blogging?”. I had befriended (through a blog) a woman who originated out of Australia and still lived there.  Now, being a true country girl from Redneck Village Alabama, I haven’t traveled much and what travel I have done has been localized to the south.  Otherwise, I depend on other bloggers to draw me a mental picture of the world through blogs.

Fast forward about 8 months into the relationship with this blogger and due to the time difference, I rarely spoke to her in a real time.  Mostly we communicated through blogs and email.  I would always end my comments with a reference to her home and “kangaroos”. Finally, one night, months after months of comments, I found myself with insomnia and my friend was online for a chat.

I quickly mentioned “kangaroos” again and at this point, the blogger said to me, “Why do you keep asking me about kangaroo’s?” My response to her was, “Well you live in Australia, don’t you guys have kangaroos down under?”

Written laughter ensued and I couldn’t figure out what was so funny.  Finally after much written laughter, my friend explained “We don’t see kangaroos running lose in the streets around here. Kangaroos in Australia are the equivalent of the black bear in North America.”

I was stunned.  All this time I thought kangaroos ran around in Australia much like dogs in North America.  I thought they were a staple of the daily grind.  To find out that one could live in Australia and NEVER see a kangaroo was disappointing to me.  But, never laying eyes on a black bear just seems like good common sense.

I could tell blogging stories galore on the many cultures I have experience simply through someone’s (a blogger, any blogger) written word.  And, the fact of the matter is, in my opinion, the education gained from traveling, even within my blog-o-sphere has been much greater than any book education I’ve ever taken part in.  And, I happen to have close to 200 course hours at the university and graduate level, but my blogging friends expelling their knowledge about their real world could never be replaced with a book.

This post is just one testament to how  badly I want to attend Blogher ‘09.  I’ve been to one social networking conference and I’m scheduled for another in 2 weeks, but Blogher is the big conference.  Certainly, attending Blogher would be the icing on the cake.  My educational experience could/would grow by ten fold by attending this conference.

However, my family lives a very modest life style and I may or may not get to go unless I can acquire a sponsorship of some nature.  If you have any suggestions or ideas on sponsorship, please send the information my way.  I would greatly appreciate it.