In The Powder Room

Sep 18

What blogging means to me

Comments (10) by Lerner September 18, 2012 - 6:01 AM

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It's two in the morning. I've just gotten home from a girls' night which was unlike any girls' night I ever had in my twenties. It wasn't at a bar, there weren't any tequila shots, no one went home with someone they might regret and there won't be any headaches in the morning (I don't think).

What was there? Laughs, love, community fellowship, support, great food and wine, more laughs, some ice cream . . . did I mention laughs?

Eight hours of a Northern California bloggers group get-together has left me thinking about what blogging means to me.

Here's the thing . . . I did personal scrapbook/Livejournal/Blogger (before it was Blogspot) blogs back in the day. I never really did anything with them. I didn't really know what to do with them, to be honest. Then suddenly a few years ago I got serious with StayAtHomeBabe.com. I worked my ass off, I invested myself, I bled myself on the page and built an amazing community of readers, friends and fellow bloggers who surrounded me and lifted me up.

Then six months ago I shut it down.

Things had changed. I had changed. My life had changed. The blog no longer felt genuine and I am a lot of things, but disingenuous has never been one of them. I struggled with the decision, but ultimately pulled the plug and started in a new direction.

You know what didn't change? That community. I moved ACROSS THE WORLD, and I still have a community. I just sat around a table with ten of the most amazing women while we poured our hearts and souls out to each other. I have friends in almost every state, many countries, several continents. Like real, genuine friends.

Blogging makes the world smaller. Blogging makes connections real. Blogging makes many things possible that should be highly improbable. It gave me a place to feel inspired and understood and published. In a big, bad world there was a place for my words, for my thoughts, for my heart. You gave me that. By reading this, you are giving me that. And that is nothing short of miraculous.

To those gorgeous NorCal Bloggers tonight who continually amaze me with their open, honest, uplifting grace: thank you. To you patient, gorgeous, glorious reader: you are super rad. To anyone brave enough to put the pointer on the publish button and click your words into existence: welcome to the shark tank . . . it's mostly filled with dolphins.

Pictured in photo: Lerner and Nichole Beaudry

Photo credit: Yuliya Patsay

by Lerner September 18, 2012 - 6:01 AM

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Comments (10)

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  Report Fri Sep 21, 2012 - 9:16 am

  by  Sandra C

  I'm going to a blog conference in October, spending hundreds of dollars on airfare, registration, food, hotel so I can meet someone who I met through blogging and feels like one of the bestest friends I have. I so get this post!

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  Report Wed Sep 19, 2012 - 9:33 am

  by  Kris @kmulkey007

  So sorry I missed the evening!

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  Report Wed Sep 19, 2012 - 8:14 am

  by  Kim Tracy Prince

  How timely to read this. Today is the 8th anniversary of my blog, the one I always come back to, the one that is me. Others have come and gone, but I still have this.

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  Report Wed Sep 19, 2012 - 4:00 am

  by  Janie Emaus

  I feel exactly the same way. So well put.

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  Report Wed Sep 19, 2012 - 2:26 am

  by  Bex @ The Mummy Adventure

  I am constantly being amazed at what blogging has brought to my life, the people and the opportunities and I have met some amazing people, even though life would never have brought us together without it x

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  Report Wed Sep 19, 2012 - 1:07 am

  by  lhewitt

  Hey Lerner, It makes me so happy that you have found your community, and that they are so supportive. You really are an inspiration to your readers. Thank you.

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  Report Tue Sep 18, 2012 - 9:09 pm

  by  Nichole

  Oh, my friend...you nailed it: "In a big, bad world there was a place for my words, for my thoughts, for my heart." So beautifully written. Much love, Lerner!

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  Report Tue Sep 18, 2012 - 8:41 pm

  by  Sherri

  Lerner, you nailed it. I love, LOVE our supportive and nurturing group and I love that you wound up right in the thick of it from halfway around the world!

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  Report Tue Sep 18, 2012 - 8:01 pm

  by  AlisonSWLee

  Lerner, what you said. That is all. xo

  Reply Delete
• 1 reply, Last reply by Lerner on Tue Sep 18, 2012 at 8:38 pm
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  Report Tue Sep 18, 2012 - 8:38 pm

  by  Lerner

  @AlisonSWLee: Awe, thanks Alison!

  Reply Delete