being blessed with a new community

#midlifeblog cresting the hill

I have never been very good at women's groups and get-togethers. I always feel like the odd one out because I'm not really a girly girl. This might be the fall out from growing up with two brothers and a mother who wasn't very good at mother/daughter bonding.

Regardless, I just seem to withdraw from the whole female camaraderie/sisterhood love fest whenever I try to put myself into that type of group. Even the thought of getting together for coffee or lunch with a large group of women gives me pause. The conundrum that I face is that I know that I need to be part of a larger picture. I need the support and encouragement that women give each other when they are part of a sisterhood. I just can't get past all the palaver that goes with girly get-togethers.

One of the blessings of starting a blog has been meeting other women who are thinking and writing and being open about their lives and their journeys. Women who are living in the same stage of life as I am and who are thriving and creating their own stories and sharing them and encouraging each other. No-one is competing, no-one is doing one-upmanship, no-one is insisting that they have all the answers and no-one is blowing their own trumpet. These are just genuine women who have gathered into community to share their stories and to draw along side each other and cheer each other on.


I love that I don't have to worry about what to wear, or who I'll sit next to, or whether anyone will talk to me. I don't have to wonder if I'm the only one there who isn't excited about the pink "whatever" gift that is the reward for attending. I love that I can be myself and share my life and my journey with women who are busy doing the same thing in their own way. I love that I am learning new stuff and my mind is engaged and my spirit is enriched. I love that everyone is open to sharing their knowledge and helping each other out.



No woman is an island. We need one another. Sophie A Nelson

My mother belongs to the Red Hat Society, she lunches with the ladies, she goes travelling with groups and she has a bevy of female friends. I don't seem to have the same DNA - I like one to one conversations, sharing my thoughts, hearing other people talk honestly and just being a bit of an introvert at times. I was starting to worry that any hope of finding a like-minded group of women was a bit of a pipe dream, until blogging! So thank you to all the lovely ladies that I am connecting with, thank you for your encouragement and your stories and for being interested in my story too. It makes my life so much richer and I just feel so blessed.


I had just written this post when I found out that it linked up beautifully with the word of the week which was "blessing" - I love when life throws in these little surprises!

28 comments

  1. Yes!!!! Community connection – – the best kind of blessings of surprise :-)

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  2. Yes! Blogging is a community I never knew I always wanted. :-) Cheers to us!

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    1. Who'd have thought we'd get to meet so many lovely people Kelly?

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  3. You never know when a blessing will come upon you, maybe cresting the hill?

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    1. I just love that there are still blessings out there to be found Haralee x

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  4. I feel the same way about blogging and you are so right definitely am also so very blessed by the friendships and connections I have made through it these past few years now, too! :)

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    1. Me too Janine - it gets better every week :)

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  5. Dear Leanne,
    One more thing we have in common! I'm absolutely the same, I'm not good at these girly get-togethers and feel the same about my blogging female friends - they so awesomely ROCK! Like you said, here nobody is judging us or gossiping behind our backs. I'm happy I stumbled upon your blog:) xx Abby

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    1. Hi Abby - you were one of my first blogging friends and I love that we're sharing this journey together - a million miles apart but still close :)

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  6. You nailed it! Exactly what so many of us feel about our blogging community. :)

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  7. Love that you were able to link this one up and I totally agree! I am an introvert and, honestly, feel like I have very few friends. I don't do girls' nights out or stuff like that. But, blogging has brought me many friends and I love them dearly!

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    1. Me too Lisa - I think I'm getting more introverted (picky about my friends?) as I get older but I love all the bloggers I'm meeting and how encouraging they are.

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  8. Having spent much of my life living in a much affluent area where I never felt I fit in, I do so understand. Now I am facing so much stuff alone. Few folks understand I really don't want to get together for dinner or go shopping. I abhor shopping. And eating out financially or healthwise is not for me. I am always looking through countless blogs looking to see if anyone else feels even a bit of what I do. Love this one,

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Pam - I'm the same - I hate throwing money down the drain on loud dinners etc where I can't have a decent conversation and everyone is comparing themselves and their lives - I just love the warmth that comes from other bloggers - please come back again :)

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  9. Great post! Us introverts rock! Lol

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    1. it's a funny world Claudette where the introverts are having such a great time :)

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  10. I'm very similar - not much of a girly girl and do so much better one on one. You're right, "meeting" bloggers is such an unexpected blessing of this whole experience!

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    1. thanks Lana - it's been such a pleasure getting to know women like you and to feel like I have friends all over the world :)

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  11. I love my online community too, Leanne! It's a great way for us introverts to connect!

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    1. It certainly is Corinne - it's great because you do it on your own terms.

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  12. What a wonderful post! I completely agree with you! I am not great with a group thing either, they kind of freak me out! But this online community has been fabulous and a major life line since becoming a SAHM! I even get excited for opportunities to meet some of the amazing blogger friends that I have been blessed to meet. Great to meet you and hope you have an amazing week!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Stacey and it's lovely to meet you. I'm popping across to your blog to check you out too :)

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  13. You have described the blogging community perfectly. It has been a wonderful addition to my life as well. And the fact that we are such an international group is fun as well!

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  14. Exactly Susan - I love you all and I am so glad I found this world that I never knew existed!

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  15. I have been pleasantly surprised by the blogging neighborhood Leanne. It's been great learning how to connect with ladies who have similar interests to mine. I can truly identify with your feelings of the girly-girl get togethers. I've always been more of a loner myself, but I'm pleased that blogging has added a dimension of community that I had not anticipated. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings so openly.

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    1. Hi Renee - you get exactly what I meant - community without all the fluff that goes with face to face get togethers. I love that we can all connect like this on our own terms.

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.