FINDING MY BLOGGING COMMUNITY

Finding My Blogging Community and sharing the journey together

FAILING SISTERHOOD 101

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 rituals.

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.

MEETING A NEW TRIBE OF WOMEN

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.

LEAVING THE SUPERFICIAL BEHIND

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

NOT A PIPE DREAM AFTERALL

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.
Finding My Blogging Community and sharing the journey together

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Windback Wednesday ~ www.crestingthehill.com.au

27 comments

  1. Leaving the superficial behind: Indeed! I'm also more introverted than I seem.
    Carol
    ahealingspirit.org

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    1. I think we all might be more introverted than we seem Carol - I'm not sure if it's an age thing or that we just can't be bothered putting ourselves out there as much as we once did.

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  2. I really wish I had a sisterhood off-line. I mean I've made my blogging friends offline friends – – took a vacation with one recently just the two of us – – I somehow have failed to create a big sister hood where I live. Lots of friends. All one on one

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    1. I have several one on one close friends too Carla - and I think that will always be my preference, but I always had a little bit of envy for those who had a big group and enjoyed gathering together regularly.

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  3. I've always found you and your writing so endearing, and that if we lived near each other we'd be getting together for chats, laughs, and long talks. I wish I had a girl tribe who lived nearby. My besties live far away, and my blogging buddies do too. I always wanted a Lucy to my Ethel (yes, I'd gladly be Ethel.)

    Love this, Leanne. Thanks for being you.

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    1. Those are the kindest words Cathy - I think we'd have some great chats and laughs too and I'd be more than happy to be a Lucy to your Ethel (or maybe we could choose between Thelma or Louise) :) x

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  4. I totally understand this Leanne. Glad to know you online.

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    1. Me too Michele - and I love the Midlife at the Cabana - it gives me a real sense of sisterhood and sharing the joy and pain of Midlife.

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  5. Nicely written, Leanne. I, too, feel I have grown in knowledge and have become more bold with my writing because of the women I've learned from through blogging. The benefits of sharing with one another has been a blessing.

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    1. The community of Midlife bloggers that we're a part of is just awesome isn't it Laurie? The generosity of spirit and the willingness to connect and share is what has made this whole blogging thing so good for me.

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  6. You know, I feel exactly the same way. I have girlfriends, but I've never been into the shopping days & weekends away & all the stuff that girls are supposed to do. I feel that with the blogging community I can be introverted - and extroverted at the same time. It's really truly supportive. #TeamLovinLife

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    1. You sound like you could be my twin sister Jo - part of me would love to be that girly shopping girl, but it's not going to happen so I am just beyond happy with the blogging buddies I'm making along the way x

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  7. I'm much the same Leanne. Although I seem cool, calm and collected on the outside (people tell me) the actual reality of being with a beautiful bevy of women in real life has me feeling super awkward and often lost for words. I paddle very hard underneath. Love the online blogging 'mid lifers' for the same reason as you :)

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    1. I do the same frantic paddling Jo - smiling and quietly looking for the quickest way to graciously leave! That's the benefit of blogging - it's all on how much you can handle and never being overwhelmed - love it!

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  8. I definitely lean towards being an introvert although there are times I get out of my shell. But my favorite is the one on one!! I definitely excel in that part and it makes me feel good to connect that way.
    The blogging community is so interesting!! You feel like you make these friends even though you've never met or talked in real life! But it does feel good!
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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    1. I feel the same way Jodie - all these women I feel like I know really well and I've never seen them or even heard them. Occasionally when one posts live on FB I get quite a buzz out of hearing an unexpected accent.

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  9. I'm happy to see you are here, after the ATOZ I kind off evaporated.
    Nice words...as usual!

    http://slimexpectations.com/2017/05/whats-been-happening/

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    1. I've been diligently hammering away - I think I was so relieved to get back to posting half as many times each week that it made it seem easy. I hope you regain your blogging mojo soon :)

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  10. We're all different Leanne. There's certainly nothing wrong with feeling the way you do. You have to do what makes you happy. I enjoy spending time with my friends, but it's a pretty small circle of close friends who I really trust. I can take or leave spending time with acquaintances :) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. My circle of friends is pretty eclectic Lyndall and I love every one of them - I just seem to cope best doing one on one rather than fighting for air in a big group. Blogging lets me do that too and I love it - not sure if I'd ever be brave enough to go to a conference though :)

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  11. "I just can't get past all the palaver that goes with girly get-togethers." We are kindred spirits here, Leanne. My mother wasn't much into bonding either and I don't like pink. ☺ Your take on blogging is spot on from my viewpoint, as well. I've also become more introverted with age, only because I don't feel the need to join in with things that don't interest me. Life is much too short for that!

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    1. It's funny how some women thrive on a large community and girly get togethers and others of us just want a few friends and a quiet life. I know what you mean about becoming more introverted as time goes by Debbie - I tell my husband I think I'm becoming an introvert (but he still laughs at the idea).

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  12. I was so relieved when I found my blogging tribe. It took me a long time but now that I'm there I feel so much more confident about my writing and my subject matter. Three cheers for bloggy tribes.
    #teamlovinlife

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    1. I'm exactly the same Leanne - I didn't know there was a blogging community or a tribe or anything. Somehow I stumbled across my Midlife friends online and they are the best part of it all.

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  13. Finding a community is absolutely essential for blogging. It always surprises me when I meet bloggers who are only concerned with SEO and media marketing but completely forget about building relationships and finding a community.

    Greetings from the Bloggger's Pit Stop!

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    1. I really can't be bothered with all the palaver that goes with trying to get Google to find you Fabiola - I'm with you in the belief that community and connection is what blogging is really all about.

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  14. So often I can relate to what you are saying. You might be my soul sister who lives in another country. Good post!!

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