The past couple of weeks were rather rough. I’d found out my former boss had a stroke, and I’d broken down in tears at work. The political mess in the US left me feeling quite discontent. Then something happened to me yesterday that really upset me. I was going to write about a different topic, but the incident changed my mind. I chose to write about this because it’s quite memorable for me already, and it’s something I know I will remember when I’m older, hence the last-minute change of subject for this month’s Timeless Thoughts entry. Georgie and I co-host this monthly link-up, and I am hosting again for this month. If you would like to participate, you’re more than welcome to join our link-up by submitting your entry with the link-up widget located at the end of this entry! This link-up is opened for two weeks, and your entry can be about anything you find unforgettable from your past or present! It can be an object, an event, a person — anything goes — and you can have more than one thing you miss. For this month, here’s what I’ve been missing lately!
Yesterday, I found out that a certain blogger, who has a long history of copying and stealing from other bloggers, copied something of mine again. Key word: again. When the blogger had done it before, I’d settled the matter privately. Since then, I’ve observed this blogger continuing their modus operandi with other bloggers in our circle. I don’t want to go into too much detail about this blogger, but rather focus on something positive, something that just floored me. I admit to being super angry with this blogger, and I’d ranted about it on one of my social media accounts. The responses I received from my past and present blogger buddies were all supportive — they expressed their dismay and shock, and they commiserated with me. To be honest, their support and love were unexpected, and I was overwhelmed by our solidarity.
Since 2001, I’ve made and met many of my blogger buddies. The Internet allowed us to come together from all parts of the world, and it was a joy getting to know them through their entries. Behind the monitor and keyboard, we shared our lives, we vented together, we wrote about our hopes and dreams — from the big things to the little things, they allowed us to form a unique sort of bond. This very bond — the blogger bond — is something I’ve experienced in small dosage over the years, but yesterday’s event shown me just how strong the bond was in a larger way. Honestly, I didn’t realise just how many blogger friends I had until yesterday. Every single messages from my blogger buddies have touched me deeply.
I do not know when I’ll stop blogging. I do know that I will never forget the special bonds I’ve made with my other fellow personal bloggers. We’re some of the most supportive bunches in this corner of the web, and when a crisis or two hit us, we all come together and show our support. The blogger bond may or may not last, but yesterday’s event is one I will never forget. I feel so loved and am eternally grateful to every single one of you bloggers out there who came together to help me pull through yesterday. To conclude this post, I saw this quote yesterday, and it was so fitting for every single one of you.
“Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.” — Euripides
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤
What are your thoughts on blogger bonds? Did you go through difficult times and your blogger buddies were there for you? Share with me in the comments!
This concludes my post. Below are the rules, banner, and the widget for you to submit your entry; you will have two weeks to submit! I look forward to seeing all your posts, and I hope to see you all again next month at Georgie’s blog!
Rules
- Link back to this info page: https://aigoo.me/timeless-thoughts with a text or a banner link.
- If you aren’t able to participate during X month, it’s okay! Feel free to join when you can!
- Your entry can focus on one nostalgic topic or 10! It’s all up to you :)
Banner
<div align="center">
<a href="https://aigoo.me/timeless-thoughts">
<img src="https://aigoo.me/timelessthoughts.jpg" width="640" height="214">
</a>
</div>
Collection and Submissions
Loading InLinkz ...
Reading this felt pleasant — it’s such a sweet post. It’s a shame that it had to come out of something bad, but your writing makes me pay attention to and take stock of how much I’ve gained from participating in conversations online and blogging. I’ve gained so much and it’s been so important, but I also take it for granted at times and needed to be reminded of it by this post.
I am so glad we cheered you up, Tara! Especially after you were having such a tough time. Incidents like this can always get you down, especially when it happens again. There have been times I have had no one specific to talk to in person, but a message to a friend on the other side of the world via the internet can go a long way. It’s amazing how supportive our blogging circle can be. Many of us have known each other for years but never had a deep conversation, but you can really see that when you are struggling, the best people come forward to lift your spirits.
I am closer to some bloggers than others, but there is no doubt that when I am in need, many of my blogger friends rush to my side. I don’t know where I would be without them – you included – because despite never having met these people, they are the most unselfish, caring, hilarious and kind hearted people I have ever met 😊
We’re here for you, T! <3 I'm glad that we are able to help in any way we can.
I think the one thing that keeps blogging alive for me is that I've made so many friends through the blog! I love how this hobby of ours brought a lot of wonderful people together.
I remember back in 2010 – 2012 I was going through an existential crisis of some sort and I took the MCAT 2x and I was applying to medical school. I was ultimately rejected from MedSchool after my interview and when I blogged about my journey I did get a lot of support! (Chantelle was one of those people! LOL :D)
There was a point when I openly talked about emotional abuse and my struggles with suicidal thoughts and again the same people were there to support me.
I wouldn't be here if I didn't have those blogger friends consoling me. My offline friends literally HAD NO IDEA that I was in such a dark place through my college years. The only people (aside for my blogger friends) that had known were my family and Jax.
The blogging community is AMAZING and I'm so honored to have you and many other people to call my friends online. <3
The one things I cannot say enough about blogging, and the community surrounding it is overall bloggers are usually some of the kindest and friendly people I’ve ever met. My husband rags on me about my “internet friends” and I’ve told him I’ve met more people through blogging and sites like neopets and whatnot that have been there for me when people I’ve known for 10+ years in my physical life have turned away, or somehow “not had enough time”.
I flat out told hubby my friend, who I went to high school with and have known for 10+ years, and is a stay at home mom to one kiddo somehow didn’t have time for me when my twin brother passed away, but a friend I’d met on neopets about 5 years ago, who has two children and a professional career flew down to be with me for his funeral, and we had never met in person before.
It doesn’t matter how or where you meet your friends, especially with technological advancements the way they are. People you’ve never even met can be better for you than people you see every damn day.
I’m very glad that you’ve had all kinds of people to help you through a difficult time and loss in your life.
Also, I did decide to contribute to the timeless thoughts this time around, regardless of not wanting to at first…I change my mind a lot lol
I’m glad we could help with making you feel better. To be honest, I burst out laughing at work after reading some of the tweets! They certainly kept me entertained on a boring Friday afternoon. It lovely to see how supportive our community can be. It’s just sad that there are some horrible people out there!
One of my favourite things about blogging is the people. I have met so many wonderful, like-minded people who live all over the world, and without blogging these friendships would have never been made.
I had a bit of a “wobble” a few months ago when I was suffering badly with anxiety and I spoke about how I was considering giving up blogging. The response from other bloggers was amazing and so heartwarming. It made me realise I was being stupid and I was just letting my anxiety take over. I’m so grateful for everyone who helped me.
I am so sorry to hear about your boss. I hope they’re doing better <3 The whole thing with Trump honestly gets me down so much. You know I mentioned how I'm pretty empathetic, so when I see videos of families crying because they can't be together, or extreme Conservatives posting complete bull poop, it causes my heart to constrict and tears to form because I can't even deal. I have to go find something immediately to cheer me up. I saw on Twitter that you were sorting out voting and stuff, so I hope that all goes well for you! For the cause, fuck Trump, do you boo! <3
I honestly still can't believe she copied you. Straight up plagiarism. That is my worst fear – being accused of that, so I can't even comprehend someone going out of there way to do it on purpose. WHERE'S YOUR ORIGINALITY?
Blogger bonds are what got me through most of my teen years, to be honest. I made a few online friends outside of blogging too, who helped me with a lot. I've always found it easier to open up to people online because they can give an unbiased opinion (as long as I give every single fact, LOL), which is refreshing. Sometimes friends will tell you what they think you want to hear. They don't mean to do it maliciously, but sometimes it doesn't help.
We're all here for you, T. The blogging community is always overflowing with love <3 You da best!
Eek, I’m sorry you had to deal with that copycat. There’s always people out there that think this atrocious type of behavior is ok and even try to justify it, but we’ve got your back! While I don’t have a particular blogger circle I’m close with, I’m lucky to be part of a wonderful Instagram community with really supportive people :) it’s amazing the type of friendship that can come from social media, and one of the reasons why I don’t think I can ever quit!
I’m sorry to hear about your former boss having a stroke. Hopefully, her journey to recovery will be as easy as it can be.
It’s pretty low of that blogger to be a repeat offender when it comes to copying others. Hello, ever heard of originality or I don’t know… Common decency? I’m glad there are other bloggers who supported you through this. It’s pretty sad how there are others who had to deal with this mess of a person.
I’m glad to have the privilege of being blogging buddies with you! I love the bonds that have been created and hope to keep it going for a long time :). I went through a difficult part of my life a few years ago and I’m super thankful that other bloggers have been supportive the whole way through (even if it’s indirect support).
I’m glad we were able to help! I’m just sorry that said person doesn’t know the proper rules of blogging and web development.
I’ve been back on the blogging scene for less than a year and so far the support that I’ve seen bloggers give each other is astounding. My faith in humanity is constantly being restored by everyone. It’s so good to see that kind of thing in a world that is being divided by hate.
I’ve been so fortunate that I haven’t had too many bad occurrences and whenever I doubt myself everyone reminds me that I’m doing something good. Plus it makes me so happy when I get new comments.
But hang in there and know that you have support!
Sorry to hear about your boss and that it’s been rough lately :( I’m glad we were able to help make you feel better though! I’ve met many online friends through the years, and I feel like the past few years, the blogger bonds have become stronger. It’s great to see everyone banding together when something like this happens.
Still so weird (and frustrating) that this keeps happening though. Like, come on, be a little original for once. We’re all behind you on this one!
I really enjoyed reading this Tara, because I feel exactly the same with the blogger community we have almost every single day on Twitter and when I return comments/read others blogs! :D They have with time only strengthened.
I think the time I felt very overwhelmed by the love and support I got from the blogger community was last summer when someone so important in my life walked away with all complicated stuff in between. I remember Nancy in particular messaging me every single day after to make sure I was okay and that I remembered how awesome I was xD (you’re the best Nancy!!) It’s just small things like that that make me so thankful I found this amazing circle of positivity and light <3
I'm again so sorry about what this blogger made you feel. It sucks being on that side because you've been robbed from your ideas and ugh, it's so frustrating!
*big hugs
Ugh! This is bad.
I saw the tweets of you guys and it was so nice to see you all bonding up. I don’t tend to be around on the blogosphere all the time but I consider many a bloggers as my “blogger friends”
I hope I will be able to form firm bonds with you all!
The power/relationship of the blogger bond is probably the most underrated bond I’ve ever witnessed. I don’t think newbie bloggers understand it’s more intimate than “networking”, so they miss out on it and…it’s sad and disheartening, because the bonds I’ve made with bloggers over the years helped encourage me to keep going; without those people in my life, I never would have gotten through things I did. I would have felt so lonely.
We gotta stick together. 💪 I despise how she stole from you again. When she does it to me, I feel like a piece of my heart has been stolen, thus I imagine it’s similar for others. 😞 I’m here for you if you ever need to talk, rant, vent, fangirl, etc. 💖
I, of course, heard about this via Twitter and I’m sorry it had to happen to you again. I’m glad that we were able to be there for you and if you ever need a listening ear, I’m always available!
I’ve posted about blogger bonds on my own blog before, so I completely agree that the blogging community is great! It’s nice being able to meet so many different people out there in the world and realize that we all have more in common than we think.
I’m also very grateful that I got to meet such a great person as yourself! Haha xD I remember when I didn’t blog or comment as much as recent as a year ago and you always consistently made sure to drop by and leave me a nice comment.
Keep being awesome! <3