I’ve written about this topic before on my blog. I’ve been blogging now for almost three years and I’m still asked, “Why do I blog?” Now my initial response is, “What are you an idiot?” Then I remember that it’s impolite to call someone an idiot—out loud at least. And if I was that rude it would negate the reason why I blog. The simple reason why I blog is that other bloggers are so kind and welcoming. This world is filled with mean people. Don’t believe me. Turn on the news or read a newspaper. You’ll find story after story of some horrible humans waging war, murdering people, and other atrocious crimes. It’s downright depressing.
When I started my blog I thought it would be a good way to keep track of my challenge. Then other bloggers started commenting on my posts. And you know what: 99% of them were nice (keep in mind, math is not my strong suit so don’t ask how I came up with this number). This confused me at first. I had started to think that this world was filled only with hateful people. I watch the news. I hear the stories. But these are the types of stories that sell papers. It’s easy to forget that sometimes.
During my blogging I’ve met so many wonderful people. Some make me laugh. Others make me think about how to be a better person. Some provide me with information that I didn’t know before. Almost every blogger I’ve met has enriched my life in some way.
Sometimes a blogger will surprise me completely. In a good way. When I announced the publication of my novel, A Woman Lost, Caroline from Beauty is a Sleeping Cat emailed me. Without asking her to do so, she translated my blurb into German and French. Caroline knows oodles of different languages. Check out her about page. She explained in her email that she had some spare time and thought it would be helpful for me. I was blown away.
That’s why I continue blogging; because of all you bloggers who are a joy to know. Thank you, Caroline and thank you blogging community. And if by chance there are some non-bloggers reading this. Come on and join us. It’s so much nicer knowing there are good people in the world.
And for you French and German speakers, here’s the blurb:
French Version:
Une Femme Perdue
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Petri a tout ce qu’on peut souhaiter. Elle est riche, belle, intelligente et elle a du succès. Mais rien de tout cela n’importe à sa mère. Les-Bi-Enne. C’est tout ce qu’elle peut voir.
Bien que Lizzie prétende que les antagonismes de sa mère ne la touchent point, elle se distancie de sa mère et du reste de la famille. Quand son frère Peter l’appelle spontanément pour lui annoncer qu’il va se marier, la vie de Lizzie change dramatiquement.
La financée de son frère veut réintégrer la réprouvée lesbienne dans la famille. Est-ce que ce désir va mettre en danger tout ce qui est précieux à Lizzie?
Sarah, la fiancée de Lizzie, est enthousiaste à cause de ces changements. Sarah, la romantique éperdue, veut tout, même s’établir avec Lizzie qui est passionnément indépendante.
Est-ce que Lizzie peut-être apprivoisée? Et pourra-t-elle survivre à sa famille et à tous ses secrets?
The German:
Eine verlorene Frau
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Petri hat alles, was man sich wünschen kann. Sie ist reich, schön, intelligent und erfolgreich. Doch nichts von all dem zählt für ihre Mutter. Les-Bisch, ist alles, was ihre Mutter sehen kann.
Obwohl Lizzie betont, daß sie die Feindseligkeiten ihrer Mutter nicht berühren, distanziert sie sich dennoch von ihr und dem Rest der Familie. Als ihr Bruder Peter sie überraschend anruft, um ihr mitzuteilen, daß er heiraten wird, ändert sich Lizzies Leben auf dramatische Weise. Peters Verlobte möchte die ausgestoßene Lesbe wieder in den Schoß der Familie zurückführen. Wird dieser Wunsch dazu führen, daß Lizzie alles, was ihr lieb ist, verliert?
Sarah, Lizzies Verlobte, ist ekstatisch über die Veränderungen in Lizzies Leben. Sarah, die hoffnungslose Romantikerin, will alles, auch sich mit der leidenschaftlich unabhängigen Lizzie niederlassen.
Kann Lizzie gezähmt werden? Wird sie ihre Familie und all deren Geheimnisse überstehen?
Before I go I wanted to mention a couple of announcements.
I’ve mentioned to a few of you in my comments that it took six years for The Better Half and I to go on our second date. Not kidding, six years. Today on Dangled Carat. I write about why.
And Hilary from Feeling Beachie has written a lovely review of my novel, A Woman Lost. In case you can’t get the link to work copy and paste into your browser: http://www.feelingbeachie.com/a-woman-lost-a-friend-found/
Have a great day everyone!
50 Year Project 
What a sweet sweet thing that Caroline did for you! But not surprising. It is easy to do nice things for nice people. I would like to think that there are more of “us” out there than the meanies. 🙂
Blogging is proving to me that maybe the nice folks do out number the meanies. I’m not a fan of mean people. I think I have a sticker somewhere that says, “Mean people suck.”
Mean people do suck. I totally agree!!!
Thnaks for the kind words, TBM. It was a spontaneous idea and that’s often a good thing. 🙂 I agree, there are so many nice bloggers, it really took me by surprise as well.
Thank you. It really made my day when you sent the translations. And bloggers are special people who make me smile every day. It’s a nice place to meet others from all over and to feel connected to the world.
I couldn’t agree more with your reasons for blogging. I started blogging on a whim, truly believing that it wouldn’t last more than maybe a month, but as my blogging family grew, i began to realize that these new friends were just as important as my non-blogging friends, maybe even more so. We all seem to have so much in common, and the support I receive and thoughfulness I have experienced is second to none. Thanks for being my blogging friend TBM :).
And thank you. Can’t imagine a Friday without the mystery photo to prove I’m an idiot 🙂 Well, to reinforce that I’m an idiot-there’s proof every day of the week.
You’re not an idiot!!! You have to keep in mind that if I was on the other side of this game, I would probably not be able to guess any of the mystery photos either :).
Well, maybe you should think of that this week.
Why don’t you do a guest appearance on mystery photo day and submit this week’s photo? Email a mystery photo to me, and I will give all credit to you :). Then I will have to guess this week as well!
I have thought about that a lot and each time I can’t think of a thing to photograph. Don’t know how you do it, really.
I have to admit, it’s getting more and more difficult each week coming up with an idea. I’ve posted a mystery photos every single Friday for 89 weeks in a row, and I’m seriously running out of ideas :).
Let me see what I can come up with.
Okey dokey 🙂
i’m glad i found you. your posts and comments and the folks who comment here form a comfortable community, and i’ve always felt welcome. that’s a wonderful thing you’ve provided.
Thanks so much for such a nice comment. And I learn how many sci fi movies I need to watch from your blog. I’m so far behind, but I love a good challenge 🙂
Blogging is the most amazing thing and I’ve met so many fab people 🙂
I agree with you, Gilly. The bloggers make it special.
That’s definitely part of the reason I blog as well. I love all the connections I’ve made and the chance to express myself in my own way – words, pics, etc – knowing that as surprising as it seems there are people who are interested in what I have to say!!! 🙂
I’m well into the book now and can’t wait to finish… reviews should be coming within the next few weeks!!!
I love following you and your busy family on all of your adventures. And you keep me connected to the US. That helps when I love in London. Nice to pop in and see what’s going on back home. Thanks for taking the time to read the novel–looking forward to reading the review.
Nice translation, couldn’t have done it any better myself 😉
Good to know! And it was such a wonderful surprise.
I truly admire self-published authors especially when they too are avid bloggers. Good luck with all your other goals and thank you for inspiring me. I’ve been visiting your blog looking for motivation every time I feel I haven’t been paying much attention on my bucket list.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment. How is the bucket list coming along? I’ve learned to take little steps and hope for the best.
You’re so welcome. I posted my version of a bucket list on my blog awhile back but I’m in the process of adding some more to it. Any suggestions?
My only advice is do things that make you happy.
Advice taken. 🙂
It’s all we can do really. enjoy!
Blogging has been an adventure, a delightful surprise. Who knew?
I feel bad for those who don’t blog.
beyond what blogging has done for you, what your blog has done for those of us who follow you is pretty wonderful. it’s a pleasure to get to know you.
And I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and taking part in your food adventures.
Blogging is the best thing I’ve ever done, I’ve met people I wouldn’t have, otherwise. And like you, I’ve learned a lot along the way.
I’m really amazed by how much it has enriched my life. And meeting wonderful people like yourself makes it all worth it.
Caroline is amazing, isn’t she? I can’t imagine not being in the blogosphere. Bloggers are the best!
I’m the first commenter? That’s kind of unusual….hope your comments aren’t messed up.
I ended up going to dinner last night so it took me longer than normal to approve the comments. And, yes, Caroline is wonderful. I’m so glad I met her and you!
Me too!
Like you I get asked why do I blog… only this morning I got comments on a post I did nearly a year ago about the 9/11 of Rhodesia when two of our Viscounts got shot out the sky by terrorists.. and to receive comments now because a person was searching on Google and came across my blog is reason enough to continue… not that I was expecting it but it linked two people from years back via my post… if a post can bring a little laughter, or spark a memory, for that matter maybe even educate someone in some small way, then I have achieved more than I ever expected to… After all I only started so that the family could keep up with what I was up to… blogging is magic in some small way… and I agree it links so many in such a nice way…
I completely agree with you. Connecting with so many from all over the world and sharing pieces of our lives and experiences with others is fantastic. I learn so much from bloggers from all over and I value my blogging connections and friends. Thanks for making it special for me.
Lovely post TBM . So true what you say .
I never expected to ‘meet’ so many genuinely nice people through blogging … but it happened and I am both surprised and so pleased in equal measures 🙂
Have a great week !
Thanks, Poppy. I’m glad we met. Meeting so many wonderful people really makes blogging special.
Beautiful post, TBM! Enjoyed reading it. It has been wonderful to get to know you through your blog and follow your reading and travel and pub adventures. And seeing pictures of Miles and Atticus 🙂 Caroline is definitely one of the nicest bloggers around. Your comment that she knows oodles of languages made me smile 🙂 She is an inspiration for the rest of us on that front.
I love reading your wonderful reviews, Vishy. Caroline has always been so supportive and I met you via her blog so that’s another benefit 🙂
Thanks TBM 🙂 Yes, making new blogfriends through our present blogfriends is always wonderful.
I love it and makes it easier to find bloggers that have the same interests.
I agree, blogging has opened up a whole world of new friends who encourage, support, advise and make me smile (like you)!
And you have always been so supportive. Thank you. I hope all is well with your family.
Thaks, we’re going through it a bit right now, but still smiling 🙂
My thoughts are with you.
Your post on Dangled Carat is great. Reminds me of a story…nah, that’s for my blog. 🙂
Have you posted your story on your blog? Would love to read it.
Not in full gory detail…
Where can I find it?
Ah, there is the rub…My poor old brain can’t remember. You have my promise that I will write it up with the month
When you do, let me know. Would love to know more!
I am sputtering a bit on my own blogging but I love to read blogs and meet new people! Who knew it would be such a great way to find people that are so nice and so much fun. I always love the comment section on blogs, you can have a party there.. 🙂 Nice post TBM!
I love your thinking that the comment section is like a party. Yes!
Cheers to your words about the blogging community because they keep me going!
I’m right there with you, raising my beer (I mean water) now. Cheers!
That’s one of the reasons I keep blogging, even though sometimes I think I should stop: I think I would miss you all too much. The best part about blogging is the interaction and response from other bloggers. I love having new friends all around the world. I think of you and others often…like I wonder what TB is doing now? Maybe getting a beer at some cool pub. Ha. Does that sound stalkerish? 🙂
Stalkerish–love it. Odds are I may be in pub, but there are so many here so it would be hard to guess. Unless you really are a stalker 🙂 And I know what you mean. I often wonder what bloggers are up to in their cities. it’s a wonderful way to get to know people and the world.
The blogging community is what keeps me coming back, even (and especially) when life gets stressful. 🙂
I agree, Grace. they are so supportive and always willing to listen during the good and bad.
Awesome. I’m so glad you continued on a three-year stretch, otherwise I would have never met you 🙂 Keep writing, keep chronicling, keep snapping photos. You’re good at it and maybe your second book will come out sooner than you think 🙂
Thanks, TG! I’m so glad we met. you keep me laughing with your adventures and the adventures of the little Guats.
There are bloggers and non-bloggers and non-bloggers I am now convinced will never understand blogging and the friendships formed.
I think you’re right, which is sad. I love it and want to share the happiness with everyone.
Oh and the link to Feeling Beachy doesn’t work
😦
Sorry about that. I updated and added the address so people can copy and paste the address into their browser. Not sure why my computer is giving me fits about that one link.
Me too!
🙂
blogging has connected me to different people in every part of the world (with internet). It has definitely shown me that there are more things to explore and eat :).
I am very lazy when it comes to writing but meeting some really nice bloggers and getting some positive comments have really given me motivation. The laziness will never go away but with really awesome bloggers, like you , out there, I think I will not stop blogging for hopefully a very long time 🙂
I love popping in on your blog and I hope you do keep it up. Like you said, it’s great to connect with people from all over. And true, not sure there is a cure for laziness–I suffer from it as well 🙂