Life: we're in this together

I am not alone. I know this because so many of the stories I read across the blogosphere have parallels in my own life. The Idea Dude blog explains this phenomenon best in a post titled  “Chicken Soup at Your Doorstep.”

“... this is what the blogosphere is about,” the post asserts. “The digital chicken soup. Real people telling real stories that let everyone else know, we're all more alike than we realize. That we all have tough times and we can inspire each other. Not with fancy words or political rhetoric. Just a simple story about us.”

I first read these words a week ago and I find merit in them every time I find a site filled with the personal stories of someone I've never met ... but yet, somehow, I know. People like Paul Bartoswicz who publishes the Reflections of a Common Man blog. In “Dangerous Journey,” Paul uses a seafaring illustration from his own life to discuss man's need to take risks. Then, within the story, Paul makes the following observation:

“The person who is afraid to enter the dark dank woods, misses the chance to see the wonderful mossy glade with the sunlight filtering down through the trees.

“Man is designed to face the dangers and to thrive on the exhilaration that ensues. For it is through these dangers that we succeed and move on to new levels in our lives.”

I've never experienced adventures at sea like Paul or embarked on my own within a forest, but two years ago I opted for another type of daring-do. I made a career change that reinvigorated my work life. Because of this, I know Paul speaks the truth.

More recently I found common ground in Idadi's blog, Journey Back to Me. Her honest post, “Society Beauty Stigmas: How I Overcame Them” mirrored one of my own concerns, why modern women conform to a single ideal of beauty, one that's unnatural. While Idadi battles the stereotypes surrounding what constitutes beauty in black hair, I confront similar attitudes surrounding hair that's fading to gray. Both of us have gone natural and Idadi is somehow speaking for me with these eloquent words:

“What matters is who I know I AM, and who I AM is a woman who’s learning to love herself from the inside out. Nothing shows that more than accepting myself from the soles of my feet, to the tips of my natural hair.”

Not all stories I read in online are original. Some are re-tellings, but still deliver powerful messages. My favorite this past week has to be “Ice cream for the Soul” as told on the blog, How to Live a More Fulfilling Life. It's the tale of a young girl and the lesson she learns about prayer. The little girl might have been me, oh so many years ago, trying to understand the grown-ups' rules and so willing to share what she'd learned ... with humorous results.

What stories have you to tell this week? Let me know what true life tales you're posting and I'll stop by for a read!

Comments

[Brenda]

Susanno, Paul, Vernon and Idadi, I am so glad that there are bloggers out there like you who contribute meaningful content to the community conversation which is the blogosphere! That type of content is not always easy to find and it doesn't always drive traffic ... which is why I'm now considering launching a sister blog to this one that focuses specifically on the gems (like your posts) that I find out there! Please keep writing! I plan to keep visiting each of your sites!

[Nancy Mehegan]

Love this post. Especially about the sunlight in the mossy glade. Agony & ecstasy are often infused for me. We must push out of comfort zones, but know we have mentors and even a spiritual force to lean on. I just posted a link to you in our post today at http://www.Vaboomer.com a site for Baby boomers who venture forth into reFirement. (instead of retirement)

[b]

Lovely post and oh so true.

Thank you for stopping by. Nice to meet you.

b

[Susanno]

Brenda,

One word for this post and this blog ... "Awesome". Honestly I learn a lot of useful thing here. Love your writing style.

Thanks for inviting me to this awesome place. Be my pleasure if you like to invite me again for your next post. Now allow me to take a look around here to learn another thing.

GBU
Susanno

[Paul Bartoswicz]

I very much enjoyed your post. When I see reference to my blog like this it tells me it is all worth it and that people do read and understand what I am saying. Thank you so very much for the quotes of mine you used.

[Vernon Lun]

Brenda,

This is an amazing post because you had a wonderful idea, found instances that reinforced everything you felt and in the end, created something special.

Generosity is so infectious and the way you shared yourself and others is just some kind of wonderful.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this.

Vern

[Idadi]

OMG! Thank you so much for the shout! Funny thing is, I was thinking yesterday how I could work out a post about your dilemma (which my mother is going through as well), and I wake up to this beautiful surprise!

No you are not alone. One of the great things about life (and sometimes one of the most frustrating *lol*) is that at any given time there is at least one other person experiencing your triumphs or trials and can offer insight on how you can best handle them. Wonderfully, a lot of us are open minded enough to share our lives in hopes that what we experience can help someone else, as was intended, i think.

Again, thank you for the shout. I will make my way to the other sites you suggested very soon.

Blessed Be...
Idadi