Thanks, Blogville!

 

 

I'm so busy that we often miss out on Blogville activities.  I just don't have the time, or I'm not aware of them until after they're done and over with.  However, I knew that I had to participate in this one!  Thanks to Murphy and Stanley for hosting this special event. 

Where do I even begin? 

When I first started this blog, I never imagined all the joy it would bring me.  I've made friends with people all across the world that I never would have known existed otherwise. 

I've only had a couple of bad experiences, but nothing near what I know others have dealt with.  And those few negative occurrences are outweighed greatly in all the positives that I've had.

I first got into blogging after I got fired from a really shitty job.  I blogged before then, but it wasn't really a priority.  If I had the time and inclination, I would blog.  If not, then I wouldn't.  Simple as that.  After being fired, I suddenly had excess time on my hands, and I used blogging as an outlet to avoid facing how bleak my life had become. 

I looked for work almost daily, applying everywhere I could.  I applied for jobs I didn't want, jobs that I knew I probably wasn't qualified for, jobs that I desperately wanted, jobs that I knew didn't pay enough to cover the monthly expenses.  Several people in my "real" life gave me extremely bad advice about how to land a job, or made snide remarks about how there must be something wrong with me that no one would hire me after over a year of looking.  No one made those kinds of remarks on my blog.  They may have been thinking it, but they never said it.  And for that, I thank Blogville! 

After having several people offer suggestions to improve my resume, and doing mock interviews with the Department of Labor, and still not getting anywhere, I decided to go back to school.  This seemed so overwhelming to me in the beginning.  And yet, I got nothing but support from Blogville. 

Booker and Asa's mom asked for my address just before Christmas time.  I thought it was because she wanted to send me a Christmas card.  I was shocked to receive a package, and even more shocked to find school supplies!  I remember being asked to post pictures of my outfit and textbooks on the first day of my first and second semester.  It felt good to know that people cared about me. 

Shortly after my first semester, my father passed away.  To this day, I still have friends in my real life who have never once acknowledged his death.  That really hurts, especially since I know that they are aware of it!  Shortly after his passing, I had a few bloggers reach out to me privately to express their sorrow and to share their stories.  That meant so much to me.  I really felt the love from Blogville. 

The thing I most thankful for though?  The friends that I've made.  I'm shy in real life, and don't open up easily.  Yet, I have 130 friends who care enough to follow my blog.  I've laughed with you, I've cried with you, I've experienced your ups and downs, and you experienced mine.  We've felt each other's pain and sorrow, happiness and joy.  Some of you have really inspired me to be a better person, to be a better version of me.   

I'm very thankful that everyone has stuck with me all through school.  I have one more semester to go before graduation.  I'm scared to death about what the future may bring, but also excited.  The best part though?  I know you'll be right there with me every step of the way, pulling for me to succeed, and to be the best me that I can be. 

These are just some of the reasons why I'm so thankful for Blogville!