Comm:unity - Lost in Arles

It is very bittersweet for me to announce that this is the final posting for the “By Invitation Only” group, who have been getting together from all over the world to blog about a common theme for five years now. This project was the idea of Marsha Harris at Splenderosa and involves some spectacularly talented women – truly, I was honored to have been asked to participate, especially as I was one of the only members to have a “small” blog when I joined. I have loved linking up with everyone’s different perspectives each month and often tried to come up with something special for BIO in a bendy twisty way that sort of matched the theme – not always easy as I stubbornly make all of my own content! But the result was that some of my favorite, favorite posts have come out of this collaboration such as:
http://lostinarles.blogspot.fr/2012/09/the-weight-of-cricket.html
http://lostinarles.blogspot.fr/2013/09/the-jangle-of-times-keys.html
http://lostinarles.blogspot.fr/2014/04/ten-things-to-take-on-cruise-for-by.html
and just because the timing is so appropriate
http://lostinarles.blogspot.fr/2013/12/snow-on-lavender-fields-christmas.html

For this month, the ever-talented Vicki Archer suggested that we talk about blogging…the highs and the lows…where it is at and where we feel that it is going.

At the end of last October, before my fifth anniversary of blogging here at Lost in Arles, I gave a lot of thought to this subject. I shared some of my thoughts then and was so overwhelmed by your generous responses that I still haven’t caught my breath. You are all most certainly the “high”s (and the “low”s too when you leave, I admit it is something that I will never take lightly) but so is the thrill of a great afternoon passing in the blink of an eye until I wake up after having hit “publish.”

I realize very well that blogging has evolved enormously in these past five years…but at such a rapid rate that I am fairly sure that my “old-school” style of publishing when I want and what I want is also boomeranging back to what is appealing as well. At least those of you that are here – that goes without saying! Authenticity is such an important word to me. A friend recently jokingly called me a “phony” and I thought that my head was going to explode! Being sincere is never out of fashion in my book…

…because through direct (even while virtual) communication we can find unity together.

And I don’t know about you but in this crazy beautiful world I need you all more and more. We are none of us invisible or unimportant.

So finally, a blog that has a sense of community is what is interesting to me today and I honestly think that is the direction that we are headed towards, no matter what the subject matter is finally…

…and I can share a few examples of people who I feel are doing this effortlessly and meaningfully:

http://momastery.com/blog/

http://thebloggess.com/

http://havesomedecorum.blogspot.fr/

In each of these blogs, the readers not only react to the author but also to each other in a really wonderful way. I have always been something of an outsider but being able to make connections through the mind-boggling big-small world is something that I still can’t wrap my head around. But my heart? I am all in.

So as this door is closing, I would just like to say thank you to all of those who have supported or been a part of By Invitation Only. I am extremely proud to have created in the midst of such a fine comm:unity and that I have made quite a friendships out of it too is just the icing on what was a very delicious cake.

To read all of the fantastic posts from my amazing colleagues (and Marsha has requested that we all chime in for this final post), please do click:

http://splenderosa.blogspot.fr/2015/12/by-invitation-only-final-post.html

Thank you, Marsha for an amazing run and Brava!

But you know how the saying goes, yes? When one door closes…another opens…

What about the door above? Curious?

Then stay tuned…

79 comments

I feel privileged that I can freely partake of such beauty that you offer here in your community. Perhaps the love of beauty, the timeworn patina of the old and ancient, the blessings of nature, and, of course, dogs are what bind us in common unity. That photo of the blue shutters and blue berries is fabulous. Wishing you a magical Christmas.

OK, the thing that struck me when I opened your page were the photographs!!!! You have out done yourself. Gorgeous photos. Gorgeous photos, just gorgeous. As a reader I am very sorry to see this group dissolve. Is there no one who wants to take over???????

Hi Heather, like you I am sad and hate change and am often amazed at the world of blogging and how it brings perfect strangers together and keeps us connected, bravo to Marsha! All the best to you this holiday season and cheers to a fabulous 2016!!!!

Oh Heather ….. I am SO sad that our BIO series has ended …. I loved reading everyones take on our monthly given subject and doing my own.
But, I absolutely LOVE your final paragraph and look forward to seeing what's behind all of our new opening doors !!
Here's to continued blogging friendship and I wish you and yours a happy, healthy and magical Christmas. Much love from the UK. XXXX

Dear Heather, my blog friends ( including you!) have been here for me in so many ways, the encouragement, the support, even meeting many of you from coast to coast. We are indeed an incredible group of women who come together in a uniquely special community!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
The Reason for the Season

The community is the best part of blogging, and isn't it wonderful that we can redirect as we feel is right to have that certain connection. Your images are beautiful, especially the blue wooden door and the blue berries, just lovely.

Dear Heather, for one awful moment, I thought you were retiring your blog. I'm over the moon that you are still going to write your beautiful words and post your heart-stopping photographs. Thank you!

I have CHILLS ALL over my BODY!This was THE BEST and YES COMMUNITY……..is what it's all about!If you go to my comments today an ELLIE READER is ASKING me to TWIRL on CHRISTMAS EVE for ELLIE!!!!!!!OF COURSE< I will be TWIRLING…………………..I love the conversations that the responses bring from the COMMENT section!I said, just recently to someone that the COMMeNTS are almost better then the POST on some of my POSTINGS!!!OF COURSE, we have YOU and STEPHEN to THANK for A LOT of it on HAVE SOME DECORUM.Let's hope MORE people will chime in………………and I will GO PEEK at those other TWO BLOGGERS as I do not know them!!!
NOW< where OH where does that DOOR LEAD………………………………..YOUR PHOTOS HERE ARE BEYOND!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
XOXOXO

As always, gorgeous words and photos and you hit the nail on the head about being part of an online community — something you have so skillfully developed here. Happy holidays!

Perfect, Heather and just the right word.. ."community". Community is what blogging is all about and what it will be in the future. There are no right or wrong ways to be in this game and that's what I love… we are our own bosses.. 😉 xxv

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