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

You are a wonderful woman Judi. I am so grateful for our friendship.
xo
h

Thank you fellow Provençale! 😉

Good! I am glad to hear that you are! It is more design-oriented than what I usually share here but a good story nonetheless. Thank you always Edgar for your support…

Thank you, beautiful Marsha…for everything. Do you remember that when you invited me it was with the condition that I make my photos bigger on the page? I didn't know before then that you could! And that alone has changed so much, plus I found so many friends and colleagues through BIO…many new readers came my way and some stayed…and I always enjoyed finding my way through the themes as I could!
Know that I am sending you a lot of love and wishes for an excellent 2016!

Merci R, I am sending you and yours wishes for a very peaceful and beauty-filled holiday season.

I am glad that you like being here! And I am sad too but it seems like it was just naturally at its ending point as well.
I am still trying to take in that my words might be spiritually illuminating. That is an amazing compliment and I thank you for that.

Merci beaucoup, NN!

Oh my, your friendship means a lot to me too, Greet! There are times when I forget that we haven't actually met in person after these past years…hopefully we will take care of that one of these days. And thank you for your lovely compliments…I always look forward to what you offer on your blog (this despite your heavy workload) so if I can return the favor a bit that is wonderful.
Wishing you and your family very Happy Holidays,
Bisous
H

Joan, I feel that way all the time on my friends blogs! Just know that I am so happy that you are here and that you feel this is worth your time. That is more than enough.

It is true, isn't it Jackie? I think that you and I both have really been fortunate to have been found by such wonderful, genuine people…
Will miss BIO too…

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