The world must have "big picture" people, and I am thankful to be one. However, the problem with being a "big picture" person is you see so much to be done all at once. It has gotten me in over my head my entire life. One of the many, many things I had on my "to do" list when fibroLIFE© was booming in Paducah, KY, was developing network of FMS and related illness bloggers. There was no way our little group of volunteers could do all we were doing and accomplish that too. It does make me smile, however, to see that it was obviously a very good idea... I am so pleased to announce that I am now a PROUD member of Chronic Illness Bloggers Network! Chronic Illness Bloggers is the brainchild of Julie Ryan, of CountingMySpoons.com.
I was aware of CountingMySpoons.com and Julie Ryan, however we had never been in touch and I was not at all aware of Chronic Illness Bloggers Network until my friend, Celeste Cooper, told me I should discuss an idea I had with Julie. If Celeste suggests it, I usually do it, so I thought I would re-acquaint myself with Julie's work. That is when I stumbled across the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network. My co-director, Kathy Keeney, returning to work in the real world, and then our move from Paducah, KY, to Vicksburg, MS, had really played havoc with my fibroLIFE-related efforts. After several false-starts, I had only recently found my footing again. I was so excited and wanted to join the network immediately. You cannot imagine my disappointment--and shock--when I did not meet the minimum requirements! I had not been blogging again, consistently, for three months. I was floored! All the years I have been online, active in what I call "Fibro-world", and I had allowed myself to become so irrelevant that I did not qualify to be a part of a group much like one that I had envisioned years before! I will tell you, that was a low moment for me. Well, Celeste was right: I did need to connect with Julie Ryan, but there was no way I was going to approach this brilliant lady until I was qualified to join her network! I really only had to wait about six weeks--maybe less--but it seemed like an eternity! I must admit, however, there were days that I think the challenge kept me plugging away at putting out new blog posts in spite of feeling badly. Finally, the time arrived, I applied, and, as they say, "The rest is history!" No...actually, it is NOT history! This is an important part of my new beginning. The blogging world has "grown up" while I was floundering, and I am learning new things daily from the network members. I am discovering very talented bloggers with a variety of styles and approaches, which are inspiring me--and challenging me a bit too! I am also meeting new people in the Fibro-world. Not only do I benefit, but you, my readers do as well. Not only will I grow as a blogger, but I am sharing posts from my fellow network members on my facebook pages and my Twitter feed. Please, read them and start following them as well. These fellow bloggers--as you know, I call them all fibroVOICES--are working hard, each in their own way, to help everyone facing a fibroLIFE. They have much to share that we can all learn from, and I am sure that they too are encouraged when they see that their posts have been read, and especially when someone takes the time to comment. Obviously a "big picture" person herself, Julie has also been generous with her valuable time and help. I am also enjoying interacting with the other bloggers! While I am still feeling-my-way as the new, yet old, blogger-on-the-block, in just a few short days I have become 100% sure that I am blessed to have been accepted into this network of bloggers.
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