A Little Something Extra

I’ve been noticing a new trend lately with my readers interacting and chatting with each other through my comments section. I think it is so neat (and I just love the camaraderie) so I decided it was time I broke down and set up my own community. I haven’t wanted to do this yet, mostly out of fear that I would be talking to myself on there (at least with the blog, everyone expects me to be talking to myself! If I set up a community and no one participates though, I think I will kind of feel like the dorky kid who eats lunch alone in third grade!) but I think it’s time. You can either join up through the link I just posted, or through the community widget now on my sidebar. This will be your way to interact with me in an open forum (have questions? Ask away and I will do my best to answer!) as well as to interact with each other. You can discuss recent post topics, ask questions you have relating to your own life, or just tell your story.

I am also going to harp on my in real life friends to get involved as well, because while they are lurking here every single day, they tend to call me and tell me what they think instead of posting. But, they know all of you! I get phone calls more often than you could imagine asking about certain comments and wanting to know more about the person’s story. Just last night (at the house warming party with the boy who I will not be dating anytime soon - nice enough guy, I'm just not interested - he didn't smell though!) Mrs. King and Loo were talking about one of my bloggy BFF’s as though they knew her – it was cracking me up! So, I want you to know them too, because really? I have some of the most incredible friends a girl could hope for, and I think everyone can benefit from knowing them! Plus, they are spread around the country and across the spectrum of single to married with kids, so they can offer all sorts of different perspectives on any number of topics. So ladies, you know who you are (don't make me start naming names!) – sign up and start talking!

And for those of you who are bloggers but have never really heard of blog frog, you absolutely need to check it out. One of my favorite things about these communities is that when you participate your blog photo appears, and right next to your name it says “author of” with a link to your blog. I’m not going to lie; I like seeing that I am the author of just about anything! Makes my insides all warm and fuzzy! Your latest blog posts will also show up under the blog posts tab, giving people new topics to check out all of the time. Plus, if you say something that someone finds interesting, they are likely going to check your blog out and you may just find yourself garnering new readers. Pretty much a win-win for all involved, especially since your playing along will help keep me from feeling like that dorky kid with no one to talk to!

For those women who are following along with no prior concept of blogging, and just here because you connect to my story: This spot is especially for you! Make connections. Talk. Get involved. This is your place to realize that you are not alone, and that you have friends out there who are rooting for you. I am rooting for you!

I’ve got a few topics up right now (just to get the ball rolling), but please feel free to post your own discussions. If you’ve got a question to ask (of me, or of anyone else out there) ask it! I would request that you be respectful of each other though. I am all for an open dialogue and speaking your mind (and as you will likely soon find, I have differing views on a number of topics from some of my best friends – we can argue and still walk away loving each other at the end!) and I believe (really and truly) that you can have a difference of opinion with someone without it getting ugly. I love having serious conversations, and my topics may seem to be hot button topics that encourage debate – that’s because I am encouraging debate! Sometimes I learn the most from the people I disagree with the greatest. But, there is a big difference between debate and personal attacks. Just go into it knowing that if there is anything that crosses the line into just plain cruel, I will have no qualms banning you from participating.

It won't come to that though, right? We're all adults here!