Tuesday 5 May 2009

Friendships













I was trying to explain blogging to someone the other day and I had so much to say that I found myself saying nothing useful at all. It frustrated me later to think back on the conversation and realize that I didn't articulate what I wanted to express.
My friend Jenn who I used to work with introduced me to blogging. She and I also each had beautiful babies in the same year. Sadly she moved back to Manitoba to be close to family and friends. Miss you guys!

I am not that old but old enough that I lived more than two thirds of my life without the presence of a computer. I actually completed four years of university (including an honours thesis in community psychology) without the use of a computer. I guess that's not as astounding as thinking about Mark Twain or John Steinbeck doing their work!

And when the internet came, I didn't really understand and felt it was out of my reach. I watched shows and read articles and agreed that here we had another medium to corrupt our society, create new types of criminals, encourage sedentary behaviour, steal our childrens' innocence.

But then I went back to school and found that I couldn't function without a computer, without the internet. I learned skills that the university of my day didn't teach me. I began to get a little excited. I found myself embracing it despite my best intentions to see it just as a textbook or a library.

It has become so much more than that.

I used to think of friendship in such typical terms. Someone you grew up with, went to school with, worked with, lived in the same neighbourhood as - had some sort of a physical connection with. And so when I started making friends through blogging, I questioned whether this was 'real' friendship or not. I would probably never meet these people, borrow a cup of sugar or share a bottle of wine.

Most of the people I've met in this community are scattered all over the world (all over the world!!). Someone in Alabama likes me enough to give me an award that claims: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Another person in New York finds it worthy of her time to mention that I have been a friend to her and also awards me a friendship award.

And then there are my friends in Australia, and India and Brazil, and San Francisco and British Columbia and Los Angeles and the United Kingdom - how can I express to you what your comments mean? How much I enjoy reading what you write each day, the pictures you share, the vulnerability you are willing to risk.

I think that along with our advance in technology we have to advance our definition of connection and friendship and neighbour.

I'm thankful for the advances in technology that have brought all of these wonderful friends into my life.

15 comments:

  1. How cool! Obviously you have mastered computer skills, Kim! What a great way to link to people. :D

    I am more than honoured, thank You. It has been my great pleasure to 'meet' you as well. I am assuming, that writing allows the true heart of someone to come forward, without fear of ridicule or censure. Some may hold real life details back, in order to be entertaining. Me?, well I let it ALL hang out. Did you notice? Hee,hee.

    Love to you.xx♥

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  2. Absolutely! You express this so beautifully! Thank you!

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  3. What a wonderful post Kim. I'm consider myself blessed to have found you. I also look forward to our new friendship blossoming!

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  4. Beautiful post Kim.You are absolutely right!Blogging has introduced me to such lovely friends.From all over the world.Its amazing!!

    Love
    Chaitra

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  5. From another Aussie friend, I feel blessed to know you.

    Congratulations on the award my friend!

    BTW that pic of your son in the header is just sooooo cute!

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  6. Perfect timing for you to write this post. I've been mulling over the same kinds of definitions regarding friendships. I find myself talking to my husband about a new friend and I'll have to back up and explain, "she's a blog friend...." He looks at me like I'm a bit strange.

    These new friends have reminded me to use my talents, to be creative, to nurture my faith in God, to appreciate my blessings.

    I now consider my blog friends to be among those blessings.

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  7. I, too, am grateful for the friendships I've made through modern technology.

    Nicely stated. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. One heart, one mind. We're all related in one way or another, now we get to be more involved in more then just the four walls of our homes. There's a lot of grief coming through this technology but hurray! for all it's good.

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  9. good morning Kim, so the world is getting smaller and we now have a sense of there being all sorts of life out there. I was in my mid 30s before learning computers, then went to university - graduated when I was 47 - then learned about the internet and have embraced it 100% - I never knew my neighbors in Houston - lived in the same house 5 years and never met a one.... now I know you.... we say here vita boa - good life.

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  10. Yes, indeed. Though the world is full of evils, it is just as full of beauty, friendships included!

    a friend in Baltimore

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  11. I feel so lucky that I found you through blogging! You're such a sweet wonderful person and a great friend:) This is an added benefit to our technology based world. We can "connect" on so many levels. Thank you for sharing with all of us!

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  12. You described the concept of blog friends perfectly. It's so wonderful to be connected to a network of people all over the world - to get different views and perspectives, different opinions. I love it. :)

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  13. THREE CHEERS FOR THE INTERNET AND FOR BLOGGING! i love it too! :)

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  14. Hi Kim! Miss you too...and our daily chats about books, movies, babies, etc, etc!
    Also very glad that you are a fellow blogger and that I can stay in touch with you and your family in another way.

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  15. Hubby thinks it's funny when I talk about my 'bloggy friends' and how we give each other 'awards' :-) He gets it though, that it's an outlet for me to reach out and have contact with others while cooped up in the house with children who, while I love them dearly, spend a lot of time trying my nerves.

    I had to thank you for stopping by and sharing your 'Cindy the maid' story with me! I needed a good laugh today :-)

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