What Does ActiveRain Mean To Me?

Not being the computer person so many on this site are, I am not the collage creator that I should be.  But a collage is a collection or combination of various things.

ActiveRain is a collection or combination of various things.  Its composition is of similarities and differences.  This composition is symbiotic, with each component contributing to and benefiting from the whole.

NOW, THAT SOUNDS ESOTERIC AND MEDICINAL, DOESN'T IT!?  I don't mean it to be.  Here is what I think...

Look at this representation of what goes on every day on the AR site:

What is going on here?  It is a beehive of shopping!  And buying and selling!

A few of us open shop every day.  We put our wares out there for all to see.  There is busy-ness with each ware offered.  Many stop by to see what he have put out for consumption.  Some will comment.  And with those who do, the reward is interaction. Everyone stops when they have interest in what is offered, no matter the ware.  There are many groups designed to have even more interaction among those with similar interests.

There is a lot going on!  Too much for anyone to see it all.  The showroom is too huge!  No one has that much time.  There are people we have met often, and others we will never meet!  It is truly the largest shopping mall any of us has ever seen.

Some of the wares are serious and some silly.  Some are personally fashioned and some less so.  Some of the wares are instructional.  Some are informational.  Some are behind closed doors and intended for "Members Only!"  But we are encouraged to express ourselves and we do!  Sometimes philosophically, and other times artistically, even with photo art!  And people stop by our little corner of the showroom to see what we have!  What we have to offer is the thing called BLOG.

And the ActiveRain showroom?

THE ACTIVERAIN SHOWROOM IS THE MOST ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF WARES WITH SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES PERHAPS ON THE INTERNET.  BUT EACH PERSON IS ALSO OFFERING A PIECE OF THEMSELF.  AND WHEN OPENING THAT PIECE OTHERS DEVELOP ATTACHMENTS.  THOSE ATTACHMENTS DEVELOP INTO REGULAR INTERACTION THAT SOMETIMES EXTENDS BEYOND THE SITE!

----->  I often receive phone calls from AR members.  I often make phone calls to AR members.  We speak to each other as friends.

----->  I have done business with AR members.  AR members have done business with me.

----->  When I have met AR members for the first time, we meet with more personal understanding than others who truly meet for the first time!  We have connections!  We have, albeit "cyber" and distant, a relationship that can then blossom a little further.

----->  We have been known to get together in a group from time to time!  It is always for learning, but also for fun.  And we do both.

----->  I have often thought I could drive across the country, staying in the homes of AR members I know for a night without having to use a hotel!

----->  Because of the power of the AR site, my website has gotten more and more exposure as I have contributed my wares to the group.  I get calls all the time from people asking for my help, often from people I do not know and who are not even on the ActiveRain site!  But they have found me on the net. 

----->  But most of all, that exposure has made me money as business has flowed my way as others, members or not of ActiveRain, have read what I have to say and felt my information and knowledge was worthy of hire.

THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS, AFTER ALL, IS BUSINESS!

I AM GLAD TO BE A MEMBER OF SUCH AN ORGANIZATION.  IT HAS HELPED MY BUSINESS, AND MY COMPLETE PERSON, TO DEVELOP IN WAYS I HAD PREVIOUSLY NOT IMAGINED WOULD HAPPEN.

One of my favorite quotes is a thought Michelangelo had at the age of 87.  He died at 93.  His quote regarding that thought is simple:

I AM STILL LEARNING.

And I am.  I have seen his resume!  It is impressive!  Would that my resume would extend to and through so much!  Likely not.  But my resume is changing all the time as I learn and grow and become.

Thank you for helping me toward that end ActiveRain.