I got tagged by the fabulous Diane Aurit (Hi, Diane!) to pick a “Hidden Gem” from the ranks of AR. This was started by our lovely Melissa Grant (And Hello, Melissa!) to try to help draw attention to some of the lesser-known but deserving AR bloggers.
This is really, really hard. Believe it or not, writing a Meme is easier!! (Seriously!) There are so many people that I admire and like here that it’s a VERY difficult thing to pick just one! I have a list of about 100 that I’d like to just print and say, “Here, read these.”
But when I sat and let myself just go quiet for a second, there was really only one choice.
My “Hidden Gem in the Rain” is Lysa Napolitano.
Lysa is an amazing person, caring and knowledgeable and FUN. The way she writes would be a good lesson to nearly everyone in AR – she writes about what has meaning for her.
She’s not trying to write about what she thinks you want to hear and hope it comes out OK. She writes about what she loves, and in reading her blog I feel like I’ve been offered a chair and asked to stay a while. She’s not fishing for business, she’s just communicating with people who share her interests.
This is an important thing for you to understand: Do not try to please everyone. Just being who you are is a niche all it’s own. Writing about topics that have meaning for you will connect you with people you’ll enjoy talking to and possibly even working with. Your blog does not have a formula you have to obey – follow Lysa’s lead and write about what you love.
From Lysa I have learned all about Florida wildlife. (Little One is using Lysa as a reference in a report at school this very afternoon, and is so impressed that I have a friend who knows all about whale watching!) Her pictures are amazing. Imagine the patience she must have!
Lysa speaks honestly about her past, exposing personal pains in the hopes of helping someone else. She has a true volunteer’s heart, knowing that it’s enough to help even if you don’t see the results. I believe that she has touched many hearts through her words. She writes about riding, fundraisers, protecting children and her own experiences moving. We know her pets, her favorite hangout and her Sweetie. (Does Steve mind if I refer to him as Sweetie?)
Lysa just does it RIGHT.
The pictures below are Lysa's and are used with her permission. (I asked and she gave without even knowing why I wanted them, you see how sweet this girl is?) Click the pictures to go to their corresponding posts. The graphic is Lysa and me on the MV Sparrow, which is currently traveling from Danger Bay to visit actual Active Rain members in their towns. This graphic is used with permission from Jack Boardman of the New Codgers.
And I suppose I'm supposed to tag two more people to write about their Hidden Gems. I choose Brande Bradford and Harold Watts. Go on, get to work! :)
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