Blogging is the Family We Never Had

The feeling we get from being in a community, or group of people with similar goals or interests, gives us an enthusiasm that we rarely find elsewhere. It's assuring to talk to other people who share our beliefs or have gone through similar experiences. We get that same feeling from family, being together as children and sharing our different experiences with each other and then as we grow and we continue to keep those relationships.

And blogging gives us that community as well. More so than a chamber of commerce or social gathering, and in some ways, even more so than family. Because blogging gives us honest feedback, anonymous feedback (when not on Active Rain) and an enormous support group where we can share, commend, gossip, criticise, laugh with/at and otherwise be together. And because we aren't related- there is a (sometimes) higher level of respect for each other. We don't know all of each other's weaknesses and vulnerabilities so they aren't an issue.

In some ways Active Rain is like a big chat room, but there's a place and purpose for that in our lives. And I think real estate people especially appreciate having this sort of network because of the special situations and pressures we feel being in our profession. Sometimes it's good to hear someone else say it's okay to feel that way or learn how to be more successful from people from all over the country in different markets.

Isn't that why we enjoy going to national conventions? It's why I like going- so I can meet people from all over and share ideas with them. Most people I meet at conventions aren't afraid to tell me their secrets because I'm in a different market so they aren't competing with me. Blogging, and Active Rain, gives us that same connection. I've learned a lot through blogging and it's opened some doors for me and I've met some pretty cool people through it. People that I've felt comfortable with because we could talk about things that interested all of us and mattered to us. People that I've come to know through words, ideas, and sharing experiences.

And sometimes that's as good as family...