Time for Five Minute Friday. I am linking up with Lisa Jo Baker. Today our word is FRIEND
GO!
Do you need a friend?? Doesn't it seem like everyone everywhere is crying out loneliness?? Where have all the friends gone? Are we too busy? Are we over stretching? Trying to be too many places and doing too many things at once?
Why do I hear so many women asking for community? How do I foster community? How do I start making friends??
Why can't we just step up first, and BE that friend??
Trust me, you are speaking to a friendless introvert here, I preach to the choir hardcore. But maybe we all need to quit reading SO MANY blogs, and really dedicate ourselves to a few. And then dig in. Comment. Encourage. Get to know each other. Dedicate yourself to replying to your own blog's comments and emails. If we want the community we have to BE the community.
So.
There is that.
Maybe it is too late at night. Maybe I attended too many twitter parties tonight (#intentionalblogger, #inRLMN, and stalked #FMFparty a wee bit) but...
Does anyone want a friend?? Does anyone want community?? Let's start here. Let's slow down. Tune in. Connect. Respond.
Friend.
Perhaps it doesn't happen HERE or THERE......my blog or your blog....but somewhere. Let's start being brave. Let's start opening up. Let's start being real. There is no such thing as too many friends!!
So jump in. Join a community! Here? FMF? Tell me where you are actively seeking friendship!!
STOP
I'm an extrovert who is scared of introverts. Y'all are like butterflies. I'm afraid to touch one because I might scare it.
ReplyDeleteI love FMF. It's a fun group.
I won't run away, lol! But I am not usually the person to approach another person for any reason! Trust me, I still love to talk ;)
DeleteBe the change you want to see... that might definitely bring results :) Thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeleteHere's to hoping!
DeleteLove this..."If we want community, we have to BE the community."
ReplyDeleteFMF is one of my favorite communities...and I found it by accident, though I'm pretty sure it wasn't an accident. :) And as a smaller blogger in this great big bloggy-world, I understand where you're coming from. It takes time to find that niche and those bloggers you want to invest in and form friendships with. I'm always looking for a new friend...and you're welcome at my space anytime! :) Blessings!
I will be making time to stop over for sure! Us little bloggers need to unite!! :D
DeleteOH love this: Why can't we just step up first, and BE that friend??' THAT is what I need to do. BE the first one. It doesn't come naturally, but it's a risk worth taking.
ReplyDeleteBoy Howdy do I know how it doesn't come naturally! Daily I am trying to put myself out there in the blogging world more and more.....so tough but I just try to keep on truckin!
DeleteYes, yes, yes. I think you're right, we need to drop the distance and really foster friendships in this FMF community.
ReplyDeleteFMF has been one of the most welcoming communities I have found yet! soo...WELCOME FRIEND!! :))
DeleteThe "virtual" realm is an interesting place to help "locate" God's presence within (not only find it, but rather, to help bring it). May God guide us as we navigate the cultivation of His presence in our relating in a location that is always in flux. :)
ReplyDeleteI can bring an AMEN to that!
DeleteI love, love, love this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Denise! I hope you are having a Blessed FRIDAY!!
DeleteYou are so right! This is what I'm working on right now. I'm trying to connect with other people but just beginning with FMF for now...we'll see where that leads me...but yes...BE that friend. :)
ReplyDeleteFMF is a great community! I hope after a great 'word' like today's, people will be more willing to stay, plant, and grow instead of comment and run!
DeleteHave a Fantastic FMF!
I want friends. I need friends. I love the online communities and it's so cool to connect in real life as friends.
ReplyDeleteWell Alene, you have yourself a new friend! Hope you don't mind :))
DeleteYou are me. Sort of. Okay I don't mean I'm stealing your identity or anything. heh. I mean I feel the same way. I try to visit blogs so I can make new friends. But I think I need to create a list or a system or something and actually keep track of people and get to know a few. Then maybe people will actually want to be my friend.
ReplyDeleteHey I have an idea. Wanna be my friend?! ;)
The answer: yes! :)
DeleteI too have had the same idea! I am slowly becoming more organized with my blogging, making calendars and such, and creating a list of blogs to comment on regularly has crossed my mind! I follow so many but don't always interact like I should!
Yes! Instead of looking for it, we need to BE it- I love this! Take responsibility and foster friendship. I'm down!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have another friendship warrior!!
DeleteYES! Let's open up and be real. That's all He really asks of us.
ReplyDeleteI like your thoughts, too, on focusing with intention. selecting a few people to pursue. perfect plan!
Thanks, Nikki! I think sometimes we let our scope become to wide in an effort to make a lot of friends instead of, perhaps, fewer great friends.
Deleteyes! Where HAVE all the friends gone? I think people are too caught up in their own lives for community these days (that is..the people I know in real life and not online). I would love more friends, I love meeting new people. Online or otherwise. I think I am an introvert/extrovert combo myself. I get energized by people and love connecting, but typically am not an approacher (in real life). I seek friendship anywhere I find kindred spirits. I loved your post and what you said here. I am one of those bloggers who tries to make community. I don't read that many blogs actually , and instead have become friends with the fewer blogs I read. I try to leave comments on most posts my writing friends write, and I also respond to most every comment left for me at my blog. What I do to keep track of it all is put buttons on my side bar of my bloggy friends and just click on them in my spare time to catch up.
ReplyDeleteStop on by some time if you like. I would love to form community with you (ps. I have a sweet tooth myself).
Thanks for stopping by! I love the "introvert/extrovert" description! I am a horrible approacher and people can exhaust me, yet I still love talking to them and getting to know them! So maybe I have a hidden dash of extrovert in me some place!
DeleteI also love you use of the blogs buttons! Fantastic idea!