NaBloPoMo: Make...Online Connections!

Carol Graham and I at Horseshoe Bay

Today and tomorrow being a weekend, I can post about anything as part of the NaBloPoMo challenge, though I assume related to or preferably on 'make' as this month's theme. Thus, I will write about making connections online, in terms of the blogging world at least!

I have met a few bloggers online early on through a few blogging challenges and communities. Some have become dear online friends and I truly hope to see them one day, in person. And even though some of them live in India!

One blogging female I connected with online had the most amazing stories - unbelievable! in fact, unbelievably true and of course inspiring, many tragic - along with a number of humorous posts.

I believe (going from memory here) that I initially felt an emotional connection due to her writing style. What I appreciated is that she didn't mince words. She spoke as she saw life or rather, experienced it. Truly remarkable if you read her stories.

You will find that Carol Graham often writes about the loves of her life on her blog, including her husband, children, and her 'babies' or 'other children' known as dogs - she adopts a number of rescue dogs.

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However, I think my first read of her blog post and one that I admired was actually about do's and don'ts about blogging, of all things. I liked what she had to say and how she wrote honestly and matter-of-factly about the topic.

Similar with her post a few days later. And I also appreciated the similar themed blog post. Another of hers that I read was about speaking in public.

However, there was one blog post of hers I believe (as I can't find it tonight) that I could relate to in particular, in terms of past abuse. My sense though was that there was something else, something more regarding feeling a connection to Carol. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

On one of her posts where I commented, adding a relevant or somewhat related blog post in terms of a theme or thread of a theme, Carol responded, "Elly - you are such a brave woman. I am so glad I have connected with you. As you have said, we have a lot in common. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible story."

And now, upon re-reading this tonight - I combed through her blog since last July when I first discovered her online through a blogging community - I find it amusing that I actually said that. That is, that I have a lot in common with Carol.

I'm not sure what made me post such a remark. I do have a couple or a few things in common with her, being abused by a man, being a premie as her daughter was, and being busy, though I'm not sure what else! ;)

I feel somewhat embarrassed by my comment as I think my comment was rather arrogant. In fact, I should be humbled in what Carol overcame!

I certainly do have courage though, albeit a limited amount it seems in comparison. Carol seems to carry this trait to the 'nth degree. I say that because I actually don't know if I could have put up with what she endured. I don't believe I would have had the strength or desire to overcome the things she has experienced in her life time and time (and time and time...) again! Literally!

And yet, I think that that might possibly be the connection that I sense. [Carol if and when you read this, you can let me know your take, your version on this! ;)]

More tomorrow about this amazing miracle-of-a-woman! ;)

How do you make and/or how have you made connections online with bloggers?