Blogging 201 Reconnect with old blogging friends

When I began blogging in April of 2006, I thought it was just like an online journal. A repository of my thoughts and an escape in many ways from the stresses of academic life. But as time went by, I wrote more, participated in Blogathon, started to meet people, joined the Vancouver Blogger Meetup (which I am currently the Organizer of) and consolidated a visible position in the Vancouver blogosphere. But I’ve never forgotten how I started nor have I forgotten my blogging buddies, those whose sites I began reading and whose leadership I followed.

The other day, I took some time to go and visit my long-time friends’ blogs. And as I was reflecting on “what will I write next for the Blogger 201 series” I figured that I would remind myself and others that yes, even though my blog is now a bit more popular, I never forget how important my friends are in my mind, and I do make a concerted effort to go and drop a comment, just to say “hey, I’m still here, even if I haven’t seen you in months… you’re still in my thoughts”.

Of course, bear in mind that I now count my blogging friends by the dozens, so it takes me a while to go and visit everyone. But I’ll definitely get to everyone. So my Blogging 201 advice this week is … remember to make an effort to reconnect with old blogging friends. I found it cathartic and extremely positive. Seeing what my good friends are up to gave me again the energy to continue blogging. Because as I said before “blogging is what brought us together… it’s up to us to keep the relationship alive”.

Related posts:

1. Use an offline blogging tool (Blogging 201)
2. Blogging 201 – Leave meaningful comments
3. Reputation, academia and blogging
4. RockBand-ing with friends
5. New friends online: Adapting to the “new normal”