Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The Nurturing Nature of Bloggers

Over 1000 bloggers and videographers come together on the 20th of every month to raise their voices for compassion. The #1000 Speak for Compassion topic this month is “Nurturing.” 

I don't usually publish on Monday, so my post is a day late. Other amazing essays on this topic can be read by searching the hashtag #1000Speak.





 The word nurture is defined by the Merriam Webster on-line dictionary as “the care and attention given to someone or something that is growing or developing; to help someone (or something) to grow, develop or succeed.”

Nurturing occurs between parents and children, caregivers and patients, humans and animals, young and old, friends, and co-workers. Nurturing can be a factor in nearly any relationship, and the examples I could have drawn from to write this article are endless. Instead, however, I would like to
recognize an important group of nurturers - the bloggers
who come together to talk/write about compassion each month.

It seems as though the need to nurture is a strong personality trait of many bloggers.  Blogs are often created for the express purpose of helping others.  As a new blogger, when filling out a profile that asked me to state why I blog, I wrote: “I blog because it is a creative outlet where I can publish my writing and photos, and make a difference in the lives of others.”

I became a nurse because I wanted to help others. Even though I am no longer working in a clinical setting, blogging gives me an opportunity to still care for and encourage people, in a different but satisfying way. 

Many blogs provide helpful-hints, tutorials, recipes, stories of inspiration and motivation, financial and health information. Bloggers write about the lessons they have learned, offer words of encouragement, and lend verbal support for a variety of causes.  We tell each other about time saving tips, and share website building tutorials that we have learned. All of this can be considered a form of nurturing.


bloggers, nurturing

The community to which all bloggers belong is a very nurturing environment. I am continually impressed by the immense amount of encouragement, support, friendship and knowledge that is a part of blogging relationships.  Bloggers get to know and care about each other through our writing; and we similarly often interact with our readers through the comments on each post.

Rather than feeling like we are all competing for readership, my experience has been that bloggers work hard to help each other reach larger audiences.  We comment upon, “like,” and share each other's work - to help boost each other’s rankings with the search engines, and to show our admiration for those other bloggers’ work. We look forward to reading each other’s efforts and we trust one another’s advice. We celebrate successes together and commiserate when goals are not reached.

If it were not for this amazing community, it is unlikely that I would still be blogging.  I have learned so much from these peers, and it is their affirmation that has kept me confident enough to keep hitting publish.  Blogger support and friendships can even reach beyond the web. I’ve had the pleasure of getting together with several bloggers (after getting to know them first on-line), and their online personalities have matched who they are in real life very well. 

I am very proud to be a part of this nurturing community.  The purpose of #1000Speak is to “flood the world (online and in real life) with an outpouring of positivity.”  Many bloggers do this, not just on the 20th of every month, but with nearly every post.


Can you think of a time when you have been nurtured by a blogger?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

14 comments :

  1. I too think the blogging community is very nurturing. I like getting to know the writer of a blog through their posts just like I would get to know a friend through conversation. I hadn't thought about the nurturing aspects before reading your post but they're definitely there!

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    1. Thanks for commenting Marie. You are one of those bloggers that I feel I already know a little, even though we have never met!

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  2. Why yes I can. Just a few months ago I was treated to a yummy lunch at the iconic White Spot by a blogger I'd just met "IRL." She and I sat for five hours sharing stories, laughing and becoming friends. Can you guess who that delightful gal was?

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    1. If you had been without other plans, I would have talked you into dinner too!! Can't wait till we can get together again Kelly!

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  3. Wonderful post and true - we are truly nurturers in this realm - I know you have given me so many great tips - I need to learn more and reciprocate as well. :)

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    1. I am so glad that my tips have helped you Marisa - and have no doubt, I have already learned things from you and your blog as well!

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  4. Too many to list. And thank you for being one of them!

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    1. I was say exactly the same thing back to you Diane! If I don't drop in on your blog every day, it is just because life got in the way! And when that happens (like this week) I always check back to see what I have missed!

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  5. I love your take on this nurturing subject Susan, and I agree with you. I started blogging for the writing and creativity, but have stayed with it because of the bloggers I've met - especially you!

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    1. I can't believe my good fortune to have met you within weeks of beginning blogging Lana. It truly made a huge difference in this whole experience for me.

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  6. First off I love your take on this topic and it is absolutely perfect! You are one of the best "nurturers" I know! I love the relationships that I have built over the last year and a half. When you spend as much time as I do pretty much alone these "friendships" grow to mean so much to you. My husband and I were just talking about this last night. When I started I had one best friend and family in my life and now I can say I have friends in Montana, Washington, Canada, California all over the country, the world really! It amazes me how people have treated me and all the friendships I have made, like you! Even my husband who is clueless about this way of life tells people "I don't know much about it, but I can honestly say I have never seen my wife happier than she has been since she started this." What was something that he was suspicious of at first he has come to embrace and take just as serious as I do! Now when I talk about something I read I will say "You know Susan my friend in Montana" or "Lana my friend from Washington" and he knows exactly who I am talking about! I never thought I would see the day!

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    1. Thanks for such a nice compliment Rena. Blogging friendships are very real - I suspect because only bloggers can truly understand what this passion and time commitment is really all about! I'm glad to know that you are there just on the other side of my keyboard :)

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  7. I find the positive comments I receive very encouraging and nurturing. I appreciate every single one of them.

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