Link Love

I spend a lot of time online. Work, in the construction business slowed quite a bit, leaving me chunks of free time at work. Time that I *have* to be there, but I have nothing to do. So, today I'm going to share a few of my favorite places with you... starting with a contest I entered and I'd *ahem* love if you'd vote! http://www.artistswanted.org/robynsart

I spend time on twitter, where I'm robynsart, on facebook, quite a bit of time on etsy, and then I hop around to my friend's blogs.

Where I go depends on the day... but I often visit my friend Connie at Dirty Footprints. If you click on her link at the top for workshops, you'll be able to read all about her amazing Love Letters Art Journaling Class!

I go visit my friend Ryan... she's a local girl here and a business-minded guru.

Sometimes I go to my friend Theresa's place.

Oh, I also go to Craigs List to search for calls to art, and our local Art Council... where do YOU spend your time online?

Online Communication.

So... there's some turmoil in my life. Some family crap going on. I reacted to a comment, and now I'm being told that comment meant something completely different. My reaction was to delete it. So now... I'm the bad guy. I love family. In the end, this disagreement won't matter. One among many in a lifetime.

It does bring up one thing though. It's very difficult to know exactly how someone means anything they say. Same with text messages. You cannot really convey inflections. How many times have you emailed, IM'd, or texted someone, only to get back the most bizarre response because they didn't understand your original message?

That happened with me a couple weeks ago. A work friend sent a text to me. I responded, but apparently he didn't think my response was... excited enough, real, non-sarcastic, whatever. So then I got a barrage of messages and I was left sitting there thinking WTH.

Anyway... I will try to do better with my online (or text) correspondences. Or I will use voice communication more often. I will wait to discuss the current situation though because it's way too inflamed right now.

As you communicate today... try to be clear.

Not real?? Puh-lease

I have made some amazing friends online. A soul-sister that I never knew I had til she completed me. I've been with online friends through illness, pregnancy, childbirth, heartache, and now chemo... yet I do know people who would disregard any connection made online as 'not real'.

That would be the same as saying my business is not real because it's online. But, as I'm very near 200 sales, I can assure you that it is indeed real. Just as these friendships are... these people have touched my heart in ways I never knew possible. I've learned a lot of people skills, actually. And they do carry over into real life.

I'm in a forum on etsy where we always encourage one another, we help each other through... my family, I call it... and I've learned how to FEEL more (I was very good at having a hard outer protective shell). I've learned how to trust and how to reach out. And most of all, I've learned how to reach out and help others up.

I learn through conversations with my online friends that I miss my family and must call them. I learn that if I am struggling, I can lean on them. If I need a shoulder to cry on, they are there and I don't even have to worry about getting makeup on their shirts!

I am rambling now... just wanted to say to my online friends.... I love you guys and I'm so thankful for our very real relationships...