The WordPress Community Is As Real As Any Community I’ve Been a Part Of

Blogging, happiness, health related issues, lessons learned, reading 2 Minutes

I just finished reading a heartbreaking post from Sue Vincent, titled The Last Post?. Sue was diagnosed with incurable small cell lung cancer last September,  and spent much of last week in the hospital.

As Sue writes:

“It has been an interesting and informative journey on so many levels as familiar things have been stripped away and a gift of love left in its place… rather like the tooth fairy leaving something of real value in place of a discarded incisor.

And now, for me, comes a time of gratitude, where I look back at what an amazing life I have been granted… “

Sue’s posts for the past several weeks have been nothing short of insightful and inspirational. Her love of writing and reading is obvious.

As I read her latest post, I came to realize just how wonderful the WordPress community is.

Over the past few years, I have become friendly with several bloggers, and during that time I have shared in the same sort of experiences I have experienced with family and friends.

Birthdays, engagements, losing a spouse, retiring, starting a new job, losing a job, graduating, dealing with a sick child or parent, health issues, becoming a grandparent. My friends in the WordPress blogging community have shared such life moments with each other, and the community has laughed, celebrated, encouraged, and commiserated along with them.

Thanks to the talent and passion of my fellow bloggers, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of poetry, photography, birds, and 99-word stories. I’ve learned more about music in the past two years than I learned in the past 50. And I’ve learned how addictive WordPress stats can be 🙂

As a daily blogger, I have more interaction with some of my fellow bloggers than I do with my “real life” friends and neighbors. The blogging community is there every day supporting each other through the highs and the lows.

It has been wonderful to see the blogging community rally around Sue these past few months, but it’s not surprising.

While it is a pleasure to read what my fellow bloggers write, the real joy comes from knowing that you are part of a community that cares for each other, and that like your other friends and family, you can count on them for support when you need it.

Like Sue, I am grateful for the WordPress community.

And I’d encourage you to read her post…

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

Published

48 thoughts on “The WordPress Community Is As Real As Any Community I’ve Been a Part Of”

  1. Well said, Jim. The blogging community here really is a family, in so many ways. Over the past ten years of blogging here, I have seen them move mountains to help or support one of heir own. To be on the receiving end of that is nothing short of incredible.

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply

  2. I agree. In 11 years of blogging, I have gotten to know, and in some cases met,bloggers from around the world. Some of those relationships have become pretty profound. In the event that suddenly I was not able to post, (as in assuming room temperature) one of my daughters has my login credentials to let my blogging tribe that I was no longer among the living.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  3. You’re so right! When I first started my blog I didn’t really have a clue, but one friend in particular helped me so much. We ‘met’ via Twitter, became Facebook friends, and had plans to meet up. Sadly that wasn’t to be, as cancer took her from us at just 45, but she showed me the meaning and importance of the blogging community. I don’t post as frequently as you, but always get that buzz of excitement when a new post lumbers off the presses and I wait to see what my friends think. In these pandemic days I think this has become even more important for us.

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply

      1. It has indeed. It keeps me going in between calls with family.

        Thank you. It seems a bit strange to say I miss someone there wasn’t the chance to meet, but we spoke often and were both looking forward to that first time…

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Couldn’t agree with you more! The WP community has come to mean a lot to me. I have thought often of how even though the majority of my friends on WP I have not met in person, I would deeply miss if something happened to them! The daily interaction has shown that you don’t need to meet someone in person in order to build a great friendship.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  8. What a moving post. That lady is a good writer, in my opinion, and I only wish I had discovered her blog sooner. I envy her composure as she faces the inevitable.

    Like you, I enjoy the WordPress community also. I’ve made a lot of good friends here. In some ways, I think it’s better than a real-world community, while in other ways, maybe not. But like that it’s one part of my life.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  9. Well said, Jim. WordPress has truly become a safe haven for me, and has linked me to so many talented and compassionate people across the globe. So here’s to all of our WP friends—new and old—who bring our ideas to life. 🕊

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  11. Hi Jim, I read Sue’s post yesterday and it is very emotional for me. Sue is one of the first bloggers I met when I started in 2016 and I love her fascinating posts and thoughts. I had planned to try and meet up with her on our next trip to the UK, whenever that ends up being. This is a wonderful community and have gained more support from my on-line friends than my physical ones. Everyone in this community is so giving and there is no meanness or jealousy. It really is amazing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Sue has touched so many people with her words. As I’ve gotten older and had more time to reflect, I find myself thinking more about the responsibility that we all have to make the world a little kinder, gentler, and happier place to live. Sue has done way beyond her part. I’ve only been a part of the WordPress community, but I have been especially glad to have it this last year when I haven’t been able to see my physical friends as much.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. Sue’s post is one of the most moving pieces I have ever read here. Open, honest, and unvarnished in her words about how her life has gained such meaning. I hope I face my own mortality with that kind of strength and love. I am grateful that WP has given me the chance to meet friends like you and I am always thankful for the community we share!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  15. Jim, thanks so much for sharing your heartfelt words about the WP community. The people I have met here have helped me continue to mature in my writing journey. Sue’s post reminds us of all that is good about people. May we continue to see the world as she sees it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. It is hard to imagine that I feel part of a community of people I’ve never met. You have described the feelings I have for the WordPress community perfectly. I wish I’d learned of Sue’s blog earlier. She certainly has a lot of wisdom to share.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Thanks for sharing Jim. I absolutely love the blogging community! There have been a few times I’ve contemplated quitting to focus energy elsewhere, then almost as if the planets are aligning I always seem to get a comment that reminds me why I enjoy writing on my little corner of the web!

    It’s crazy when you mentioned about talking to some people more through wordpress than friends we know in real life – it’s made me realise how little contact I’ve had since lockdown.

    Thank you Jim for sharing your thoughts and showing interest in my writing too!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. thanks for your comment, James. I think the WP community has been quite helpful to many people during the pandemic. It’s been a way to maintain basic human interaction…

      and I always appreciate your comments on my posts!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  18. Sue will be sorely missed… she is a lovely lady who really sees what is Important in this world…a talented wordsmith she will be greatly missed but I am sure that this wonderful blogging community has given her some support so many wonderfully caring people 🙂 x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Beautiful tribute to Sue, Jim. And you are so right; some of my closest friends live in another country. And I feel closer to them than anyone in my ‘physical life’. We are drawn to like-minded people. We have a choice where we’d like to visit, what we like to read, and we find people that we resonate with. The most stunning difference between the people in my life and my far away friends is that the people in my life, have no interest in reading books. How does that even happen? LOL

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. well said, Debby. And you are spot on in terms of having the freedom to choose who and what we want to follow on line. It has been wonderful meeting so many people passionate about writing and reading, and supporting each other…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. The WP community is definitely a real community- maybe not for everyone but for a lot of us. I think WP is the only reason I have been able to connect with so many people I would never have had a chance to meet in real life. Like you said it also becomes a part of your life- I sometimes share things on WP that I don’t even share with people in real life.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment