Today 1000 plus bloggers will join their voices talking about compassion. My voice will be amongst them. I wanted to write something profound, but nothing came to me. I wanted to write something that might spark change, but my mind went blank. There are so many places where compassion is lacking – the way we treat refugees, the way we treat the mentally ill, the way we treat people who might look or act differently, the way we treat our earth, the way we treat our elders, the way we treat the original caretakers of our country, the way we treat ourselves: the list is seemingly endless. Compassion is something that is so sorely needed in so many arenas. But somewhere I see so much compassion is within the blogging community.
There are blogs that have compassion at their very centre – blogs that reach out to the broken-hearted, the disenfranchised, the marginalised and the misunderstood. Blogs that offer safe spaces and the relief of unspoken feelings articulated. Blogs that use the power of the internet – the contraction of distance – to connect people with similar experiences and like minds.
There are bloggers that write with fierce passion about areas that need our compassion. Who bring light to issues that would otherwise remain obscured. The mainstream media in Australia has a narrow focus and an even narrower perspective. Within the blogging community, there are those that are bringing important issues into focus. I think this is such an important aspect to social media in general. And whilst some may call it electronic graffiti, I see real people inspiring real change.
The food bloggers, the artistic bloggers, the tutorial bloggers, the bloggers that reveal their heart – all of them are generously putting kindness back into the world. There are some blogs you read that simply restore your faith in humanity. There are some blogs that encourage you do things you might not have otherwise tried. There are bloggers that create projects that allow you to be a part of something bigger. I see compassion and a strong desire to make the world better in all of it.
A blogger had to be away from her blog for a while but she was scared to leave it without content. People came forward and offered to mind her blog for her – to feed it with guest posts whilst she was away. Within the blogging social groups, there is kindness and advice exchanged in equal measure. There are online friends that rally around those going through dark places. When the sucky blog things happen – trolls, copy cats and hackers – Oh My! – other bloggers come to the rescue, with advice, encouragement and virtual cups of tea.
When we first began our foray into the world of blogging with a capital B, it was overwhelming to realise just how large the blogosphere was. I was half expecting to be told “Party’s full – bugger off”. But the blogging community welcomed us with open arms and kind words. When we did the Blog with Pip course, we expected to learn things about blogging, we didn’t expect to be a part of a close-knit online community of compassionate and creative hearts.
We often hear about the negative online experience. We are warned against bullying, identity theft and online predators. The online news is often tragic, with bad news more attractive click-bait than it’s uplifting counter-part. Popular articles about blogging alternately herald its death, make it out to be online blood sport or describe it as waste of time. In amidst that negativity, it’s nice to reflect on the goodness that is occurring within the blogging community. The compassionate hearts. The brave souls. The voices that promote discussion and open our eyes to new ways of seeing things. A community that has reminded me what kindness is all about.
This is a lovely reflection on what the blogging community is like, all of it very true.
It is a lovely place to be a part of xxx
Yes! The blogging community we are part of has kindess in spades. 🙂 I love the way everyone rallies around and turns social media commentary into a work of heart. It is so encouraging, on a personal level and for the future of society. It encourages me when I feel sad about the state of things. There is a lot of good in the world when you participate in community.
And yes, I have participated in the #1000speak movement! Here is my post:
http://rachelfaithcox.com/simple-act-noticing/
Thanks for sharing your post Rachel – it’s so important that we don’t turn away and that we do help each other out. Lots of kindness in the blogosphere.
Agreed Robyna – this is a great way to look at the topic of compassion! Definitely got me thinking (and a little more appreciative for how great the blogging community is!) x
Thanks – I was a bit worried that it wasn’t as life and soul changing as things others will write about, but I think it’s nice to reflect on the good things in our lives too.
Beautiful written words capturing the essence of the blogging world! The Mummy and the Minx is among the most compassionate of them all Xx Great post! 🙂
You, as always, are too kind Sandra. You are definitely the kind of blogger that makes the blogosphere an all-round nice place!
Awww thank you. Kindness and compassion – why wouldn’t you want to have it in your life hey! xoxo
Much love to the blogging community! It truly is a wonderful support group!
It truly is. Thank you so much for popping by!
Oh naughty that I haven’t heard of voice for compassion, as I’d consider myself quite compassionate. I love your thoughts on the bloggy world. Stay warm and dry and safe up there!
Thanks Emily – you ARE definitely compassionate, and one of the very welcoming, lovely bloggers I wrote about. It’s just rather soggy right now – great writing and procrastinating weather 🙂
Love this! I’m fairly new to the blogging world but I have already met some pretty amazing bloggers who have been so warm and welcoming and COMPASSIONATE. Great post!
I know – what a great bunch right? Thanks for reading and stopping by.
I never understood what blogger were banging on about when they talked about community, until I became a part of that community. I absolutely LOVE your take on it all and agree with all of it – aren’t we lucky too to be a part of one of the kindest and most lovely parts of that broader community with Blog With Pip. The BEST. x
I felt the same thing – I sort of wondered what this bloggy tribe business was all about and then Blog with Pip happened and it all fell into place! Very lucky to be a part of it.
What a beautiful post! You have written it so well and described the blogging world to a tea! I have been blown away by the friendliness and eagerness to help others – and the big virtual hugs that other bloggers will offer.
Thanks Lauren – sending you a big virtual hug you clever thing.
I love the encouragement, the help & advice, the open welcoming arms of the blogging community. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed & intimidated with all the other ‘big’ blogs out there, but their writers are all just normal, fabulous people. If only everyone was as welcoming to the marginalized & excluded.
I know right? The “big” bloggers are just as amazingly generous with the time and wisdom as everyone else. I was surprised and so pleased by that. Such a nice place to be.
What a lovely post. You are so right, bloggers do add the voice that is lacking into the media. And I love guest posts as it means I can let the blog run itself when I am not able to 🙂
Hello! How lovely to have you over here Carly – I just think it’s such a beautiful community – and you one of the shining stars.
A beautiful reflection of the blogging community, and of the value that bloggers add. I really love the blogging community I’ve found myself in – blogging can be a lonely business at times, so it helps to have people around you building you up and helping you gain confidence to keep going and to really open up your heart to the world. Other bloggers definitely help with this.
Thanks Christine – and thank you for hosting one of those lovely communities. xxx.
Great post! And to stay at the start you had no inspiration for compassion! It touched the hearts of humanity and I agree with the idea of blogging creating a community where there is space for no judgement and a place to share a different view point to the mainstream media. May it continue to be this space of compassion. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Anna – I was just a bit worried that everyone else would write deep and life-changing posts and I just wanted to give a shout out to all the beauty & kindness in the blogging community. But it is an important thing, you are right.
I think the blogging community is so unique in that the term “competitor” doesn’t really exist. Two bloggers can blog about the same thing but be blogging besties. I love being part of it!
I know – that’s the amazing thing about it isn’t it? I honestly thought it would be a bit competitive, but I don’t find that at all. If anything I think more bloggers = bigger community = more opportunities. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I have never heard of voice for compassion but absolutely agree we are beyond lucky to part of such a wonderful blogging community. Everyone comes together to help one another instead of trying to knock each other down and be the big wig.
Such a lovely community – and I heard about voice for compassion through one of those lovely communities – such a big, broad, bloggy world!
I love how unique each of the 1000 Voices is! Yours is such an interesting approach – the first I’ve come across who chose to talk about compassion within the blogging community.
Thanks for taking part in 1000 Voices Speak For Compassion and hope you are looking forward to doing it all again on Friday!
Thanks Yvonne – I loved reading all the different perspectives – the big issues and the littler ones – such a wonderful idea.