It’s only been within the last few years that i have felt a part of a community. But not to the fault of others, the fault is exclusively my own. You see, I’m reserved, I’m insecure and also afraid. These are my natural inclinations. “they won’t think I’m smart enough” “I have nothing to offer” and these are just a few of the thoughts that I let fill my head. It is not that I have not been invited to do things with others, women I know have invited to me to their bunko groups, in which I always say “no thank you” that just seems like it would overload me entirely. I have however been a part of women’s Bible study to which I’m usually the quiet one, I don’t open up very much which doesn’t give the other women much to work with. I have always been far more of an observer in this life than a participator. Can that change? Of course it can change but this means I have to change.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU LET PEOPLE IN
I’m happy to say change has happened. I have changed ever so slightly. I found my community in the most unlikely spot, a place I didn’t even realize existed until I joined a photo sharing site in 2009. I began to upload my daily photographs there and it was not immediate by any means, it actually took a few years to build relationships with other photographers. But when I did my world changed. I began to say YES to photo walks near my city with other local photographers but before I said yes to a big group meet up, I first said yes to our very own Meg, in this blog roll. She was the very first “stranger” yet completely not a stranger I met in person within this group of artists. The connection was very real, we already had so much in common and as we opened up with one another we realized our camera’s were not the only thing we shared. It was quite exciting. I mean what person can you meet for the very first time in your life who agrees to lay on the grass and talk about our similarities and then shoot a picture of ourselves doing that kind of peculiar thing but for us….it felt normal. I had found my people.
THE VERY FIRST PERSON I MET IN THE WORLD OF FLICKR
I’m still quite, I’m still an observer but from this tiny step of faith I have met so many other amazing people who share the same love as myself. It’s hard to explain this to some people. It seems strange I know but it’s very real and it has helped me to grow as a person and also as photographer.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU DO THIS WITH? AND THEY THINK IT'S TOTALLY SANE?
I have learned to be a part of a community it means I need to be vulnerable, I have to be honest and I have to be a little bit brave. It’s not the people who were stopping me, it was myself. And now I’m a part of this strange and amazing community of like minded people. They seem to love, just love there is not a judgment over our economic status, or our religious beliefs or even our political point of views. This community just loves.
SOME OF MY PEOPLE
It's an honor to be a part of this blog roll which if you think about it is a community in itself. I always, always love Staci Lee's point of view and I know you will too, she shares her thoughts on community HERE at a Life Developing.