There’s a New Link Up in the Blogging World – Wednesday Words & Whimsy

Last Wednesday was the last blogging day for my friend and long time blogger Denyse Whelan. Each week, Denyse hosted Wednesday Words and Pics and I enjoyed the connection with the community of bloggers who regularly linked up their posts. I couldn’t let the day pass without writing my thoughts about this inspirational woman A tribute to my retiring blogging friend, Denyse Whelan

The general feeling from the ‘group’ was one of ‘What will we do on Wednesdays now?’ a feeling of being adrift without the weekly connection. Denyse and her link up had been the glue to keep us all together.

Connection, Creativitiy and Cheerleaders

The blogging world is something that many don’t understand unless they are bloggers themselves. I know that my family and friends don’t really ‘get’ why I blog and I know other bloggers have expressed this experience with those in their inner circle.

Only bloggers will really understand what a ‘Link Up’ (or as some call it a Link Party) is.

Only bloggers will really understand and appreciate the value of blogging and how it can enrich your life in so many ways:

• Blogging is a creative outlet
• Blogging brings people together as a community sharing their thoughts and developing conversations
• Blogging develops friendships which can be just as treasured as ‘in real life’ friendships. I’ve been so fortunate to have met several bloggers over the years and developed lasting friendships with them.
• Blogging provides a voice for our thoughts, ideas and feelings
• Blogging provides cheerleaders – those who blog and those who read the blogs. Our supporters who cheer us on and take the time to comment on our posts. The ones who are there to say ‘it’s okay’ if we write about our vulnerabilities or if we need to take a step back for a time. The ones who remain steadfastly in your corner and are there for your return.

Bloggers I’ve met IRL

I’ve been fortunate to meet up IRL with many bloggers:

Deb from Deb’s World (I’ve met Deb several times and it’s always wonderful to catch up)
Jo from And Anyways
Donna from Retirement Reflections (I met up with Donna when Mike and I were in Canada)
Min from Write of the Middle
Leanne from Cresting the Hill
Kathy from 50 Shades of Age
Deborah from Debbish
Jan from Budget Travel Talk
Jan from Retiring, Not Shy (who invited me to take part in a Fashion shoot)
Natalie from Natalie the Explorer (also during our Canadian trip)

There’s a New Link Up in the Blogging World – Wednesday Words & Whimsy

I was delighted to be part of a group message which I received from Min from Write of the Middle. Min has been in the blogging world for quite a number of years so she felt keenly the diminishing and changes in the blogging world as she has known it. There are bloggers who have gone on to develop a business through their blogs and websites and then there are bloggers who just want to have connection, creativity and cheerleaders in their lives.

Min decided she wanted to step up and fill the void of Wednesday mornings hosting a new link up and I’m happy that she did. Denyse has built a lovely community and Min has now taken the baton and is running with it to keep that community together. We now have new glue keeping us all together and connected – thank you, Min!

Why?

In Min’s words……..

WORDS … because as bloggers, we all love crafting our words and sharing them, or we wouldn’t blog!

&

WHIMSY … because I’ve always been drawn to this word and because it means cool stuff like:

• playfully quaint or fanciful behaviour or humour
• unusual, funny, and pleasant ideas or qualities
• an odd or fanciful or capricious idea

Min – Write of the Middle

The Benefits of a Link up to the Blogger and the Reader

Link ups are great for the participant and the reader. The participant builds connections and friendships and the reader has the opportunity of reading several blogs all in the one place. It’s a great way to discover new bloggers without having to look for them.

I’ll be linking up to Min’s Wednesday Words & Whimsy each week and sharing my Words and Whimsy.

A huge thank you to Min for offering and co-ordinating this link up and I encourage you as readers and/or bloggers to pop over to Min’s blog (and the others who link up) to support her weekly contribution to the blogging world.

The Wednesday Words & Whimsy Logo

Min, who is a talented artist (check her sketches out on her blog) has designed the new logo and you will find it in my sidebar with a link to the Wednesday Words & Whimsy posts.

I enjoyed writing this post as it brought me back to the reasons that I blog, and looking at the photos of bloggers I’ve met IRL has reminded me of the friendships I have made through blogging. This post probably fits into the Words category of Words & Whimsy but I will be investigating Whimsical posts in the future.

In the meantime, in keeping with the whimsy theme you might want to read a recent post I wrote When was the last time you were whimsical?