As I expressed last Friday, I am extremely grateful for and humbled by all the lovey love you guys have shown me lately. Consequently, I feel like it’s time I gave a little sumin’ sumin’ back. That’s how blog sex favors work, right?
What?
Anyhoosits… a few months ago, I wrote a tribute to some of the funniest posts on the block. Because my heart is in need of a little warming today, I’m going to do something similar… but with posts that have somehow touched me, that were heartfelt, that were clearly difficult to write… but the authors were brave enough to put them out there and share them with us anyway.
So, I hope you likey… I sure did.
My darling Floreta writes a letter to her hypothetical child…
“Take heed, I will let you walk, and I will let you fall. I will let you stumble, then try again. Dear Child, I am terrified of having you and raising you. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is to do things that scare you. Fear is good motivation, but so is love. Together, it is unstoppable. Remember this.”
My favorite poker player, Kali, ponders Cruel Intentions…
“…you know the saying ‘Always Leave Things Better Than You Found Them’? I like to think that goes for people too. So stop playing mindgames. Stop chipping away at people’s self-confidence to make them more manageable. Stop making people second-guess themselves. If you’re with someone and you like them, tell them. Sure it’ll be scary (and this is such a clichéd phrase), but life IS short.”
A newbie to me, but one I’ll definitely visit again… DC Femella wants to know Why Do We Label Each Other?
“Before you start labeling people, and thinking that they are this or that label, think about the reasons you are really doing this. We constantly label people in a negative light due to difference of opinion due to religion, political view, sexual preference, parenting method, etc., but why? Is it to make yourself feel better? And/or feel like they are not like you?”
I’m going to let Chelsea Talks Smack’s title speak for itself: “Trusting is like not knowing how to swim and letting someone DUNK YOU ANYWAY.“
“Whether it’s the beginning of a relationship, or twenty years into one you have to practice that act of pure belief in their words. … Then, how after that “first thing” the first fib, first omission, first lie, first fabrication do you get back to that space when you aren’t terrified of the bottom dropping out?? It’s like handing your sleeping baby over to a person walking a tight rope and saying, “just don’t drop them.” This time, I’m the person, my heart’s the baby and he’s the wire walker.”
Another newbie to me, and damn am I glad this is the first post I read from her. justatitch frankly, yet respectfully, discusses the demise of her young marriage.
“Divorce rips your heart out. Divorce hurts in a way like nothing else. The thing is that it’s not just the end of a relationship; the loss of companionship. It’s the death of being an “us”. The death of hopes and dreams. It’s being estranged from a circle of friends while everyone figures out their “side.” It’s the small stupid things: no more Christmas traditions or having someone to call who knows exactly what you want on your salad and someone to kiss goodnight. And I don’t regret divorcing him. It was, in many ways, the best decision I ever made. It saved me. It saved me from being dead inside.”
Thanks for these, my dears. Thanks for trusting us to listen, support, and not judge.
And I’ll return the schmoop… I promise. (Oooo, look! Foreshadowing!) *wink*
{ 71 comments }
Wearing your heart on your sleeve is brave, but not nearly as much as putting it out there for the world to see…
I just hope that if I do wear my heart on my sleeve, that I will remember to wear my pants too…
chelsea's post is one of my all-time faves. and i love the word schmoop.
That last one, I just discovered to today on 20sb (which is where I found you) and I read her story. Very well written. Worth the read! Moving right along, Can i just say that your header is cute? Okay, anyway, I love the quotes from the other blogs you found for us viewers. Nice job. Keep it up!
Touching words from beautiful, talented writers. I love the schmoop. Thank you Lilu!
Wow, that last excerpt…is like looking at myself one year ago. Yikes.
Kali's and Chelsea's posts are hitting home like whoa.
Oof.
Thanks for sharing these, lovey.
We all have to take a break from the funny sometimes. Personally, I love these posts because they let someone (even if it's not me) know that he or she is not alone. I think that's one of the best parts about the blogging community.
Chelsea's is just a little too true for me lately.
I really love posts like this it opens my blogging world up a tad bit more
Kali makes one DAMN good point.
I liked this post. It was really nice to see what YOU have been interested in reading.
..would have liked it much better if MY posts were in there.
Just kidding.
Foreshadowing is fun =)
sadly, I cannot bring myself to read any of these right now as I fear tears would keep me from going to work today ..lol. schmoop
Thank you so much for the love!!!! Coming from someone with an amazing blog, that is more than a compliment. =D
Those are all awesome! Thanks for sharing!!! More people to love!
Thank you for sharing with us!!! I already read chelsea, but thanks for turning me on to two great new blogs!
xoxo, Lis
BlogSex Favors save us all from STD's.
Continue the good fight.
You really do link to some amazing writers.
trying so hard to hand my baby over to a tightrope walker again, but not doing so well.
that metaphore worked a LOT better when chelsea used it.
You're right.
I laughed, I cried, I masturbated furiously.
No different than any other day, really.
Great post!!!
those were some awesome blog posts. =) they put a smile on my face, && my heart is fuzzier than fuzzy wuzzy the bear. thank you for sharing. =)
i'm really super flattered for the mention
will have to check out the other fabulous bloggers!
All quite phenomenal writing. It blows my mind the way that bloggers, personal bloggers, have started to band together into little supportive communities. It's obvious when you realize that real people are putting such intimate, meaningful, difficult feelings out there for us to read that there really is an important exchange going on between all of us.
I really like the format of this post.
Cool idea, lady.
Those were some nice shout outs, I think I need to start appreciating my bloggy friends now. Why am I being so emotional today? I must still be drunk…LOL
very, very brave.
I have not yet said much about myself on my blog…it can be scary.
This was awesome. Reader's Digest for the Blogosphere: Heartstring Edition.
<3
We are in the company of some damn brave souls, no?
My girly side was awakened.
Back to the pizza and beer that has become my daily practice since I've been unemployed.
LiLu I dont know how i came across your blog but now I know why I stayed! I get something out of every single blog you write. I seriously cant click your name quick enough when I open my reader… Thanks girl!
-KS
Thanks for the links — good stuff!
Signed,
Not a Turd Monkey
this is a fantastic post and now i'm off to check the link out. thank you.
Thanks! I'll be sure to read more from these bloggers… since they use real words and don't have a lot of photos of girls, so it might take a while for me to get around to it.
The DC corner of the blogosphere *would* be the best place for blog sex favors to circulate. Can I pick mine up at the Mayflower?
Also, thanks for sharing these new-to-me bloggers!
I love finding new blogs. I will check these out!
I was going to comment on that excerpt about divorce and how i re-read it five times and how clearly it spoke to me, but I can't get my mind off "bird shit and baby caca" up there. I had forgotten all about caca.
LiLu, this was a great post, thanks so much for sharing!
Wow, I'm beyond honored. Thank you so much! It's an honor to be mentioned, especially among other fabulous writers. So glad we found one another!
Ohhh those are all delightfully well written and very deep. Thanks for sharing.
Shawna's Study Abroad
Thanks for the schmoop links! I also love me some warm and fuzzies, but I don't know that I've ever written anything schmoopy on my blog. I mean, my boyfriend and roommates read it!
Must… not… reveal… weak points… in… armour of anger and sarcasm.
I don't know why I've not managed to pop by your blog before but I'll certainly be back – loving it!
I'll definitely be checking out these links too.
They are saying what they mean and meaning what they say…
Wishing clear skies and pool weather your way.
Dammit, I'm channelling
Dr. Seuss today. :\
Hi, LiLu,
Thank you for that. Thanks for acknowledging that there is value in opening up in a genuine, scared, truthful way– that we blog and we read for a myriad of different reasons. That there is schmoop amongst the poop, and that this is how it should be.
Thank you.
Wow, what great writing!
What talented lil bloggers!
Fabulous links. Thank you! The trust thing was especially hard for me. Wonder if it has something to do with me always dating arseholes? Good thing I decided to give the hubs a chance.
Awesome quotes from Awesome bloggers ! So heartfelt and real.. they really touched me
Glad you posted them Lilu !!!
am i the only one who doesnt know what schmoop is? no one seems to be phased by it.
i knew the day would come where i wasnt "in" on things. I just didnt think it would be so soon.
I think you're up to something big. You'd think I used clues like your foreshadowing and your *wink* to figure this out. But no! I have an 8th sense for stuff like this.
Thanks for sharing! I loved reading these posts.
I like the last one; which is very relative to what I'm going through… and it hit the nail right on the head. I'm somewhat affraid of writing about it. The funny and the silly is what distracts me from the depressing stuff about my marital issue.
In general these are nice posts.
What a lovely post! I'll definitely be checking out some of these blogs.
these are some great ones, i'll definitely have to check out some of these blogs.
Thanks for opening up some new blogs to me. It's obvious you put thought into this, which I can appreciate a lot more than some of the linking that goes on some other sites.
balls. steel balls. awesome.
So if we can't label does that mean I have to stop calling my husbands sisters twunts?
First…I can't believe I am able to post and not be # 158 or something!! What I really wanted to say was that you are a bloggers best friend and one we aspire to be. You always give comments, you recognize others, and you always say thank you! You are one classy blogger:))
awwww that last excerpt made my sad… i love this type of post showcasing others. nice job lady!
Damn, five more blogs to read tonight. Thanks.
ooooooh, I like foreshadowing but normally in a fiction novel it means someone is about to bite the dust, eeeeeeeek!
awww sweetcheeks we all need schmoooop
iLu-LiLu
I read that letter from Floreta and it made me weep. I love her.
Uh oh, I'll be on the lookout for your schmoop. Now I'm curious.
We had blog sex? Damnit it I can't even get real sex and now I'm whoring myself out on the blogs?
On a more serious note thanks for sharing the laughs- and you are fully deserving of the blog love.
I wrote a letter to my child:
I hope you never exist.
I know, deep.
Into each blog, as little schmoop must fall.
I think Confucius said that.
Awesome reads. There are so many incredible blogs out there and so many I'm unable to get to each day. So, I appreciated your little summary of favorites.
wow, all of them I can relate to but especially the last one since I am going through a divorce and I don't regret leaving. Thanks for sharing. Very good post.
What a sweet post!
Thanks so much for the mention! That was really nice and made my day like woah..
"That there is schmoop amongst the poop, and that this is how it should be."
..and THAT made me laugh!!
Meatbag: Eh. Pants are overrated.
cavy: Me too. You'll see it again tomorrow.
Yet: I worked DAMN HARD on that header! And thanks so much for the kind words.
Cottage Cheese: So welcome! They needed to be shared.
Fearless: Yeah, I really think you'd like her blog. Just sayin.
Liebchen: I hear ya… but it's good to know we're not alone, right?
liferehab: I hear you, dear. Sigh.
Jossie: Thanks- that was my goal!
Deutlich: She sure as hell does.
Rebel Mel: Ha- well, I'd love to feature everyone, of course… but this thing called "life" keeps getting in the way!
Maegan: Totally fair. Maybe later…
Shevonne: Aw, thanks hon. You are so welcome.
Debbi: Amen!
Lisa Chelle: My work here is done.
just me: Wrap up your blogs! What?
Kate: Thanks, dear.
Alice: Awkward is our middle name, my dear… and I love it.
moog: Watch out for chaffage…
nothingfancy: Thanks love!
Nickie: Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy, though…
floreta: Absolutely- that post of yours about made me cry, dear.
DShan: Agreed, one HUNDRED percent. I love all of my communities! It is exciting.
peterdewolf: Why thank you, good sir.
BS&BC: "Still drunk" = my favorite way to be.
Hanako66: Maybe you should think about it…
verybadcat: That we are, my dear. That we are.
Katie: It's okay to have both… I sure as hell do!
Kelli-Sue: Aw, thank you so much! That just made my whole day.
Kate: Agreed!
d&o chic: You're welcome!
Del-V: Ha. Fair enough, my dear. I still love ya.
lusty: 7pm tonight. I'll be wearing a tiara so you know who I am.
Kristina P: Welcome, love!
Steamy: And now I anxiously await to see the word appear in one of yours posts…
respendentlife: Thank YOU for reading!
justatitch: So am I! I'll be back for more…
Shawna: I am a giver.
Racquel: It's okay… you can live vicariously through the schmoop of others!
P: Aw, yay! I'm so glad you did, too.
Eric: Seuss is up, dear. Loved that man.
Mr. Apron: Thank you for appreciating what I was trying to do.
Kez: For reals, they are some super stars.
Kristin: Likewise with B! Phew!
Aritza: Thanks, dear. I'm glad you liked!
Fizzgig: Eh, it's just an old world term for "mushy". I think WE'RE the old ones for knowing it…
f.B: Ha. I am nothing if not subtle…
tabitha: I'm so glad.
PorkStar: Thanks dear. You should try to write about it, if you can. It'll help.
Lindsay: You won't be sorry.
Katelin: Do it up, woman.
justrun: Agreed- these are the ones that grabbed me over the past few weeks… they were chosen carefully. Thanks for noticing.
Awesome Sara: "Steel balls"… I am SO stealing that!
Gladys: NEVER. Keep on truckin.
Lady Jane: Thank you so, SO much, Jane! That honestly means so much to me, that it doesn't go unnoticed. You are the best!
Julie Q: Thanks dear!
Captain: Touche.
JM: Ha- no no, nothing like that. You'll see…
mn123: XOXO!
Andhari: I know, right? She is amazing, that one.
K @ Blog Goggles: You should be.
Dmbosstone: Thanks… but they weren't funny, dear…
Maxie: I miss your face.
Jenni: Either him or Buddha. Same diff.
hannahjb: Thanks! I hope this helps
Blondie: That one touched ME, and I haven't even been there. I had to share it. xo
Shannon: Thanks love!
Kali: I know, right?? He is priceless, that one… as are you!
When I saw you mention Chelsea Talks Smack, I knew instantly it would be that post! It's one of my favorites!
thanks for the collection of lovely motivational words, Lilu. you literally made my day