I just want to say…

Today is the birthday of someone very special to me.

I ‘met’ her almost 18 months ago. It was a serendipitous Facebook moment in which she posted something on her business page that spoke to me.

Only 2 days before I had heard a radio interview with ‘Fat Mum Slim’ in which she recounted her early days of blogging, of how it had been something just for her, a way to debrief from the day of parenting. I have always loved to write and I had long felt that I needed something, something more, something for me.

I filed the thought under ‘get-back-to-later-when-I have time’ and thought nothing more about it, until…

I read this Facebook status:

Yes, that’s right! It was hard but, I actually managed to find something I like about the

new timeline feature on Facebook! It allowed to find this with ease!

Since then my blogging journey and indeed my life journey has taken a very different turn. I have gone from a world that revolved around my children 24/7 with no thought or time for myself, to something more encompassing, more exciting and uplifting. I can see now in hindsight that I was so caught up in trying to be everything to everybody that I had nothing left for me. I was a shadow of my former self.

I spent so much of my time at home with my beautiful babies that I had begun to feel awkward around adults. What did I have to offer a conversation that didn’t revolve around nappies, and the endearing (but boring to everyone but Hubbster and I) stories about the things that my children did and embarrassing incidences involving regurgitated breast milk?

My pre-baby world of parties, BBQ’s, lunch dates and social interaction had narrowed so much that whole days would pass when I was too tired, emotionally and physically, to even go beyond my own front door or to even pick up the phone and call a girlfriend for a chat.

The world of blogging opened that door back up and dared me to step back out of my comfort zone to join the rest of the world again. I know! The irony of doing this through the internet, a medium traditionally thought of as a tool for geeks and the socially awkward, has not escaped me. But, I hope that you know that it is more than that. So much more.

The girl that only 18 months ago journeyed no further than her own mail box some mornings, is now getting up early to catch flights to Sydney, just for brunch! She is attending conferences and meeting and connecting with other like-minded women…and she loves it. She feels alive, and she feels like at last she can stop trying to be everything to everyone and just be herself. She is feeling more comfortable in her own skin, and she knows that this is a far better example to set her children than being a martyr. After all, what better way to teach them to follow their heart, to act on their dreams and to continue with their passion even when they may be afraid of failure, than to do it herself.

She knows she is a good person, and she is even daring to believe that she is also a good writer.

So today, I am grateful for the birthday of my friend. She held my hand as I took my first baby steps and she applauded my efforts and made me feel like I could do it. She has encouraged and supported me on this journey, every step of the way.

I have on occasions had to endure her singing at me, but, y’know, in light of what has passed, bleeding ear drums are a small price to pay, right? J

Over the last 18 months we have forged a friendship which I have no doubt will stand the test of time. No doubt at all.

I feel very fortunate to have met her, and to have her in my life.