Im at FITBLOGGIN. Im in love.

by

The below is a repost.Β 

Im living not blogging today.Β  And Im surrounded by love.Β  Myriad types of social media love.

Filled with love.

We’ve chatted about how EXHAUSTING and depleting social media can be.

We text, email, phone-chat, face book discuss and tweet about how it is simply impossible to have it all and how we’re all WIPED from the attempt.

Today, however, we’re not focusing on that.

We’re focusing on the LOVE.

Ive been truly engaged online for a handful of years.Β  Maybe seven? And in that short time Ive fallen in love.

Completely.

Before I share a few of my love stories, however, allow me one diZclaimer:

the below is symbolic of relationships Ive found, fostered, nurtured & nudged into existence. one person representing a category of interaction. in no particular order and Ive left out many many many specific individuals.

 

My first type of social media love is the ‘takes time to develop’ love.

I met Miss. Kelly Olexa years ago. I can not recall where or how—but I immediately recognized her balls to the wall work-ethic and unapologetic love of the Mommy Merlot (AKA Diet Coke) as a kindred spirit. Ahh how we’ve matured from our first vlog together to our latest hotel room workout.

My social media tip here is if you see someone regularly on a social media platform & wanna be her friend—reach out. Take risks. Sure it wont *always* result in friend-love, but you wont know unless you try.

fitness magazine meet and tweet

All growed up & speaking on panels together!

 

My next type of social media love is one I STILL reflect on and think: “dang Im so so glad I reached out. what if I hadnt?”

Once upon a time the fabulous Joyce Cherrier & I worked for the same brand. I liked her. I wanted to know her better. I direct messaged her on twitter & she messaged me back her digits (!). She’s been an integral part of all facets of my life ever since.

My social media tip here is put yourself out there. All of life is like dating. I wanted to date Joyce I wanted to get to know Joyce & I put myself out there. Life is too short to wait.

social media can be JUST LIKE DATING!

GROUP LOVE is another kind of social media smittenhood.Β  Hence my LOVE AFFAIR with a group I call the Original Gangsters (OGs) of fitness blogging. Workout Mommy, Charlotte, Cranky Fitness, & Roni. I adore & appreciate these women. They are my virtual water cooler peeps.

My social media tip here is to create a network of virtual coworkers. Ours happened by accident. There are no accidents.

crabby mcslacker

Crabby McSlacker & me in 2008 (!).

 

There are no words/classification for the SOCIAL MEDIA & overall LOVE I have for Ryan Sullivan and his family but I shall give you six: Id. Not. Be. Blogging. Without. Him.

My social media tip here is dont be an island. Ask for help.

These two define the words GOOD PEOPLE.

 

My next classification of social media love began as the AWKWARD, PLEASE BE MY BFF, I ADORE YOU love. I read her book. I longed for her to be my friend. BingBangBoom (I seriously cant recall precisely how–can you, Shauna?) a friendship & a podcast was born.

My social media tip here is sometimes–just occasionally–when you read a book and think DANG WE COULD SO BE FRIENDS! it really is true.

Yep. I made her be my friend!

Which brings us to the social media version/reminder of the fact true love is lasting. Mrs.Fatass and I became cyber-bffs YEARS ago. Life, work and crazinessment has butted into our relationship yet we can still pick up where we left off as if no time has passed.

My social media tip here is sometimes social media love can seem ephemeral and fickle. Look again. It is not.

Blurry love.

And then we have the Seriously, you’re a ROCK STAR. I cant imagine knowing you love. I give you Bitchcakes. (I love I knew the News Radio reference immediately. Still. I never thought I could call her friend.)

My social media tip here is dont ‘pedestal‘ people. ’nuff said.

tattoos, women tattoos, pin ups

I never thought I’d meet Sheryl!

 

Ive only fallen in this LOVE once—but it’s still worth a shout out. The I met you only once yet thanks to social media we shared an experience none of us will ever forget! love.

My social media tip here is to take risks! Feel the fear—do it socialmediaANYWAY.

real women models, fila personal performance

What an amazing experience!

My final type of social media love is the love which takes you by surprise. People whove become shockingly important on a day-to-day basis many of whom Ive yet to meet in person. All represented by the photo at the top of this blog post.

My social media tip here is to be yourself. Be authentic. Be vulnerable. Be real. Tone down the sales pitch (be it items or your brand) and connect on a deeper level.

 

Those are my NINE (!) TYPES of social media smittenhood & all the people/representations of people for whom Im grateful.

And you?

  • What’s your *different type* of social media love so we can make this an even ten?
  • Who would you like to shout out to & thank for being a loving social media force in your life?

 

 

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Comments

  1. I remember this from the first time around. I was newish to the boggy world. The biggest tip I got from it was don’t be an island. Blogging is all about relationships and sharing.

  6. AHHH I’LL SEE YOU SOON! I love virtual hugs – because eventually they can turn into real ones πŸ˜‰

  7. Glad to see you sharing the love! It’s so nice when I meet new poeple on social media and then have a chance to meet them for real

  11. You are so right that so much of life is like dating. It’s so hard to put yourself out there and take the chance, but it’s so worth it.

    Thank you for always giving me something to think about. I can’t wait to meet you.

  12. And, I have to say again how disappointed I am to not be at FitBloggin’!! I’m happy to have this time in TX while my husband is gone but I would have loved to come meet you and all the other awesome bloggers that I’ve enjoyed meeting online!
    Have a great time!!!

  13. I love this. I am really glad my husband “gets it” when it comes to blogging and relationships. This past weekend I celebrated my bday and sitting on one side was one of the best friendships I’ve made – and it was through blogging.

  17. I remember this post from last time, but I enjoyed it second go around. I have met so many great people through social media and now I have a whole new crop I’d love to meet face to face somewhere in the future. Have a great time in Portland!

  23. Great post Carla! So true and glad to have run across you through twitter! LOVED all the pictures!

  24. Social media IS just like dating. You’re drawn to people with similar interests, hoping someone is attracted to what you say/do/tweet. Then I guess social media can also be like high school? Cool kids, popular girls, jocks, outcasts. I think you shine bc you make everyone feel loved and you put out that awesome, positive vibe! You’re like the class president of social media! πŸ™‚

  25. I am with you on the Group Love. I am so thankful to have been welcomed back to the fitness blogging world after nearly a year away by so many amazing women and bloggers.

    The other is “secret love” – I sort of have girl crushes on you and Lisa Johnson. I am so inspired and amazed by all you do.

  26. I’m with Barbara on this one. I am exactly where I’m supposed to be this week.

    However, I still wish I could be there and am thinking of you all! Great tips πŸ™‚

  28. I realized how stupid it is to work alone and not associate with some fellow bloggers for a long time. I’m glad I reached last December and my outlook totally changed.

  29. I have found tons of support, friendly faces and true friendships via cyberspace, it’s been good to me!

  31. So much love!

    I remember starting my blog over two years ago and how amazing it started feeling being a part of this social media world.

    Now that I am blogging again and crawled out of my hole, I remember why I loved it so much! GO TEAM!

  33. I WISH I WAS THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Ugh, social media. Exhausting. But also really fun and I have to thank EVERYONE WHO visits my blog, follows me, etc for making my social media experience WORTH IT! πŸ™‚

  36. All that you’ve said is so true, so many people(myself included) spend days trying to pitch their brands all over the social media sites and still wonder why they do not get friendly responses or sales, I think the lack of wanting a sincere understanding of the individual is why we sometimes fail to connect…thanks for sharing your wonderful media connections, I hope to one day meet my inspirations as easily as you have.

  37. Social media/networking is really amazing! I was able to have more friends through blogging. Most of the time, social media becomes my outlet when I’m so stressed out. On the other hand, it can also be destructive if someone wants to put you down.

  42. Oh, I’m so envious. I’ve been to a couple of blogging things here in Oz and it’s pretty much the same – it’s strange meeting people in person who you feel like you’ve known for years (and you have in many ways). If you’re like me you share heaps of personal stuff in your blog and sometimes your readers know ‘more’ than your friends.

    Enjoy!

    Deb

    • It’s strange to me also, but not really in a bad way. Think about your favorite blogger, how much you know about his life, and how many things could you ask him in person. It’s strange when you know a lot about someone, and that someone doesn’t even know who you are.

  43. I am amazed that we all have made so many good and close friends through social media and blogging. Infact meeting a person after being in touch through virtual medium becomes very interesting, with some of them, there is a hesitance and awkwardness and with others I hit it off like i have known them since ages.

  44. Wow! Look at all these happy faces in this post. I also made a lot of friends because of social media. My life became more meaningful because of their care and support. πŸ™‚

  47. Social media has its prons and cons, but what I love about it is you can reach a lot of people in different countries, this is where you meet new friends, share your thoughts, and be with them whenever you have the time. I’m happy that I through blogging, I’ve met a lot of people and because of it, I have learned a lot of things in life. πŸ™‚

  49. It is odd to read about this on a blog. Not because it is an odd concept, but because I read a lot of blogs and I’ve grown to know a lot of people BUT I don’t often think about this in this way. Our society has become so vastly different with the way we interact with one another it is amazing.

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