When I started my blog I didn't know I'd make friends for life but I've done just that. We grow up being told to be careful when we talk to people online and for god's sake never meet up with them; But what do we all do? Meet up with strangers online. It's mad to think that some of these strangers are people I now count as close friends, friends I speak to about anything and everything and people I'd trust with my life. It's a pretty big statement to make but it's 100% true and one I never thought I'd be saying.
This blog is two years old, it's still a baby blog in my eyes but it has brought me amazing opportunities and the most incredible group of friends. After just three months of blogging I set up Sotonbloggers, a network for bloggers on the South Coast to meet and attend events. It was through this network that I was able to meet these lovely people and I'm so grateful that an idea thought up during a blogging chat has resulted in something quite special.
2015 was a pretty crap year, a lot went wrong and I wasn't happy. I'm lucky in that I've always had a great support network around me with my family and my best friend so I was extra grateful that I also had these girls there to support me. Blogging introduces you to people you wouldn't usually meet. If you'd told me two years ago that I'd meet this crazy, lovely and hilariously funny group of talented bloggers, I'd of probably laughed and said "Nah, I'm okay". Fast forward to now and I don't go a day without speaking to at least one of them, our whatsapp group chats are always pinging with notifications and there is always one of them at hand for a last minute date to Mettricks for coffee and cake. I'm very lucky that I have these people in my life and I'm even luckier that not one of them is a self righteous bloggy type. You know the ones I mean, we've all met one or two.
Blogging isn't just what our friendships are based on. We don't just sit there and talk about our mutual hobby, our friendships are now much more than that. I think it's important to make blogging friends as it's a hobby that's still quite misunderstood, others don't understand the time and work it takes to maintain a blog and the active presence you need to have. They know not to drink their coffee or touch what we're eating until I've taken a photo for IG (My best friend also knows this) and they know that sometimes I'm late because the lighting is good and I need to take photos. They're also the ones who hold me up after one too many free proseccos. True friendship right there.
I'd be completely lost without these girls in my life, it's strange how people that were just strangers a mere two years ago can make such a huge impact on your life, such an impact that your life would be a little lonely without them now. I'm so happy that I get to call these girls my friends and I can't wait to see what adventures and experiences we have this year.
