There is a big misconception in social media that bloggers are a lonely lot. The image of a depressed and repressed woman sitting alone in a dark room typing away on a keyboard, pouring out all the feelings she can’t vocalize in her real world, is the visual most people think of. I so think it starts off this way. A person doesn’t just decide to start a blog… there is always a need to either get something off your chest that you’ve been holding back or, you have some deep down narcissistic desire to be famous and you think starting a blog is going to get you there with the minimal amount of time and effort. You’d be wrong on that front.

I started blogging as a way to share vacation pictures with family. Okay, that was what I might have told people. I really started blogging because I needed an outlet to the day-to-day traumas of motherhood. Yes, I said traumas. My kids would drive me crazy, I needed to tell someone about it. My husband didn’t understand. My mother didn’t understand. Sometimes even your best friend doesn’t get it. Online… out in the world of social media… there are always people who get it. That was what I was searching for. That is why I blog.

There are so many groups of bloggers out there that I belong to. There are endless amounts of Facebook groups, blog communities, websites and forums. I’ve dipped my toes into the water on a number of them, but most of them I just never connected with. I don’t know why. The people? Maybe. The topics of conversation? Maybe. I think it’s like finding a husband… you just have to date a bunch of losers before you find the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. But, oh… when you find the one… it is so worth it.

I found my tribe. It took years. Actually, the funny think is, I guess I didn’t find my tribe as much as I started my own and they found me. Awesome.

There was a day soon after I returned home from BlogHer 2011 in San Diego. Was it a Facebook group? I don’t even remember. I was complaining (something I do a lot) about the fact that all the fun blogging events and bloggers were in San Diego. Why didn’t Los Angeles have fun blogging events? Where were the LA bloggers? Megan mentioned that she was thinking about putting a Southern California Facebook group together. Sidney was on board to help her and, as I usually do without thinking, I might have mentioned that if they needed help I was offering my services. Well, crap… they wanted my help. And SoCal Lady Bloggers was born.

With over 150 members now, I feel like a proud mama. Or rather, I feel like one of the cool kids. Seriously, I love, love, love the women we have gathered into this little (not so little) tribe of ours. They are the best… and the brightest… and the funniest… and the most wonderful people I know. I finally found a group of bloggers who get me. That’s huge, people.

Carolyn