- Image by armcurl via Flickr
One of the things we always talk about in this space we share is support. How we can encourage our online communities to rise to challenges and how the players on the field encourage others. Some have it down to a fine art – Chris Brogan, Gary Vaynerchuk and Laura Fitton are just three good examples.
Yet what are we doing offline with our “immediate communities”? Are we offering the same support and encouragement to them? Or even thanking them for their support and encouragement to us?
Often we take this support for granted – after all, they’re our friends and family and… well, that’s just what friends and family do, right? We’d do the same for them so there’s no need to recognize it.
But there is.
Every day we get through problems or tough times because of our support networks. It doesn’t matter if it’s just an email to ask how our day is going, or a helping hand at a challenging time – it’s the presence and thought that offers the actual support, even if we don’t realize it. They’re the rocks and the foundations on which we stand and grow.
My rock is my wife. She does incredible things every day without realizing she’s doing them. She takes the stress out of my life just by being there, and I probably don’t tell her that enough. If I’m ever backed into a corner and I can only choose one person to have my back, my wife would be it. Every time.
If my wife is my rock, then her mom is the foundation on which she’s built. There are many mother-in-law stereotype jokes that do the rounds but my wife’s mom couldn’t be farther from them. She was one of the first to be there for my wife and I and she’s never been far from us since then. It’s clear to see where my wife gets her strength and beauty from, both inside and out.
We build online armies every day. Our communities are the rocks and the foundations on which everything stands. We support people we’ve never met (and likely never will) simply because we can. Yet as strongly as we and they connect, we do so because of the foundations already behind us.
What are your rocks and foundations and how are you keeping them strong?
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Online communities like Twitter and Facebook offer us a chance to connect with and support others. But do we offer our offline communities the same attention?
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Online communities like Twitter and Facebook offer us a chance to connect with and support others. But do we offer our offline communities the same attention?
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It seems this has been coming up a lot. I completely agree that bonding together and encouraging is very needed.
My rocks and foundation are my family and friends. I choose to lean on them and choose to be vulnerable to help fortify those relationships. It's amazing how relationships function on a different dynamic when people are willing to lean and trust in others. I try to encourage others, build them up, motivate, etc., but it all wouldn't be possible without my "rock and foundation" pouring into my life. My actions are simply the overflow of all the love I have received.
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Online communities like Twitter and Facebook offer us a chance to connect with and support others. But do we offer our offline communities the same attention?
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Nice point. I worry about losing touch with the people in my life that I can actually touch. Whether it's a handshake with a business associate or a hug from the Mrs. and/or kids. It's great to have these online 'relationships' but they are limited to a degree. We can impact those who are closest and we need to do it regularly. Thanks for the reminder. Time to log off and play with the kids!
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My rock is most definitely my husband. What I love best is that no matter how crazy my life gets (and it gets pretty crazy), home is my soft spot to land, and he is the one who makes it that way.
For a foundation I couldn't ask for better than my family. They made me who I am today, and it's with their love and support that I continue my journey forward.
Thanks for the reminder that the foundation upon which you sit and the rocks that are your support are worthy of our acknowledgment as often as possible.
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single tear. followed by many other tears. You're wonderful! Thank you for being my rock
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It seems this has been coming up a lot. I completely agree that bonding together and encouraging is very needed.
My rocks and foundation are my family and friends. I choose to lean on them and choose to be vulnerable to help fortify those relationships. It's amazing how relationships function on a different dynamic when people are willing to lean and trust in others. I try to encourage others, build them up, motivate, etc., but it all wouldn't be possible without my "rock and foundation" pouring into my life. My actions are simply the overflow of all the love I have received.
Nice point. I worry about losing touch with the people in my life that I can actually touch. Whether it's a handshake with a business associate or a hug from the Mrs. and/or kids. It's great to have these online 'relationships' but they are limited to a degree. We can impact those who are closest and we need to do it regularly. Thanks for the reminder. Time to log off and play with the kids!
My rock is most definitely my husband. What I love best is that no matter how crazy my life gets (and it gets pretty crazy), home is my soft spot to land, and he is the one who makes it that way.
For a foundation I couldn't ask for better than my family. They made me who I am today, and it's with their love and support that I continue my journey forward.
Thanks for the reminder that the foundation upon which you sit and the rocks that are your support are worthy of our acknowledgment as often as possible.
single tear. followed by many other tears. You're wonderful! Thank you for being my rock
Kudos to you, Danny! We all need to appreciate the rocks in our lives. It always lifts my spirits when a man is strong enough to lean on his wife and isn't afraid to let people know that! Knowing that her roots come from her own mother makes you even stronger.
So many marriages (my own former one included) involve so much more throwing of rocks than leaning on them – I am so happy to hear that yours is not one of them!!
My daughters are my rocks. We had plenty of struggles though the years, but I look at them now (27 & 17) and I am truly amazed at the women they have become! I can't imagine my life without them!
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See- it's that solidarity that makes it all work so well, isn't it?? Nice to meet you, Jac! I stalk your husband on Twitter, but mostly just to keep him in line! lol
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Kudos to you, Danny! We all need to appreciate the rocks in our lives. It always lifts my spirits when a man is strong enough to lean on his wife and isn't afraid to let people know that! Knowing that her roots come from her own mother makes you even stronger.
So many marriages (my own former one included) involve so much more throwing of rocks than leaning on them – I am so happy to hear that yours is not one of them!!
My daughters are my rocks. We had plenty of struggles though the years, but I look at them now (27 & 17) and I am truly amazed at the women they have become! I can't imagine my life without them!
Hi Teresa, I think it's great about your daughters and I feel the same about my mom
I just thought I'd point out that my husband and I do throw rocks as well – but we try to aim them at the neighbours instead of ourselves lol
See- it's that solidarity that makes it all work so well, isn't it?? Nice to meet you, Jac! I stalk your husband on Twitter, but mostly just to keep him in line! lol
Hi Teresa, I think it's great about your daughters and I feel the same about my mom
I just thought I'd point out that my husband and I do throw rocks as well – but we try to aim them at the neighbours instead of ourselves lol
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