I hear lots of talk these days about finding yourself a “tribe”. I love the concept. Surround yourself with people of similar interests and complimentary skills and a world of new possibilities can open for you. We all want to feel we belong.

Humans have been doing this for centuries. This isn’t a new concept; however, as our ability to connect with people all over the world is now a mere click away, the opportunities it represents are almost endless. Growing up as a Gen X’er, I’ve witnessed an incredible shift. I typed my college papers on a typewriter instead of a computer. My freshman computer classes were rudimentary programming. When I first started in my corporate job, memos were manually typed, copied and mailed out. Now, much of my day job is spent on a computer, emailing with those I work with all around the United States.

I understand concerns that our online connectivity is harming peoples’ ability to connect on a personal level. Are social skills declining? Possibly. But I don’t want to take on that topic today. Instead, I wanted to focus on the positive aspects of being able to connect with others online. Prior to the dawn of the internet, our worlds were usually limited to the people in our immediate vicinity.

We all enjoy spending time with people that like the same things we do. But what if you really enjoyed something a bit unique— like maybe learning all you could about collecting a specific kind of pottery. Maybe your grandparents set their table with those very same dishes when you were a kid and they were manufactured in their hometown. Now you live a thousand miles away and no one else knows or cares about your hobby of trying to complete the partial set they left you. But there might be fifty other people interested in collecting that specific kind of pottery because they also remember it from their childhood. Google it and there is a chance a few of them have already formed an online group to help each other locate pieces. If no one has started a group yet, you could start one and make connections with people from many different geographies that share a similar interest.

Or maybe you’re a new parent, overwhelmed with all of the demands on you but you still want to be the very best parent you can be. You might not have time to go out for a cocktail with friends to talk about your struggles but you could connect with others online that are having similar issues and find both ideas and encouragement. The possibilities really are endless.

Personally, connecting with people online has allowed me to pursue my dreams of writing and publishing. I belong to numerous groups of authors and others affiliated with the writing process, very few of which live within a reasonable driving distance to me. Honestly, without all of them, my rough draft of my first book would still be stuck in my desk drawer, probably forever.  I would have never started blogging either.

Nothing should ever replace quality human interaction. But online connections can certainly have a place in our lives today. It’s fun to interact with people pursuing similar dreams. There are kindred souls out there. All of you reading this today are a wonderful example of our ability to connect and share with others.

Is there something you’ve been wanting to find out more about? Maybe you're like me and want to eat a little healthier. Just this week I joined an online Facebook group specific to something I’m doing to improve my eating habits. I’ve already found some great recipes and received encouragement from success stories others are posting.

Never before has it been easier to connect with others, both near and far. Connecting with others is a gift that makes our life richer. Keep reaching out.        Kim​

Spring has finally arrived! And with it our family room is getting a facelift. After months of watching Chip and Joanna do amazing things on Fixer Upper while being cooped up inside during a very long winter, we’re trying our own hand at it. I was quickly reminded of two things—everything always looks easier on TV than it really is and my husband and I don’t work quite as well together on projects as the Gaines.

Do you feel the need to refresh things in the spring? I suspect everyone does. It’s a time of renewal.
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We’ve lived in the same house for a long time and I enjoy decorating. We have slightly less square footage now than when we moved in because I’ve painted the rooms so many times! I’m not handy enough to do major renovations but I can sure paint.

For example, thinking back, our smallest bedroom started out as a guest room and then morphed into a bright circus theme when our son was born. After a few years, daughter number one called it her room and then daughter number two claimed it. It’s been white, pink, purple, light blue and green striped, and back to white. Finally, with only one child left at home, that tiny bedroom has become a mini-man cave complete with three black walls and various hunting trophies and photos. We’ve made good use of that little space.

While I’m often the one to dream up home improvement projects, they usually become a family affair. I’m lucky to have a handy husband and I often need his help actually accomplishing what I’m going for. The kids sometimes help, too. One of them enjoys helping with projects, the other two usually need a little coercing.

 Just like other parts of our lives, our homes need a bit of freshening up once in a while. Spring is the perfect time to throw open the windows, de-clutter our spaces and spruce things up.
  
I love this quote I came across on Pinterest:

          May your home know joy, each room hold laughter,
and every window always be open to possibilities.  Ethan W. Post

Home should be the happy place you return to at the end of every day. It should reflect your personal style. It doesn’t have to be big, or fancy, or expensive. It just needs to be filled with things that make you smile and tell your story. Often something as simple as doing a little rearranging or a new candle or pretty potpourri can freshen up a room.

Spring is the time to try some of those things you’ve been admiring all winter on HGTV (if you are a fan like me). Spruce up your nest with a little creativity then sit back with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy the longer days. We’ve earned it.

​Enjoy the sunshine! Kim