Do you remember leaving your ‘college’ city and feeling a strong need to put a system in place that kept you connected to that city and community? This question is for those of us who didn’t have social community blogs to interact with alumni and other tools like it.
I went to college in London, so I found myself subscribing to three London newspapers, asking friends to send me taped versions of BBC programming, Yes Prime Minister and ship food, perfume and other products I missed.
We do this because of our strong yearning to be part of a community, whether that’s family, college, church, synagogue, a club or social group. And ‘things’ like the products we miss, re-engage us with that community in a very ‘raw’ way.
I found myself requesting to remain on my Boston book group list, so I could keep tabs on what books they were reading, see their names, hear their voices through their words and smile when I’d read a familiar dialogue. While Boston is not my ‘home town hood,’ east coast voices, faces and attitudes certainly are, despite so many years abroad.
Remembering your roots and occasionally reflecting on them is an activity that will bring you back into focus. Recharging ‘via your roots’ gives you a different kind of focus that yoga and meditation brings. It’s a wonderful ‘child-like’ focus and clarity, which for me cranks up the creativity..
I was reading a thread of emails from my Boston book group (co-ed btw), and had to smile when I read this:
“Of course we have to postpone – due to the “almost blizzard” of 2006. See you next month. For food – let’s get into spring and think of warmer climates! Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South American cuisine as a suggestion!”
It brought me back to a time when everyone was stranded at our house after a holiday party because of a blizzard of one year or another and couldn’t leave. The storm was so bad, that we slept 12 people with only two bedrooms for two days. I could write a novel based on the stories we told around the tree over breakfast as we munched on yet another piece of pumpkin pie.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
