Celebrating 4-Years of Blipping!

The evening of January 5, 2009, I posted my first blip. I didn't have a clue what I was doing nor what I was joining. This daily habit has added a measure of fun, excitement, creativity, anxiety, laughter, frustration, and numerous other feelings during the past 1,460 entries.

I've never regretted starting this adventure. For the first 2-plus years I was thoroughly addicted. I was addicted to finding a photo; addicted to writing my page; addicted to writing comments; and addicted to reading the comments written to me. It was absolutely fulfilling, overwhelming, and all consuming. During the past 18 months I went to rehab to get my life back (I'm joking), but I have found balance. Actually I've gone the other direction. I don't comment nearly as much as I'd like to. I realized that things around here in my non-cyber life were piling-up and I had to deal with the crazy attraction to this community that is so amazing. I had to find balance. I'm still looking for it.

Mostly, I'm very grateful for a place to just jot a note or two or put my whole heart on paper and days or months later come back to read, to remember and to move on. For years I've kept journals, but NEVER have I been so dedicated as these past 4 years. I haven't missed a day; in all my years of journal keeping that is a first. I have some precious memories and emotional moments stored here; some fabulous celebrations, and a few very sad moments, and some days that I'd rather forget, but actually it's valuable to go back and visit those too.

The Blipfoto community is unique - the nicest people in the world are blippers. I'm glad I had the opportunity of being here when this was a much smaller place and it seems like everyone had more time then, and now it is so fun to see a familiar name, on the thumbnails, to grab a moment to just say "hello" to someone, and quite thrilling to get a comment from anyone who takes the time to pause for a moment to pen a thought. In 4-years, I've only had one person make sarcastic comments on my page. The lack of negativity here is remarkable. The immense encouragement is what keeps me here. Thank YOU everyone.

I visualize Blipfoto as a wide ribbon that circles the globe and at any moment someone from South Africa or New Zealand or Thailand or China or Brazil or the UK or Russia or Finland or from just about anywhere pins his or her photo on the ribbon and it continues to rotate around the globe, and 24 hours later, it's my turn again. Amazing.

Two fabulous moments in the past 4-years were "Blip.together" and "Life.Turns." I think both of those were innovative and contributed to the creation of this unique community. "Life.Turns" is something I still watch and I enjoy it every time - the combo of music, motion, and photos is entertaining.

More than anything else, I just want to say THANK YOU!

Thank YOU Joe for creating this place and for sharing it with all of us!

Thank YOU to Joe's family.
Thank YOU Blip Central.
Thank YOU to the community.

I always write too much. I'm sorry.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol