Hello, my friends.

I need to vent to you all today. 

I have been part of the cozy community for 7 years. In a way it doesn't feel that long. Though, in another way it feels like I've known most of you all my life.

When I was new and still finding my place, my voice, I was a little nervous that I wouldn't fit in. I didn't think I was joining a community, I thought I was just going to meet a few people that loved cozy mysteries as much as I do. But joining a community is exactly what it turned out to be. 

I have to say I have never felt so welcomed in all my life. Everyone was and is so friendly. I couldn't get over the warmth in which I was recieved. In a lot of ways it was like coming home again. 

So, for 7 years, I have enjoyed each and every friendship made. Readers, authors, editors, agents . . . everyone has made it just so easy to feel like I belong. No. Not feel like. To know I belong. Which brings me to the point of my venting today.

Over the past few months I have gotten into watching YouTube videos. I mean the ones beyond the funny animal ones, or music videos, or concerts. I've been watching a certain style of videos in order to learn about vintage, antiques, unique, and popular items that sell. This has all been to prep myself for my new blog, Lisa Ks Fabulous Finds (I promise, it is coming soon). 

I have really enjoyed watching this videos and getting to know a bit about the people who make them. Wonderfully, lovely people who show where they shop, how they sell, what they spend, and where you can buy it from them. 

Like leaving comments on Facebook, you can leave comments on the videos, and Like them, both of which I have done with enthusiasm. Some have commented back or laughed at something silly I said. So, I thought I had found another community of people that I clicked with as well. Until I reached out to communicate with them. 

For all the sweetness, kindness and fun they show on their videos, it changes real quick when you think you can actually say hi on Instagram or send them an email or reach out to them in some way. I have two now that have snubbed me. 

One because of a misunderstanding. I reached out to apologize to her and tried to explain how the misunderstanding happened and that it was exactly that, a misunderstanding, she never responded. I gave it one more try with the same outcome, so I stopped.

 The other I reached out to with concern because I hadn't seen a new video when he normally would post. I aware that some violence had been happening in the city where he lived. My email was simply to ask if he was okay. Ignored. I see a new post from him, and now know he is fine. I send him another email to apologize for overstepping some kind of bounds. I've heard back from him.

I'm used to the cozy community where after only 3 or 4 days of knowing someone, we are talking like old friends, or praying for each other with true hearts, even if we haven't seen the each other's faces, or may only know each other through FB names. 

My friend P comes to my blog every day and comments. She sends me messages and let me know about typos or other boo boos I've made. She has done that for me since before we truly knew each other.

 Even when she hardly knew me, my friend S started to message me every other day when my beloved brother Larry became ill over 4 years ago. S and I didn't message regularly at all until then. I hardly knew her, but she reached to me during one of the darkest and hardest times of my life.

So my friends. I just wanted to take this tim to thank you all. Thank you for being the people you are. Good, kind, welcoming, and a million other positive adjectives. I'm truly grateful to be apart of such a loving family of people.

I'd be interested to know if any of you have had similar experiences. If you'd like to share them here in the comments, please do. If you'd rather keep it private, leave me a message at 

https://www.facebook.com/lisaksbookreview

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