I am someone who has plenty of photographs on my phone. A majority of these are my pet’s and the others are selfies.
A self-portrait photograph taken using your smartphone or a digital camera is what you call a selfie and it has taken the world by a storm. The word ‘Selfie’ was even the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2013. While there is a huge debate as to the advent of selfies and its intrusion in many ways, I believe that an occasional selfie is no harm at all. Selfies exude positivity– you feel good, confident and comfortable seeing your beautiful self.
Selfies have also influenced blogging a great deal lot. Take a look at the Instagram feed of a fashion blogger, you’d be amazed. A few have given me serious Insta Goals if you know what I mean. Or for that matter, do you remember PM Modi’s innovative campaign of #SelfieWithDaughter? This campaign had become a rage across social media and was trending worldwide within hours.
“The best thing about memories is making them”. ~ Author Unknown
A photograph helps in creating memories. It helps in remembering and reminding you of the joy you had at that moment. While I have so many such photographs and selfies, there is one that particularly stands out.
They say blogging is a thankless job. You spend hours hunched over a laptop, whip out a good 500 words, edit and share some splendid photographs and then… bam! Nothing! Nobody reads you, and you sulk. You monitor your stats – be it social media, or the blog and you sulk even more. While some bloggers make it to the top, others often wonder why they aren’t being noticed.
When I first started this blog, I had no idea what I was doing. Thanks to my husband’s job, we are always posted in some mountaintop or the other where there is hardly any opportunity to attend a blogging event or make friends. Last November, I attended BNLF, the Indiblogger meet in Dehradun. Needless to say, I was so excited to meet a whole community of bloggers and writers. But you know what? It’s not easy making new friends. Of course, you meet people if you’re outgoing and upbeat, but I’m talking about real friendships.
…and then I met these two lovely bloggers – Kala Ravi Sarathy from Relax N’ Rave and Ramya Abhinand from Me Otherwise. I didn’t know what to expect. After all, they are one of the few bloggers I absolutely love and adore and whose work I secretly admire. But we clicked. Just like that! From the event to creating a Whatsapp group to real-life friendship, these bloggers have taught me many a thing.
They give me the intensity that I crave in a female friendship. They are my go-to girls to giggle with or hunker down for a heavy chat-fest. We can discuss anything under the sun without those judgy eyes. They “get it”, you know? Having blogger friends is a humongous advantage. They simply ‘get it’ when you are excited seeing your stats spike up, or about GDPR or SEO. You may try to make your spouse or your ‘regular’ friends understand these jargons. But Meh! Not only can your blogger friends give your blog a little push by leaving the first comment, they can also kick your golden a$$ when you are on a blogging rut. They are also always there to brainstorm and come up with fresh, new ideas.
“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
So, there you have it- living proof of friendships made through the power of blogging! Whenever I feel a little blue (read, seeing the blogging stats), I remember this picture which stands as a testimony to what I love doing and reminds me to #EnjoyMore and explore more possibilities. This isn’t the perfect selfie with a beautiful background. I just wish I had a phone with a front camera that was wider and smarter. Mobiistar helps in giving you a meaningful selfie experience with a great dual selfie camera that can capture a 120° wide-angle shot. That’s my only regret- of not having had this perfect selfie camera for capturing this moment with the girls. Oh, and of looking as if I have just taken a bite into a lemon!
I loved this post for the lovely memories it evoked! You know Shalini, sometimes you hit off with total strangers while people you are supposedly close to, remain strangers. Guess we were preordained to be friends! I am terrible at taking selfies and have stopped attempting to take them even after purchasing a selfie stick. This selfie of us trio is one to cherish. I definitely hope we get to meet soon and trigger off a selfie rampage with your dream Mobiistar selfie camera!
Good post. I too have lots of photos on my cellphone, but I rarely bother to move them onto my computer, so don’t have them at hand when I blog. I need to rectify this. Thanks for the prompt.
It’s so good to have blogging friends whom you can meet up and discuss all things that your near and dear ones don’t understand. I hope to take part in one of these blogging meets some day. I so do want to talk to people I have been admiring for years. Again it’s such a wonderful opportunity to feel blogging is real, and not just a virtual thing. I recognized Ramya and Kala from the social media pictures.
And reading this reminded me of the contest. Would join in soon! Let me search for a good selfie first. I am bad at selfies. I look grumpy in most of them.
It’s said that likeness of thoughts seals the bond of friendship, and blogging provides ample opportunities to meet like-minded people.
I completely agree that this pic stands out. The reason is only few faces are visible in it, and one of them is mine. 🙂
Thank you soooo much Shalu! What started of as a casual meeting, has turned into a more beautiful connection. NOw where is that Kaala teeka? Nazar lag jayegee as it is on public display!!! :)))) And as Kala says, we need to meet to click those Mobiistar selfies and be the Charlies Angels that we are . Cheers Buddy!
Touchwood, you guys look so adorable together 🙂
Honestly, I hate selfies. I’d rather post for pictures instead 😛
Many people are writing about this Mobiistar selfie camera, I need to check it out now.
It’s always such a blessing when you can click with someone offline too. That’s how I felt when I met Sunita, Apeksha and Balaka in Mumbai. Looking forward to when we can meet in person!
True, Shalini. Taking a selfie is not bad, after all. But there are many who indulge in mindless use of it, post innumerable selfies on their timelines and spam our newsfeed. Other than those few, I simply love those that are meant to genuinely capture a moment, a feeling, a meeting, whatever else that makes sense. Short and sweet post.
It’s wonderful that you, Ramya and Kala “found” true friendship through blogging. The happy faces and the smiles say it all! Touchwood!!! I hope you three always stay that way. And, of course, do share with us whenever you three get together again for another great selfie shot with the dream Mobiistar selfie camera. 😀 I’m terrible with selfies myself, so always end up relying on someone else to grab a nice shot whenever a photo op springs up!
Awww.. you guys look adorable, Shalini. Such a lovely click that one. ❤
I, being where I am, live on the other side of the planet from most of the bloggers I connect with on social media. Hopefully someday I will get to actually meet them in person. I would love to meet you in person someday too..Fingers crossed. 🙂
Having blogger friends who get you is wonderful indeed. I’ve met some wonderful bloggers online during the A2Z Challenge recently, but haven’t had the opportunity to meet any of them face to face yet. The selfie looks really nice 🙂
This is such a lovely click! And yes, friends from the blogging world are so helpful. When I read this post, it brought back a few of my own memories. When I first started my blog, I didn’t anyone else who blogged and then once I moved to Bangalore I made so many blogger friends and it is amazing!
Loved reading this, Shalini. Meet fellow Bloggers is always wonderful, well at least most of the times:)))
That is truly a lovely selfie!:)