So, you have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time and you are facing a double mastectomy and reconstruction along with a parathyroid/thyroid surgery at some point. What do you do? Yes, I did go to Disneyland. But, if you are me and you have the most supportive and awesome husband imaginable, you start writing a weekly blog. You see, Kirk kept nudging me to write about my experiences and he promised that he would create and manage a website for me where I could write about anything that I wanted and he would take care of the rest. Well, I thought about it long and hard for a couple of weeks. I couldn’t imagine what I had to say that would be of any value to anyone else. If anything, it felt more like a matter of self-indulgence than anything else. But, I finally gave in.“As for me, I want to thank each and every person who has become a part of my cyber world and to let you know what a difference you have made.
“Barbara Jacoby
Well, tomorrow is the 780th blog and marks 15 years of a weekly post. Through a total of 4 surgeries for 6 separate procedures, we never missed so much as 1 weekly blog in all of that time. I am feeling so very proud of that accomplishment and the commitment that it took to make it happen, not only on my part but also on Kirk’s part. But, I must say that this would never have reached this 15-year anniversary if it were not for all of the wonderful people and all of the support that I have received from the social media community. There are so many people that I have met initially on Facebook and Twitter and even MySpace who will be friends forever. I have been invited into so many homes and lives that I would never have known if it were not for so many wonderful experiences that I have had in the cyber world. And if it were not for Kirk’s gentle prodding, there is no way that I would have become a part of the social media world.
Therefore, as we kick off year 16 tomorrow, I was trying to think about what I could do in order to recognize some of those wonderful people who have been so special and supportive to me and for whom I am so very grateful and came up with absolutely nothing. I know that I will never be able to acknowledge every single person for whom I am grateful and I am sure that you may also have special people whom you have met as a result of their connection to the social media world that you would also like to acknowledge.
As for me, I want to thank each and every person who has become a part of my cyber world and to let you know what a difference you have made. If it were not for you and this most wonderful opportunity to share here with you, I know that my life and my future would never have had the most fabulous outlook that I am visualizing. You have given me a purpose that I would otherwise never have known and a venue for sharing that has allowed me to know that I am not alone in my experiences and what I have shared has made a difference for all of us. For that, I will be eternally grateful.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.