The Great Blog Azeroth Thanksgiving Event 2011

This year, Amerence asked us to give thanks to those bloggers out there who inspire us and who have  helped us grow into the people we are now.

Image from the awesome Graphics Fairy (http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/)

I came so close to not taking part, partly because I’m shy and partly because I really wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it. Then as I sat curled up on the sofa, sewing Terrence the Terrible Turkey, I started to think about the people who have inspired and encouraged me. With each stitch another name sprang to mind and I realised just how much I have to give thanks for.

Terrence the Terrible Turkey - stitched with love

The first WoW blog I ever encountered was that of Saresa’s over at Destructive Reach. I started reading that and discovered her reader list, which in turn sent me cobwebbing out across the internet discovering all sorts of wonderful things. The more I read, the more I realised that I wanted to start writing again and it occurred to me that if I actually put my ramblings on-line, it might push me to keep going. Basically, this is all Saresa’s fault as she inspired me to start out in the first place. So my first THANKYOU of course goes out to Saresa, as much as it pains me to thank a warlock for anything.

When I first started blogging, I was too shy to broadcast my presence. I read plenty of WoW blogs but I rarely commented and when I did, I never left a link to my own blog. Eventually however, I plucked up the courage to start being more active in the community. My first port of call was of course Blog Azeroth and after deleting and rewriting my introduction a few times, I shut my eyes and hit post.

The sky didn’t fall, the world didn’t end (not surprisingly really but hey) and I started to get commentators and subscribers (which was rather surprising – yes I have the self-esteem of a gnat). So my second big THANKYOU of this thanksgiving goes to Saga and Kaozz, you two were two of my first and most prolific commentators. Both of you helped give me confidence to keep going and for that, I’m amazingly grateful.

Next up, I want to thank the people who inspire me everyday by being brave, awesome and having the courage to stand up and say this is who I am. Who never shy away from posting the bare truth of the matter, whether it’s brutally honest and/or controversial. So THANKYOU to Beruthiel and Oestrus, of course the fact that they post about my two favourite classes doesn’t hurt either. I also want to add Azeroth Apple in here, he doesn’t know it but a while ago, a post of his made me confront a few things about myself and my methods of coping and for that, I will be eternally in his debt. Sometimes you just need the words of a stranger to push yourself into opening up.

Terrence's Pattern

Then there are those people who never fail to cheer me up, Alas, Zelmaru and Elfi spring to mind, it must be a guild thing. When I’m fed up at work or just plain irritable, I love flicking through their old posts. I can’t forget to mention Cynwise either, I love reading about other people’s experiences in PvP and so few bloggers seem to focus on it. Although that might be because he fills the niche so well, we don’t need anyone else.

Mostly though, I want to say THANKYOU to everyone involved with Blog Azeroth community. Whilst I was writing this, I started to think about the meaning of the word “Community” and a few searches later, I discovered this:

The word “community” is derived from the Old French communité which is derived from the Latin communitas(cum, “with/together” + munus, “gift”), a broad term for fellowship or organized society.

Whether this is accurate or not, it’s the perfect way to sum up both this event and the principles behind Blog Azeroth. After all, what else are we doing, but coming together with gifts, whether it’s our views on the game that we all play, often written from the heart or something like this, where we give thanks to those that inspire and encourage us.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.