This week I was given the opportunity to visit Hatton Adventure Farm. We had already planned to meet up with friends this half term so we decided to meet them there and we all had a lovely day.
Just over nine years ago I was moderator of a forum for mums-to-be who were over thirty five. I was pregnant with Star and K was pregnant with her little boy. We would talk every day on the forum and soon after having our babies we were having another at the same time, again I had a girl and she had another boy. Once we had finished our time on the forum we moved to Facebook to keep in touch.
We first decided to meet up during the summer holidays, but with Star still being in her halo right up until August we didn’t make it, so promised to meet at half term instead.
So on Tuesday we met for the very first time in nine years, and we got on really well. I think you do underestimate just how friendships are made online, it’s not real life after all. I have now met lots of lovely friends that I first met online and it’s something I always love doing.
I know so many people who steer away from social networking because they think they are nothing but trouble, but I love them. You just have to be grown up about it all. You can’t expect to get on with everyone and when you get a huge group of people there are always going to be those that clash and argue. So yes, there is trouble, but you don’t have to join in the arguments, it can be avoided.
Online friendships give people a platform to be something they are not, they can exaggerate their lifestyles, constantly seek attention and lie mercilessly. It’s difficult to trust people when they have the opportunity to deceive you. However, sometimes it’s ok to let someone who you don’t know in real life to become a real friend. I think when you have been talking to someone for a long time then you really do know them despite having never met.
I don’t have many friends. This is my choice. I have a few close friends and that suits me. I’m not one for popping around friends house for a coffee and chat every other day, or talk for hours on the phone about the latest gossip. That’s just the way I am and I’m happy with it. I do have lots of friends online though, I find online friendships much easier to maintain and lots of them I have been friends with for many years.
So this week I am smiling because I met an online friend who I’ve wanted to meet for a long time and we had a lovely day together. I’m sure we will meet up again and not be waiting nine years this time.
Sounds like a great day out and I agree you don't have to meet up with friends all the time to be friends, the best friendships are those that can pick up where you left off when you next meet up/make contact.
How lovely, I bet you'll be friends for a really long time to come too.
Oh how lovely to finally meet up after having known each other in the online world for so long. Most of my 'real-life' friendships are maintained through our online contact – love social media for its ability to help form new friendships and the ease of keeping in touch with old friends too.
Aww! How lovely….
One of my closest friends is an online one….We have met in person about 8 years ago…..I've known him for about 14 years and apart from my fella he is someone I can speak to about anything.
Awww friendship stories are nice to read. I dont have much friends too. Actually I can say that I dont have friends here in the UK. I ache for one. Hopefully I can find one soon =) #wotw
Ah, this is a lovely post. So glad you all had a great time when you met up, and I quite agree with you about on-line friendships. I have some lovely friends now that I met via blogging 🙂 Thanks for sharing with #WotW x
It's really nice to read your story about making friends online – I'm always a bit jealous when I hear about how people have made best friends with blogging buddies – I want one! 😉 Seriously though, I do feel like I know more about, and have more of a connection with, some of my blogging friends than I do with some of my oldest friends who don't 'do' social media, which is sad in a way, but we're not all that way inclined I guess! X #wotw
that is such a lovely story. I think I am gradually becoming more confident in choosing to stay friends with fewer people, but people i really value and trust. Before I used to worry that everyone else was going to the school coffee morning / toddler groups / etc and that I 'should' go along too. Now I am a lot happier about saying no to those things and saving my time for people who matter more to me. So glad you had a nice time meeting up. x
Oh gosh – this could have been written by me. "Friends" was my word of the week as I met up with friends who I had first met via the Internet!