Hello… I’m Stephen, and I’m a blogger.
You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever written that. It may sound weird, but I don’t really think of myself as a blogger who writes. I think of myself as a writer who blogs.
The thing is, I love to write. I enjoy turning a phrase.
I’ve also found a bit of a calling, at least for now, writing about my diabetes. That’s how I qualify that too. I think of writing about my diabetes, even when I’m not. Because if it affects someone living with diabetes, it affects me.
Where am I going with this, exactly?
Chris Snider of A Consequence of Hypoglycemia and the Just Talking Podcast started this idea with a post last Monday that suggested a check-in day. A day for all of us in this glorious Diabetes Online Community (and if you don’t think you are, you’re included too) to make an effort to make a comment on every blog that you read today. If you can’t think of anything to write, that’s okay… Just write the word Check in the comment box. Many of us are turning off the features of our blog software that block anonymous commenters, so anyone can check in, even if it’s just to say “I’m here”. Also, don’t forget to tweet and retweet the goings-on by using the hashtag #dblogcheck. As Chris says, “It’s not about page views, it’s about building a stronger community through interaction”.
Which leads me to the subject matter of this particular post…
Maybe I’m not reading things correctly… That’s possible… But lately, I’m worried that there may be individuals out there who are feeling overwhelmed by all of the bloggers out there, or the more popular bloggers, who might get more page views or get written about a lot. Or maybe you’re a person who has thought about telling your story online, but you’re thinking “Hey, I’ll never be as popular as (fill in the blank)… Why bother?”.
I need to tell you something very important: If you’re only reaching one person, that one person is the most important person in the world. Even the most influential social media darlings can’t possibly reach everyone. But what if you reached that one person that needed to hear your virtual voice on that one day when it mattered most? Would you sign up to pick someone up from the depths of despair? Would you sign up to be the person who shared critical information with someone that wouldn’t know about it unless you wrote about it?
If you make a difference in someone’s life by writing, by tweeting, by instagraming, then you are a hero. That is a fact. Even if the only difference you make is in your own life.
Trust me… this Diabetes Online Community is big enough for everyone. It’s a place where the most supports the least, whether that’s with much-needed supplies, a word of encouragement when you’re feeling down, or with the knowledge that your voice is important– even necessary.
If you don’t know how to get started, e-mail me at the link provided at the upper-left corner of your screen. I will be happy to help you get going.
Your story is the most important one in the world to the person moved by it. Don’t let down the one person who needs to hear you.
Diabetes Blog - Happy-Medium.net 
Comments
Beautifully written post, Stephen. It should be read by everyone who blogs or is thinking about blogging.
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Couldn’t have said it better myself – and it was a message I needed to hear. Thanks!
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Coming from a newbie blogger, thanks for this post!
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Love this! You are so right it just takes one. If you or I or Billy Blogger can reach and touch one person you have made a difference! Thank you for your inspired words!
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Great post. I think sometimes that ONE person is indeed yourself. No doubt someone, at sometime, when they are reaching out, searching for something – they’ll find you. And in the mean time, writing for yourself is just as important.
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Awesome post, Stephen, and so true!!! Everyone has a voice and their own story to tell. And if it touches just one person, then that is magic!
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Cool thoughts. I find reading others’ blogs educational and inspiring. I hope more people share their stories, opinions and thoughts.
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Yes, it is intimidating to get started. And some of us may never achieve fame and fortune in blogging (measured in page views and comments, not wealth). But writing is…. in a word …. liberating. It helps to put our thoughts out there. It’s good for the soul. And we all started at that point – blogging only for ourselves or for a seemingly unreachable/unknown audience. The reaction we get from other readers is but a bonus.
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You are fantastic, can we be friends? I love this line, “Diabetes Online Community (and if you don’t think you are, you’re included too)” even the lurkers are participating. they are not only included but make our writing meaningful. I really appreciate your blog and am happy your writing brought you to blogging.
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I’ve said this same thing about life. Life has dealt us all a crappy hand, and some more than others, but if going through what we went through puts us in a place to help one person going through the same thing.. then it is ALL WORTH IT.
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This. This is perfect. So much this. There’s not enough ‘this’.
Thank you.
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Wonderfully put.
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Right on!
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You hit the point, exactly, and it can’t be said any better – touching anyone’s world in any way is what matters, even if that’s your own and that’s why the post is written. There ARE so many blogs out there, and it IS overwhelming to try and keep up with them all. Because ALL of them are great – it’s either someone’s personal experience or info that can make a difference, and so every single one deserves to be recognized. We can and do often get lost in the sheer number. When I write something, no matter what the feedback is on something, I typically feel much better just for writing it because it’s off my chest or I know I’ve done what I can to share that story. And it feels good. Thanks for writing this, Stephen. and for more generally and broadly for being willing to offer your thoughts in this community. You make it what it is.
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Ah! Thank you for this post! I’ve definitely felt that way before. But you are right, someone out there may need to hear exactly what I have to say.
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As in every group of people there are those who are more well known… in the DOC though the well-known people are nice! But it’s true, if one person gets something out of the stories I share on my blog, I’m doing a great job.
I try to blog about more than diabetes because I’m living a life that isn’t all about having diabetes… it’s about living and I the fact that it’s not all diabetes all the time helped some people realize, “hey, she’s a pretty normal girl.”
Today also prompted me to reach out more than i normally do and participate in conversations as opposed to observing them. Thanks for your comment on my blog!
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Thanks Rachel! I agree that the well-known are all very nice. I think it’s great that you write about other things too. And I should visit your blog more often!
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Yup! And your offer to help others begin? What a generous thing to do.
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Totally agree – great points, Stephen.
I love the diversity of the DOC, and we can always use more voices. And speaking of voices, I’m glad to have yours in the mix. 🙂
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I love this post with all I’ve got. Terrific write up, Stephen.
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Just checking in, I am a big fan of your writing so please keep going 🙂
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“Your story is the most important one in the world to the person moved by it. Don’t let down the one person who needs to hear you.”
This line says it all. When that email inbox has that ‘one’ that says, “…you don’t know me, and I am sorry to bother you because I can imagine how busy you are; but I wanted to know you touched my life when you wrote……..”
Make EVERYTHING worth it. Well said Stephen.
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Well said!!!
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Great post!
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Wonderful!
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So beautiful and so incredibly spot on – Thank you so much for writing this!
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Thank you for saying it so eloquently, Stephen. I’m glad you have chosen to turn phrases, and to share them with us.
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You rock, Stephen – thank YOU for sharing your stories!!!
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Nice idea.
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I think your post inspired more than your hypothetical “one person”! A really nice reminder of what we’re all trying to do.
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I thought I left a comment earlier when I read this post. It was so good I read it again. I kind of hit on the same theme, but your said it a lot better, hope you don’t mind. Your right on! Thanks man, really like your blog. Take care.
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Thank you Stephen bc you completely hit the nail on the head on why I decided to step back and see if I really “should” be blogging. I’m going to work to change that thinking!
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This made me happy 🙂
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Yes!!
And thank you for all your faithful comments. They are always appreciated!
I wrote this in a comment on Chris’ blog but I feel like I need to repeat it here – “A mom came up to me at the FFL conference and shared that my blog was the first one she found. She had no idea why my story connected with her, but she assured me it did. I had no idea until I met her at the conference. She’s never left a comment. I bet we all have that story somewhere, and most of us just don’t know it.”
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Thanks Sara… I love that story.
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#DBlogCheck
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Great encouragement for someone who is still hesitating to start a blog. Thanks!
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So true. So well written.
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Right on! Now I’m inspired to be slightly less lazy in my own blogging.
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I am a little late to the party! but you wrote an amazing post. We all have a story to tell and every story is important. Laddie made a valid point. 🙂
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Thanks Cherise! You’re one of the people out there teaching us that everyone’s voice is important.
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This post is full of “awesome”. Thank you for writing this!
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Thank you for sharing this. I’ve had times thinking that my blogging is just huge jumbled mess of my thoughts and not sure why I write it other than to keep from always unleashing on my poor, yet amazing hubby.
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Amen!
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Thank you for this beautiful post! It breaks my heart thinking of those that don’t blog because they don’t think they can reach the masses. You are so right! It isn’t about the masses. It is about connection. That is why I blog. Other than the big reason of getting my feelings out and being able to sleep at night, I also know that there is someone out there, maybe even one person that feels the same way I do, and needs the power of same in their day.
And on a side note…I always appreciate your comments! Thanks! ❤
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check . . . thank you for sharing x
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Love your post! I’m late to the #dblogcheck day because I was overseas with no internet-I’m so sad I missed it but I’m checking in now! I love your sentence “If you’re only reaching one person, that one person is the most important person in the world” because I don’t get a ton of page views (or comments) on my blog so it’s nice to think that maybe my blog will help at least one person and then it’s worth it. Thanks again Stephen! 🙂
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Thanks Kelley! You should get more page views and comments, because you’re a really good writer. And a Best ‘Betes Blogs winner. Congratulations! Hope the trip was great.
Thanks
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Trackbacks
[…] post, from Happy Medium, is the most amazing piece, in my opinion, to come out of Check In day yesterday. “If you […]
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[…] “If you’re only reaching one person, that one person is the most important person in the world.” This is from Stephen at Happy-Medium.net. If you haven’t, you should read his post, it’s…. […]
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[…] Awareness Month. Again, I don’t need a prompter all the time, but it might be cool to do a #dblog Check-in Day, or Diabetes Art Day, or No-D Day […]
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