CelticOne's blog post - Why I'm here...

I came to NN on a whim. Was chatting with someone on another site and he suggested I check it out. I did that night and then didn't come back for 8 months. He was the one that brought me back and told me to give it a chance. Again I did, and WOW, I have never been happier.
I come here and keep coming back for one specific reason; the people. I have met some of the most amazing and accepting people ever. I am a believer that my life is one giant puzzle and each and every person that has an interaction becomes a part of that. Needless to say, my puzzle has increased in pieces and I am so very thankful. I've been lucky enough to meet 4 people and introduce 2 friends to the site. 2 of the people I have met have changed me for the better. The first challenged me to take a risk and believe in what I at first thought I couldn't. Unfortunately he is no longer around and has recently cut many people out of his life. I miss him dearly but will always hold a very special place in my heart for his friendship. The 2nd that I met and changed me is beyond words. They have challenged and supported and encouraged in ways that no one ever has. I can't imagine not having this person around and look so forward to the friendship that will only grow. It's funny, they often call me emotional, yet they are the one person that taps right in to all those emotions so easily.
It would be unfair of me to not mention three others that I haven't had the chance to meet but do feel an incredibly strong bond with. The first was one of the first people I noticed when I started hanging out in status. He interacts with all and means the world to quite a few from what i can see. It was interesting to me that he would care to have an interaction with me but that only went to prove what a great man he is. We no longer talk every day like we used to, but I believe that he knows how special he is to me and how much he helped me in those early days. The 2nd is someone that I met in status when they were struggling and I reached out just to offer a kind word. That started what will be a lasting and amazing friendship. Even though we are on different continents, there is rarely a day that we don't speak. I'll be forever grateful for his friendship and for the unconditional love that he has shown. The 3rd is someone that became a friend through another friend and now I can't imagine him not being around. We talk often and have learned a lot about what makes us tick and why NN is such an amazing place.
I know I'm rambling, but for anyone that knows me, you know I love to talk and can rarely put the words I want to say in the right order...lol
NN is a place that allows us all to be ourselves or to be what we can't in the 'real world'. No matter if you chose to show pics, look at pic, chat in status, converse in blogs or just silently enjoy, you are impacting others and because of that a community has been created. It's a community of support and challenges, we have opportunities to be better but we also have amazing accomplishments to celebrate.
I know that I am a better person to myself for my choice to come here and participate. I know that I will continue to grow and change and look forward to my interactions with those of you that will be a part of my journey. I know I will stumble and fall but knowing that you are here, makes the adventure one that I want to take.
Big hugs to you all...and a whole bunch of frisky fondles if you really made it to the end.
xoxxxx