Introducing: Blog it Forward
Hello lovelies! By now you might have heard about Blog it Forward, an awesome blogging movement that has been organized and headed up by the lovely Victoria of Sfgirlbybay. Today marks the launch of this exciting and inspiring project and I am thrilled to be amongst the first 10 bloggers starting things off.
So what is Blog it Forward? A group of around 300 bloggers who want to share more about what inspires them on a personal level and have agreed to do so on their blogs - and then pass it forward to the next blogger on the BIF list (a chain reaction of inspiration if you will). The list of contributors for this round quickly filled up, but you can easily join in even if you're name is not on the list. Perhaps reading some of the Blog it Forward entries in the coming weeks will inspire you in ways you won't expect. Maybe you'd like to share what inspires you on your blog. Blog it Forward is all about positive words and actions...which is something everyone benefits from! I so hope you'll join in!
To start things off I'd like to share a tiny bit with you all today about what truly inspires me. It was so hard for me to create a short list of what inspires me most since it seems that that list is growing longer and longer all the time. But for the sake of this exercise...my top inspirations are:
MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
I've moved a lot in my lifetime which has been hard for me at times. However my family and the friends I've made along the way have been the one consistent thing that keeps me grounded and moving forwards towards my dreams. Their love and belief in me inspires me every day. Something else that must be said about my friends and family is how their home(s) are always filled with laughter. The older I get the more I realize what a gift laughter is. I am forever blessed by my family and friends.
LIFE'S BEAUTIFUL DETAILS:
I've struggled with depression to varying degrees throughout my life (I know this is something a lot of creative people live with), and because of this I push myself to look for beauty in life's little details. Believe me, this is not always easy...but I've found that the more I seek out beauty, joy, hope...the more I find it. Having a camera in hand helps this process along for me. Having the opportunity to look back at all the photos I've taken is a wonderful way to remind myself that there is always beauty to be found if I just remember to look for it.
THE BLOGGING COMMUNITY:
The internet is incredibly vast, but it is easy to feel the closeness of friendship and kindred sprits amongst the blogging community. Every day I am touched by the generosity and thoughtfulness of my fellow bloggers. I have had so many kindnesses shown to me by those in blogland; both readers of my blog and writers of the blogs I read...and these kindnesses give me so much hope for our world and humanity in general. That might sound dramatic, but it's true. I just love the people I've met (in person and virtually) through blogging. I can't imagine my life without this amazing environment of creative individuals! That means YOU!
There are so many more things that inspire me, but we'll save those for another day. Thank you so much for taking the time to read what I had to share.
Now...I'm blogging it forward to 2 days in the Rain. Be sure to check out her site tomorrow for the next installment of Blog It Forward. And after you finish reading this post you'll want to visit the following blogs for their Blog if Forward posts: Design for Mankind, Heart Fish, Hula Seventy, Ink on my Fingers, Oh, Hello Friend, Paper Pony, Poppytalk, Sfgirlbybay and Smile and Wave. You can check out the full schedule and list of upcoming contributors right here. A giant thank you again to Victoria for making this whole thing possible! xo Ez
52 Lovely Comments | Email Article | found in About Me / My Shops Print Article | Share This | 
| by Ez Wednesday, February 10, 2010 
Reader Comments (52)
Oh I love this post -- and the whole BIF idea.
My family moved a lot when I was younger -- 13 times before I started high school, if you can imagine!
But as a result, I think that my relationships with my parents and siblings are stronger, closer, and even more meaningful in my life. You took the words out of my mouth when you said, "Their love and belief in me inspires me every day."
I'm so glad BIF has led me to your blog!
Beautiful. I love what you said about finding beauty, joy, and hope if you take the time to look for it. I try to always remember to do the same thing. I am so excited to read all of the BIF posts!
What a beautiful post, Ez. It's clear to me each time I visit your blog that your eye finds details that are not only lovely, but also calm and restorative. It is a great "place" to visit when I am feeling a bit hectic or muddled. Now I have a clearer sense of how that comes about for you. Thanks so much!
Thanks for this touching and honest post Ez. I've moved a lot myself and am all-too-familiar with the weight of depression (definitely something that many bloggers have in common--we tend to isolate and stay behind the scenes, in addition to being perfectionists and putting a lot of pressure on ourselves). It's wonderful to know that alone and that there are kindred spirits with whom we can connect. Thank you for opening up and sharing with us!
I love this post Ez. Nice to see a more personal side of you on CC (hint hint)!!
Lovely post. I know all too well about depression and the importance of looking for the beauty in life. It warms my heart to hear others like yourself express that struggle. Its easy for us to believe that the curators of all these gorgeous blogs are just as polished and perfect as their posts. But, in truth, we all have problems and pains. Thanks for being so open. It's truly refreshing and inspiring.
Thanks so much for sharing that post! Its really beautiful, and I am inspired by hearing other people's perspective on life. This is a project I look forward to following.
All the best,
Anna
This is beautiful my friend....I am honored to be up there in that collage of your loved ones. This was so honest and so beautiful....and I have always maintained that your eye for beauty is one in a million. Truly....Thank you for sharing that with us every day. You know you are the whole reason I began my blog in the first place and you have opened my creative eyes in so many ways. This BIF movement is so lovley...
xo
Melis
BEAUTIFUL inspiration post!!!!! so lovely to see what inspires you personally.
thank you victoria for everything you put into this: what a great way to bring the blog community together! i had such a good time finding images and gathering my inspiration!! xo. danni
I just love that collage of photos of your family and friends, Ez! I found it truly touching and lovely. Thank you so much for sharing it! I'm excited to be a part of this great BIF fest. {hugs!} -Cassie
oops, sorry ez. lol that comment above was meant for victoria. ;) getting my blogs mixed up. well, LOVE your post for your inspiration. friends+family for sure are such a daily inspiration -- love your collage and what a great reminder of how important they are in our lives. xo.
Such a lovely post, Ez. And the images are perfect. Thanks.
Oh man, what a beautiful post Ez, my pregnant self is all teary over here - so raw & real & gorgeous! Can relate on all accounts here, especially about the laughter - it's what I love most of all about being alive.
xoxoxo
What a wonderful project Victoria has put together! Thank you for letting us know a little more about you!
Beautiful family :)
oh ez! such a heartfelt and beautiful post. i could relate to so much of what you so honestly shared. just lovely, and yes, very inspiring.
thank you so much for starting this twitter conversation in the first place, and getting all our ideas a start. i think this is going to be great! thanks for beginning it in such a perfect way. xoxo, v.
What a great start! I'm looking forward to all the blog inspiration goodness :P
It's obvious why I've always come back to read your blog through the years Ez, you're truly a beautiful person inside and out! I love this post and look forward to the next BIF posts. ps. that pink rose/victorian roof in the post below are just delicious!
xo Mary Jo
Thank you all for sharing such wonderful comments with me! I love you guys to bits! xox Ez
Ez, this is such a lovely post; thanks so much for your honesty. I moved a lot (the longest I ever lived anywhere while in school was 2 years) and I think although it was really hard at times, it is what turned me into a lover of the written word. When I was in first grade I was devastated to be moving away from my "BFF" so my mom bought me some stationery with strawberries on it and I started writing letters. What I love most about designing stationery is imagining the personal connections and relationships that my work will touch.
Blog It Forward is a wonderful idea. I am really looking forward to reading the evolution!
xo, Erika
this was such a great post. you often wonder who's behind the screen. thanks for that.
It looks like a lot of your readers have moved a lot, including me. It is hard to deal with but as my husband points out to me, we make a wonderful new community each time. I appreciate your openness and honesty in this post and I truly find it inspiring. I tend to be open about things too, I can't really help it at times. I've had a rollercoaster life but I am grateful for all of it.
It was so strange to come over here today and read this, as yesterday and today I had finally put into words why exactly it is that I'm a photographer, and it all seemed very revealing and maybe a bit dramatic. I guess I can add 'timely' to the list. I look forward to reading some similar blog entries ... it's so very encouraging when you find you are on the same wave length as others :)
I'm a new reader ( part of your Blog It Forward chain)....
Great style! I love the way you've grouped your photos......... big group, four and two.
Always an inspiration to visit here Ez, lovely post!
what a great project. thank you for taking the time to share this with us! x