Hello everyone,

This blog post is basically to say how much I love all of you. Never in my life would I have thought that I could feel so connected and at home with people I have never met before. Sure, I only know everyone here by their online profile and the things they say or pictures they show, but tonight it hit me how much joy this community brings me. The love, support, guidance, and fellowship that this website promotes and hosts is unbelievable. I'm not a big fan for online social networks and things like facebook, but this is completely different. For example, I had to deactivate my facebook account because it was making me so depressed whenever I would surf through people's profiles and pictures and read my newsfeed. The whole atmosphere of facebook is like a huge popularity contest to showcase who has the most exciting life or best pictures, etc. and it puts me under pressure to try to stand out and be noticed and gain comments. I would waste hours just looking at other people's "lives" and feeling shitty about my own. But on here...it's the complete opposite. I come on here and I love to see everyone's journeys and all of the interesting discussions and blogs people share so freely and honestly. Just tonight I went on facebook after reactivating it last night, and I already started feeling anxious and insecure about myself. Then I came on dreadlockssite and was reminded of my individuality and how happy and lucky I am to be free to be my own person....not caring about what I don't have or what I'm not doing, etc.

Anyway, I really felt compelled to share with everyone how much I value all of your beauty, honesty, and companionship in my life. This is more than an online social network or forum...I'm not sure what to call it, but it's refreshing and inspiring. So thank you everyone for always sharing and supporting each other to make this a community of peace an love. And most of all, thank you Soaring Eagle for making it all happen. I hope you know how much you're appreciated and loved.

Your sister,

Aika