I've learned that you CAN be great friends with someone you've barely met in person! I count my friendship with Robin as one of my most important and we've only met face to face 3 or 4 times.
Because of that I've realized that community comes in all shapes and forms, including online.
I've learned the value of consistency and routine in creating that community (see yesterday's post).

House of Shine is a tribute to endurance, community and goals. Dont under estimate those u reach who dont comment. Its important to have interesting conversation stimulated by others perspective. It doesnt need to be earth shaking it sometimes just needs to "be".

Who is this mysterious TB??... I love your comments, and I agree....

What have I learned from tuning in and on to HOS?? Can I say that I learned to have envy? ALL in the uptmost positive way, if ever there could be for the word that means: an emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's (perceived) superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it".

It would be me to take a generally negative word and want to try and explain it as positive. But by you all sharing of yourselves for the past 1000 days, your honesty, humor and insight has given me an opportunity most people don't or (wont) 'take the time' to GIVE. And from that I have 'taken' and if you will, lived vicariously through all of your experiences learned how to see life from outside the box.

Claudia is quite an amazing person to be able to daily bring together many kinds of different people and create a 'house' where we can share so much with each other, like we were in the same room!

Non-bloggers often ask me, "So, how much time do you spend blogging?" and "And, you don't get paid anything?" You know, in that synical voice.

My repsonse is always, "I spend a lot of time blogging and no, I don't get paid any money to participate."

But know this- I am a better person for participating in this blog (and all blogs) and what I get paid in is more important than money. The friendships that have been created here, the enlightenment and direction for a better life that I have gained here is worth any amount of money. Having a space to express my feelings, my creativity and my life is unmeasurable.

I have learned to relax and smell the roses. (Keep perspective) I have also made some lifelong friends and for that I am grateful for daily. I have really grown from reading your daily blog. You make us think. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making my world a brighter place.

Happy 1000th post!

I have learned to appreciate the small stuff, every day. Even the smallest gestures like a yellow envelope, a decorated cookie, a photograph given to a mother from a babysitter, etc. can make the biggest difference in someone else's life. I have learned not to take the little things for granted and to appreciate them just as much as the grand gestures.

Ditto to all of the above! HAPPY 1000th post HOS!
It is a house that always makes you feel welcomed, to stay and ponder or take the thoughts and perspectives with you to think about through the day. I have learned that if I dream it - no matter how outlandish or foolish or over the top - "really? what were you thinking" moments - you can be it, create it and bring it to life.

HOS has given me the confidence to believe ~ in many things and see the world with a new perspective. Thank you for believing in each of us Claudia and the gifts we have to offer. To others. And to ourselves.