Having several times been on the receiving end of unexpected news or unanticipated events that upend and redefine your life, my heart goes out to our friend (and Daily Fix contributor) Gavin Heaton ….
Just prior to Christmas, Gavin’s father-in-law Noel was one of a group of cyclists who were hit by an automobile. Noel was one of the most severely injured; he remains in critical condition. (Read specifics on this blog.)
Now, the blogging community is rallying around Gavin and his family, offering him support in many forms.
Blog friendships–even those forged on a business blog like this one–are in a special category, because the immediacy and intimacy of blogging begets the same with the people who practice it regularly. By “intimacy” I don’t mean in a dreamy romantic sense. Rather, I mean that regularly reading a blogger’s posts and comments, seeing whether they play well with others, and gauging how they react to those who don’t play well with them, gives you a deeper sense of an individual than most casual business relationships are usually capable of delivering.
My non-blogging friends and colleagues don’t really understand this–”How can you be friends with someone you’ve never met?” But there’s a reason that bloggers always hug when they meet, because they already, well… know each other.
The larger lesson here is that community comes in many forms. Right now, I encourage all of you who feel so inspired to act however you see fit.
* Leave a kind word.
*Donate if you can. (Thanks to Cam Beck.)
Why? David Armano said it best:
“Because if it happened to us, we’d be fortunate and blessed to have others do the same.”
(Thanks to David for finding this wonderful photo and for designing the graphic, too.)
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This is a wonderful example of the power of blogs and blogging. I do believe that I would receive the same blessings of support if something happened to me. I am so proud of this community for rallying around Gavin, Noel and their families.
Thanks, Ann, Cam and David. What more can we say? Except, I love you Gavin, man!
I can’t say it enough…but I’ll say it again: “Gav” is one of the most generous, kind bloggers I have the fortune to know. Through every single one of his posts he finds a way to spotlight others, not himself. It’s the darndest thing.
He says it’s because he’s better at running with ideas than creating them–but it’s not true. It’s because he chooses to celebrate others. And amid this tragedy he’s been running a full-time blog to keep others informed of up-to-date progress. While it astounds me, as he must be drained, it doesn’t surprise me–because that’s what Gav does.
We all send love and positive energy to our blogger bloke from Down Under! Thanks for this post, Ann.
Good luck Gavin. All best wishes.
I agree. Gavin contacted me personally and gave me advice on starting my own blog. cool dude. My prayers are with all of those injured and touched by this tragedy. XO
I agree. Gavin contacted me and gave me advice on starting my own blog. My prayers are with all of those injured and touched by this tragedy. XO
Ann,
Thank you.
You couldn’t describe better what this is all about.