This Has Lasted Longer Than My First Marriage
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JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
I just realised today my third anniversary as a JoeUser had passed recently (on the 27th of September, to be exact). This means my relationship with this site has lasted longer than my first marriage and, in a lot of ways, has been the sort of relationship I would have liked my first marriage to be i.e. open, honest and communicative. (Before any rush to my defence, these comments are as much directed towards a younger me as towards my first wife).
In the time I've been here I've seen many arrive, some leave, some say they're leaving but stay and some who refuse to leave despite other's best efforts. I've blogged about many and various subjects, have introduced all here to my wife, my cat and my band and then even let you all see photos of us. I've blogged about problems, personal philosophies, grammar and spelling, food, music, life, love and death.
I started the JU Writers Club (so kindly carried on by Locamama recently after I abandoned it to allow my poetic muse to take over). I felt the same frustrations as everyone else when JU was being glitchy, have marvelled at the sheer weight of talent of other JUsers, offered up prayers (of a sort) for those going through various life trials and laughed at the incredile depth of humour many here exhibit.
I have learnt a lot about the world and, in doing so, have learnt a lot about myself too. I find I am much more moderate in my political beliefs than I thought I was but also much less interested in politics than I thought I would be. I have received incredible encouragement from enormously talented people with respect to my fiction and poems, some of which has only served to encourage me further (sorry about that ;)). While my religious convictions have remained unchanged (and in some case maybe even more enforced) I have learnt a lot about how others think by reading and taking part in any number of philosophical and religious discussions.
But most of all, I've made friends with folk from right around the world. I've discovered that while half a world might divide me from most of you, there are undeniable points of common interest. I heartens me to know this. I came to JoeUser not knowing what to expect but expecting none of the above. I'm glad I was wrong about this. Here is to you, my wonderful JU friends. May our friendships continue to bloom and grow.
In the time I've been here I've seen many arrive, some leave, some say they're leaving but stay and some who refuse to leave despite other's best efforts. I've blogged about many and various subjects, have introduced all here to my wife, my cat and my band and then even let you all see photos of us. I've blogged about problems, personal philosophies, grammar and spelling, food, music, life, love and death.
I started the JU Writers Club (so kindly carried on by Locamama recently after I abandoned it to allow my poetic muse to take over). I felt the same frustrations as everyone else when JU was being glitchy, have marvelled at the sheer weight of talent of other JUsers, offered up prayers (of a sort) for those going through various life trials and laughed at the incredile depth of humour many here exhibit.
I have learnt a lot about the world and, in doing so, have learnt a lot about myself too. I find I am much more moderate in my political beliefs than I thought I was but also much less interested in politics than I thought I would be. I have received incredible encouragement from enormously talented people with respect to my fiction and poems, some of which has only served to encourage me further (sorry about that ;)). While my religious convictions have remained unchanged (and in some case maybe even more enforced) I have learnt a lot about how others think by reading and taking part in any number of philosophical and religious discussions.
But most of all, I've made friends with folk from right around the world. I've discovered that while half a world might divide me from most of you, there are undeniable points of common interest. I heartens me to know this. I came to JoeUser not knowing what to expect but expecting none of the above. I'm glad I was wrong about this. Here is to you, my wonderful JU friends. May our friendships continue to bloom and grow.
)
