Nothing exemplifies the phrase women of strength more than my own experience with the women in my life, my Grandmother and Mother. I have been singularly lucky in my relationships with family and friends(sometimes in retrospect *wink*) and I am always amazed at the bond I share with my women friends.
A strong woman believes that she’s strong enough to face her journey, but women of strength have FAITH that it is in this journey that they will become strong
Indiblogeshwaris – Women of Strength
Today I am thrilled to share the first anniversary of “Indiblogeshwaris” a fabulous Facebook Group I had the privilege of joining exactly a year ago, thanks to Purba Ray. This is an exclusive women’s group that is like a giant warm and cozy cushion to relax in – where we….
Share thoughts
Respect each other
Voice feelings
Vent minds
Pour out angst
Get that load off chests
Show empathy
Listen
Sigh collectively
Share pain
Revel in warm group hugs
Argue amicably
Share perspectives
Feel heartfelt joy in others’ successes
Enjoy laughter unlimited
Share knowledge
Share experiences
Share health tips
Seek daily inspiration
Get motivation to keep on going
Support each other
Encourage each other
and most of all….HAVE FUN!
That is a lot of things we do together, right? Check out our group’s gorgeous header image by Garima Obrah
We tweet as @Indiblogeshwari and today, our anniversary hashtag is #BlogeshwariONE
That’s women of strength for you. And I am lucky to be a part of this group. So, to celebrate our first birthday – our first anniversary, Vinita Bahl, the dynamic force behind this group, better known as BlogwatiG made a fabulous suggestion. She said:
[box] “Take on a challenge. Adopt a good habit. Get rid of a bad one. Change something. Write one new chapter. Read a new book. Listen to a new song. Anything, almost anything singular that you’ve been putting off for too long. You have a month to do it. And then post about it on June 2, 2013 only”[/box]
And we rose to the challenge as a group. Together. Some shared in the group. Others blogged about it. I will be posting about in the next 2-4 days. Please do stay tuned.
[box] A woman of strength knows how to keep her life in line. With tears in her eyes, she still manages to say, Nah, I’m fine.[/box]
In the meantime, some of the Indiblogeshwaris from Bangalore had a chance to meet today and I have pictures to celebrate it!
My heartfelt gratitude to Anamika Sharma for the pictures you are about to see now. Please visit Anamika’s blog at Mad Cooking Fusions (It’s all about Indian Vegetarian Recipes – Making A Difference!) We met at the Microsoft Office 365 Education Indiblogger Meet #CloudBlogathon at The Tower Kitchen, UB City, Bangalore today, an event attended by more than 200 bloggers.
The exciting part was the thought of meeting our friends, also Indiblogeshwaris, made even more special because today is our first anniversary. I met Rachna, Indrani and Farida
Here are some of the photos Anamika clicked!
A woman of strength is one who is able to smile this morning like she wasn’t crying last night.
We had a fabulous time!
Happy birthday, Indiblogeshwaris!
Women of strength, indeed!
It takes woman of strength to drop everything, go through her phone, send one final text, delete his number, burn the letters & unwanted memories, and say I WON’T stress, cry, or blame myself anymore, & lets go.
I am linking up with the lovely Unknown Mami, who hosts Sundays in My City
Lets travel the world together!
Loving the wall of hot pink cut out kitchen gadgets. You ladies not only look strong but beautiful too!
Thank you, Keetha! We had fun! I loved that cut out wall too! 😀
Vidya, I absolutely love you list of what we do!! That describes us wonderfully! And, I loved all the pics, especially of all of you! Looking forward to seeing your update for the challenge!
As I wrote the list, Roshni, I kept thinking I left something out. 😀 I am now guilty about not posting the update for the challenge. I will, though! 😀 Thanks for commenting!
Lovely post, Vidya! I loved the quotes. So, did you take the non-stick pan home? :-P.
Heheh…not, Rachna. Now it has become an emergency! My dosas are getting smaller and that is not a good sign. Hugs! Always lovely to see you!
I am so happy the internet has allowed us to form this lasting bond, where distances dont matter, different walks of life don’t matter. We know that just a screen away, there is a friend who will listen, and help us through difficult times and tell us to our face that we are over-reacting if we are being silly. I love the honesty in our group
Beautifully said, Ritu. And yesterday’s experience (I mean the “interactions”) is only one part of the fun. So happy we’re connected! Hugs!
My best wishes.
May be,Men should also have a similar adventure
Thank you, Mr.Chowla! There is much to be said, in a positive way, about belonging to a group!
Nice blend of the event and birthday Vidya. Only you could so well organize a post about the Blogeshwaris turning one.
Hey .. Why am I missing in the picture? ;). There were few more blogeshwari’s there but were distributed around due to various reasons.
Dear, dear Farida! I too felt sad I didn’t have a pic with you to post. (Note to self: Take photo with Farida!) As you said, we were all scattered all over the place. Even the four of us getting together became a challenge. 😀 And the IndiBlogger photos do not have any individual good clicks this time. They posted them on the IB FB page yesterday. Hugs!
congrats Vidya, for coming up with such a powerful post. i not only liked but felt powerful too. I think the power of womanhood lies in celebrating ourselves inspite of what happens to us. so, lets celebrate.
Exactly, Koyel! Hugs! Thanks for coming by! And one thing our group certainly does is celebrate!
“I WON’T stress, cry, or blame myself anymore. Lets go.”
The Lets Go brought it all together. Loved the post.
Dagny
And go we did, didn’t we, Dagny? Still giggling over that saga yesterday! Hugs!
Here’s to women of strength. 🙂 Lovely pics of beautiful and strong ladies. 🙂
Thank you, Jyothi! Hugs!
Lovely photos of your meet. I loved the list of things you have put up. But I don’t agree with this:
“A woman of strength is one who is able to smile this morning like she wasn’t crying last night.”
The woman of strength (according to me) is one who dares to show her red-rimmed eyes to the world next morning and says, “Yes I cried, so what?” We women have been taught enough to put on a brave smile. We should also learn how it is okay not to have to do that. Don’t you think so? 🙂
Shail, I see what you mean. I grew up in a family where we had to wipe those tears off quickly wiped, smile through it and go. So, it has become second nature to me – and I am fine with that. Not that there wasn’t love or compassion in the family, far from it – but it is just the way things were. Red rimmed eyes were okay – just that they didn’t make a big deal out of it. The way I saw ““A woman of strength is one who is able to smile this morning like she wasn’t crying last night” – was – being strong enough to carry on no matter what. 😀
Love your perspective, though! Hugs!
I am so glad all of you met in Banglore. We had a smallish get together in Delhi as well. This group certainly rocks and I am so gld I could connect to you again through indiblogeshwaries !
Ditto, Ruchira! 🙂 I feel the same way! I saw your get-together pictures and it looked like great fun!
Happy Anniversary! You and the girls look awesome. I’m so happy that you have such a great group to hang with.
Hugs, Vanita! We Are awesome, aren’t we? 🙂 It is a fabulous group!
Vidya – A big Happy Birthday to you and all of the other women in your group. What a wonderful environment to be in with like minded women. And having fun? Always a top priority.
Beautiful photos of you dear Vidya. A big hug-Fran
That’s the truth, Fran. Having fun – regardless. Big hug back!
Thank you so much Vidya for the mention and your humble words, you are a darling :)! I am so lucky to meet all of you and be part of a wonderful group which is so strong in itself. Surely indiblogeshwaries rocks…agree with you “Women of strength” 100 percent!
Anamika, we really should meet up outside the IB too! It is always such fun to meet up – in fact the sole reason for attending the IB meets is now because you, Rachna, Indrani are there. Hugs!
Cool photos, I like ’em.
Thank you, Josh! 😀 Hugs!
This was a great post. I think it is awesome that you have found a supportive group of friends who also share similar interests.
I have had a close group of friends since high school and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I loved the pictures.
Have a great one Vidya.
School mates are awesome, Sebastian! I am blessed a lot of close friendships! Hugs – and cherish your “gang”!
Happy anniversary Vidya. What a fabulous group of woman and they’re all lucky duckies to have you.
e-hugs
Elle
PS. Love the pics as usual
Thank you, Elle! We’re all lucky to have each other! Real interactions make life a joy to live! Hugs!
Fabulous! your heartfelt words make some of our journeys easier to tread.
yes, Antya. And that’s one of the big benefits of our group. Drawing strength from each other. Thank you so much for visiting!
That’s such a great post about the anniversary. I am jealous that I did not get to meet all you fabulous women a year before! Well, better late than never. Glad I could meet you all now 🙂
Hugs, Kajal. Better late than never! It only gets better with time!
Love this, VIdya. Wonderful pictures and love your list of why your group is strong! Women power – yes!!
Women Power is indeed empowering, Cathy! Hugs and thanks for coming by!
Vidya, this is extremely excellent! I love this post very very much. You make me cry reading it and you make me feel MORE proud being a woman. Love you always…<3
Kristin – tight hugs back at you! Thinking of the women I know instantly makes me smile and I think…mission accomplished! Love you right back!
That looks like a fun meet
Blissful pics aand a happy post as always 🙂
happy annvrsry btw 🙂
good day
Afshu, I thought you lived in Bangalore…have you moved? Thanks for coming by. I enjoy your posts tremendously!
Hello Vidya
I am still in Bangalore. Came just 4 months back 🙂 will stay for some more months. Not easily bored by Bnglr 😀
Arrey then you should have come to that IndiBlogger meet na! 😀
Vidya, such a colourful post and what a wonderful way to meet and celebrate. Thank you for being one of those who brings sunshine into the group. And thank you for your gift as well. May you be blessed with all that you deserve and more. Hugs.
Vinita, it is such a privilege to belong to a group – and one such as ours. I love that we all become stronger as we interact and read each others’ experiences. And then, as I told Ritu, one of my favorite quotes is: There is a special place in hell for women who won’t support other women.
Blessed to know you. Hugs!
Hi Vidya! It looks like you ladies had lots of fun!
Happy Anniversary!
Women power – all the way!
Thank you, Michelle! We did have a fabulous time. 🙂 Women Power rocks!
I loved your last post about the bloghop, celebrate the small things. I might jump right in! 😀 Hugs! And so glad you are here today!
My advice? Jump right in! It’s a wonderful Bloghop! 🙂
Such beautiful women, inside and out. Sounds like “Women of Strength” is the absolute perfect description of your group. Hold fast to one another, for you have something special there, no doubt.
Cheers!
Lisa, I always feel blessed that we are connected. It always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Thank you for commenting – it means a lot to me. Hugs!
“Women Of Stength”
I am instanty drawn to this title. I love women, empowerment, their stories, moms, grandmas, YOU.
Vidya, You are SOOOOOOOOO beautiuful.
Love you MOre. Xx
Kim darling, Don’t you love how we’re connected without letting geographical barriers stop us? I feel so much love when I think of you. Love you more than twenty peacocks dancing in the rain. Hugs!
beautiful vidya ! lovely post, very energizing, thanks for being an inspiration !
Thank you so much, Angela!
Happy Anniversary! I love your strength Vidya. It makes me proud to be a woman 🙂
Thank you, dearest Carolyn! You more than anyone I know, deserves to feel proud – you are strong! Big hugs!
Looks like you had an awesome time Vidya. As always a great post and fab pics.
We did, Suzy, we did! 🙂 Thank you!
Oh how i love seeing pictures of you! I already feel like we are such good friends, but seeing your pictures just makes me smile. Beautiful lady indeed! And strength? I think you have that and so much more, my friend! XOXOs
I am honored to know you Terri! Nothing else matters when hearts meet! I am looking forward to you coming back from your vacay, refreshed and renewed. You have a book to launch! Hugs, dearest friend!
Aren’t we all a nice, prim and proper bunch. Love sharing this space with you Vidya.
Yes, of course Janu. We are. That’s my story too and I am sticking with it! Hugs! It is lovely to be connected with you! 🙂
So beautiful. I love the pictures and I love your heartfelt sentiments about the group you belong to. I am a part of a FB group that is a constant source of support. I feel like the women in the group are truly my sisters. I am invested in their growth and success and they are invested in mine. I would not be where I am as a writer today if it weren’t for them, they opened my eyes to possibilities I never knew existed and when I was in a really bad place some of them whom I’d never laid eyes on helped me and my family in ways that will always remind me to be kind and generous.
What a lovely comment, Claudya. Nothing compares to girlfriends – and though my life might have had its downs early on, along the way, I was very lucky to form friendships that endured and thrived over the decades. Always believe in life’s balance. This group on FB – is just fabulous. Just visiting the page even once a day is a sure-shot mood upper. I love that everyone is so ready to hug each other virtually. And some of us are fortunate to meet offline, often!
Hugs to you! I fervently thank the internet gods for connecting us!