Blogging can be a bit lonely at times. You sit alone, God-willing surrounded by nothing but quiet, you write your thoughts, and then you send them out into cyberspace. The words you write might convey your innermost, deepest feelings or be your best attempts to make your readers laugh out loud though often you aim to hit both those marks within the same post. Most of the time, fortunately, the words pour out like a salt shaker at a restaurant when the lid is not screwed on properly. But sometimes the words are slower, as every writer knows, and getting them out of you feels like coaxing out the maple syrup when you are trying to get the last little bit from the bottle. You know what you want to say, you know how you want to say it, but it doesn’t just flow onto the page. It is during those times especially, that you may find yourself seeking inspiration through other blogs.

Part of what makes blogging unique is that it starts out as a community full of strangers that through the power of words on a screen, quickly become friends, regardless of the virtual space they inhabit. Most of the time, you know as you read their beautiful writing that you will never actually get to meet them and become friends in real life. You will never be able to sit across from them drinking a glass of wine and telling them endlessly about how much their words matter to you. You imagine the scenario in which you could truly convey to them how much like your favorite celebrity, you just actually feel like you know them, so much so that at times it feels weird not to be able to pick up the phone and call them, except you don’t have their phone number.

Good writing makes me feel connected to the author, whether I find that writing in a book or on a blog, and the connection feels deeper than the words on my computer. Sometimes those kinds of universally affecting posts “go viral”, meaning that you see them all over social media. You will click on Facebook to find multiple friends sharing links to those blogs. The moment you yourself click on it, you know why, because it is instantly captures you. More often than not, though, like with anything in life that requires a bit of luck to reach a wider audience, amazing posts stay dormant. The community reads them, but the world at large often misses out on some incredible writing. And don’t even get me started on the bad writing that exists out there, and the bloggers who simply write to capitalize on their ability to shock to drive blog comments or site stats.

So, without further ado, I want to share some writing with you that has had a profound affect on me. I want to give a few of my favorite bloggers some of “The Dose of Reality” love today. Because sharing is caring, right? At least that is what I tell my children on a daily hourly minute-to-minute basis. I will admit right up front that I could never begin to cover all of the writing that I read on a daily basis, so I have no doubt that I will miss someone whose words I cherish. Hopefully what the inevitable head smack moment will provide me is the inspiration to do this again. To make sure that good writing is read. To further this community of people that I like to also call my friends.

So without further ado, and in no particular order:

http://outlawmama.com/2012/08/20/two-poles-ideal-christie-and-real-world-christie/ (When I originally read this post, I immediately tweeted it, because I related to every single thing Christie said here. It one of those things you read and you wish you could have written it.)

http://www.erinmargolin.com/fast-car (This is the very first post I remember reading of Erin’s but it was certainly not the last. She is a gifted writer, both in short fiction and as a blogger. Most of all, she is truly one of the most generous writers I feel like I know.)

http://www.writingwishing.com/2012/08/thirty-six/ (I absolutely adore everything that Alison writes. She authors one of those blogs I visit when I want to think or just simply smile, because I know it will happen there.)

http://sperk77.blogspot.com/2012/08/turn-back-time-again.html (Kimberly has inspired me with the sheer honesty of her writing since I first read her some months ago. This post in particular captured everything about her writing that I think is amazing.)

http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/wimsc/fine-lines.html (Y’all, Shannon, or Mr. Lady as she is often known, can sling arrows into my heart with her writing. It literally slays me at times, and I find myself unable to even leave a comment because of my tears. This post was one of those, not because it all rang true, but the parts that did, well, wow, same but different.)

http://www.sisterhoodofthesensiblemoms.com/2012/05/ellen-is-better-than-webmd/ (You will totally laugh out loud. I promise. Trust me. And of course, after the serious posts I already shared, you could probably use a laugh, right? This is one of my favorite sites to visit because like my beloved Rants From Mommyland, these ladies always make me laugh!)

http://www.reedsterspeaks.com/2012/01/the-reedsters-winter-work-at-home-wardrobe/ (I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Cindy in real life and let me tell you that she is as good as it gets. If she lived closer, I would totally stalk her until she agreed to be my real-life friend. By the way, Lisa and I now use s’wobe as a regular part of our speech.)

So, ladies, suffice it to say, I think you all rock! It is truly thanks to an amazing writing community that I have found most of you, and I hope that The Dose of Reality readers come give you some love.

My question for everyone reading this is, what are your favorite blogs to read (besides mine, of course, wink, wink!)? Tell me in the comments so that I can add them to my own list and give me an excuse to put off doing the laundry while I read them all!