I don't really know what incident was the tipping point, but for months now, I've been lacking my mojo. Between drama and stolen photos and posts reprinted without permission and online arguments and drama, drama, and more drama, I've found the negative things that breathe heavy on the internet to be all-encompassing. It has been like living in a beautiful, serene neighborhood and then realizing that a sex offender has moved in next door. At first you're a little leery, but when he is caught violating parole terms, it changes to straight out fear. Then when you find him in your basement talking to your child, everything that was once beautiful and serene is now a nightmare. Your feelings may be completely unfounded and it all may be completely innocent, but you can't help but hate it all.
And that's where I've been--hating it all.
I have made a concerted effort to block out all of the drama. I have unfollowed people on twitter any time they bring up drama that, in my opinion, should have been handled privately. I have unsubscribed from blogs that spend entirely too much time worrying about what other people are doing. I have ignored emails from anyone who was just looking to drum up a little extra misery in their already drama-filled life. I wish I could say that all amounted to a few people here and there, but really, there has just been so much of it the past several months.
I was ready to quit. I don't like negativity and drama and when I feel it starting to pull me down, my instinct is to run.
But, for reasons unknown, I didn't.
And then you guys . . . yes YOU . . . swooped in and restored my faith.
For as much negative as the internet has, it has more good. You've proven that again. I'm still waiting for one significant donation to be finalized, but right now, there's $7000 in the Christmas Crazy bucket.
$7000.
A huge thank you to all of you who have tweeted or blogged about Christmas Crazy. A huge thank you to all of you who donated, whether it was $3 or $100. A REALLY huge thank you to ScareHouse for contributing $3150, and to all of you who helped to make Crazy Scary a success. Just . . . thank you.
Tomorrow is the big day when I'll be meeting some elves to finish off the portion of Christmas Crazy that will benefit Toys for Tots. It's going to be a fantastic day of fun that will fully prove just how amazing and wonderful and good the internet can be.
Thank you.