I’ve built this blog slowly, earnestly, and with my best intentions.
My goals for my blog are few:
1) A vehicle to connect with others
2) A method to be of service to others (i.e., to make a difference for at least one person)
To that end, I’m super happy about how these blog pages have unfolded and the people I’ve met.
However, there’s been something tugging at my hemline (well, actually it’s a go-go skirt, ’70s flower-child mu mu, camo pants, or ’80s sequined mini skirt—you’re in charge of the visual):
My comments section
I read all kinds of posts about how to get more comments, how to leave a “game-changing” comment, or how to use comments to build one’s readership. But, for me, I’m happy with the size of my readership, I rarely see a comment that I find obtuse or unhelpful, and I immensely value the community I find when I come to Jane Be Nimble. (Thank you!)
So, what’s my rub?
Well, it’s pretty minor, actually.
As most of you know, I often don’t feel well and don’t feel up to commenting when I visit blogs, even if I have something to add to the conversation. I get a lot out of reading posts, but I sometimes can’t put two and two together to leave a response. There are also times where I feel ‘more functional’, loved reading the post, and I want the author to know this, but I honestly don’t know what to say to add to the conversation or feel at a loss for words.
So, when you visit Jane Be Nimble, I want you to promise me something. Please don’t feel you need to comment to support me (although, I do love it so much—by all means continue commenting if you feel moved to do so). But, please, I implore you, if you’re busy running your business or making your next deadline at work and you’re taking a precious 2-minute break to rest your noggin and chillax, don’t feel the need to take another precious moment to draft a luxurious comment here. I will certainly know where you’re coming from!
I also know from checking my blog stats that only about 10% of you reading comment to my posts. It’s all good. No worries! I’ve been there, too.
Maybe we can make a deal?
If you come here, and you just want me to know you’re here and enjoyed what I wrote, or learned something new that makes you happy, or just want to show your support, but don’t want to construct a comment, just leave me a smiley face! You don’t even have to use your real email address in the comment form—make one up (email addresses are required by my blogging platform). I don’t cull my email addresses, anyway, and I’ll never spam you. That’s my promise to you.
And, let me be the first to start!
(Hint: to make a smiley face, just type the colon symbol followed by the close parenthesis symbol [don't add a space in between them]. Or, you can use a semi-colon symbol followed by close parenthesis – or even the number 8 followed by close parenthesis: 
. My theme/WordPress converts many symbol pairs automatically to the ‘emoticon’. Fun!)
P.S. This post was inspired by a blogger and photographer I greatly admire. Thanks for inspiring this post, Susannah!
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Lori,
I’m not even sure how to do those fancy smiley faces that are all yellow and such…so you’re stuck with a text comment from me!!
Anyway, just know tonight…that you have made a difference in my life. I am a better person because our paths have crossed, and you are forever a friend…
Love and light,
Lance
Lance´s last blog ..Powered By Laughter
Hey Lance,
I know you’re totally joking around, but I added a little “Hint” up in my post about that. I can remember thinking, when I first started commenting, that I had no idea how people were adding those cool little smileys in their comments! I had to ask a blogger how to do it!
You are amazing, Lance, and I’m sooo fortunate to have met you!!! Thanks for all you do for everyone in your life.
I’m basking in your light and love.
~xo
A smile from a long time reader… (and my first comment ever!)
Hey you, I’m sooo happy to see you here and your smile, really, made my day! Thank you!
Thanks so much for being a long time reader, I’m glad I haven’t scared you off yet. (ha)
If you ever have any questions or want more information about anything I cover here at JBN, please contact me off line. You can use my Contact Me form (in header) or just email me at lori@janebenimble.com.
CONGRATULATIONS for your first comment! Now, there’s no stopping you! I hope to see a smile from you again sometime.
Hi Lori .. I know sometimes I read posts and cannot think straight – can’t think what the words mean .. etc etc .. let alone get my head into answering.
I too like Lance am not too clever with smileys .. so comments it will be – but great you’ve succeeded with a smiley response = and I love the picture .. I hate to say it – but I don’t actually know what they mean!!
Don’t worry we’ll be around ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
Hilary´s last blog ..Haggis, Whisky and Poetry .. means only one thing "Robbie Burns"
Hi Hilary,
Great to see you again! Sounds like we are sisters in arms when it comes to digesting information. On good days, I’m OK, but on the not-so great ones, FORGET IT!
I added a little “hint” section in the post above. I forgot how much time it took me to figure out how people were doing that.
I created the image at the top of my post with graphic design software – and the images are just smileys toppled onto their side. The top left is a winking girlie smile, top right is a simple smile, bottom left is a huge smile, bottom right is a smile with a wink.
Thanks for your support – I appreciate you!
Can we leave a kiss? (smooch!)
Gordie´s last blog ..How Passionate Speaking Can Be Deceiving.
(SMOOCH!)
Yes, absolutely. Kisses are also accepted here at JBN. I used them often! So can you!
~xo!
This is a great idea! I think this should be the new standard for all blogs. In fact, I just want to copy and paste this post over to Porsidan and implement it right away! OK, OK, I’ll write my own post…but thanks for the great idea!
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..Acceptance
Thanks, Jay!
(By the way, you ROCK!)
Sure, I’ll send you the HTML and you can paste it into your site, bring it on! I’m on board! Take it, please!
I actually got this idea from Susannah, so I give her full credit. It was somehow refreshing to go to her post that day and we all just left some type of smiley face – very fun, indeed!
So, for now on, feel free to just leave me a smiley before you head off to work if you want. I’ll know what you mean.
;~)
What the heck? I just tried your new winky face and it looks all distorted. I’m going back to old reliable:
I liked the new winky face.
To me, it doesn’t look distorted. Well, I think it’s my brain that’s distorted making it look OK. ha
Same for you, Lisis, you can come here any time and just leave me a winky!
Then again, you leave AWESOME comments so I’ll take anything you can spare. YOU ARE AWESOME!
I can’t spare the winky faces. I need them for twitter. You’ll have to settle for my comments instead.
Lori,
You are real, genuine and honest. You’ll always have the best bloggers here for that reason. Like attracts like you know!
Because you come from your heart this is one of my favorite places to leave comments so you’re stuck with mine.
Shine on! Tess xo
Tess Bold Life´s last blog ..Green Living – Made Simple
Hi Tess,
Wow, do I have you snowed! (ha ha ha)
Thanks for saying what you did here, Tess. You really made my day! I try my best to be honest and true to who I am when I post and comment. It’s too much work (in my opinion) to do otherwise.
Comment, away, Tess, comment to your heart’s content. I really do love interacting here in the comment section, so I also hope no one out there thinks I posted this because I’d rather not get comments – just smileys.
Thanks for being who you are, too, Tess. I find you to be a remarkable, sweet, empathetic, wise, and honest person.
I’m blessed to have met you!
~xo
Hi Lori:
I enjoyed your post and want to say that you have definitely made a difference to me as a blogger and friend. You have an awesome community here and I think we’d all agree that the energy and encouragement that you give to us, at least in my mind, is a form of service.
I’ve seen something on a blog that I think is a plug-in. It allows readers to comment, of course. But readers can also click on a thumbs up or thumbs down to let you know, briefly, whether they liked the article. It’s actually on Chicagoist.com.
In any case, great job on this post and I also liked the cool yellow expression illustrations at the top!
Tim´s last blog ..Feeding Our Minds
Hey, Tim, thanks so much for your words here. They really touched me. Awww, thank you!
Also, thanks for the head’s up about the plug-in. I think I’d be scared to install it – is there a way to install it so that you can either get a thumbs up or a two thumbs up? Being totally frank, I don’t think I could handle a real thumbs down.
Wait, scratch that, I used to be a science writer in biotech – one HAS to have a REALLY THICK SKIN for that job!
I think I’ll check out that plug in.
Oh yeah, and thanks for the kind words about my header image. I put together that little ditty because I quite enjoy emoticons, smileys, and bright colors. Plus, it’s been really dreary here lately (clouds/rain) I think I needed a pick-me-up. Hope it picked you up, too.
Have a great day!
Hi Lori – I don’t get over here as often as I’d like but I always love your writing (although don’t always leave comments). So for me this is about the sanest and wisest post I’ve seen in a long time. We can put soooo much pressure on ourselves to leave comments, get comments, the whole deal. You’ve just erased that with a single swoop of your virtual pen. Lovely.
p.s. Thanks for the smiley face tutorial. No kidding, I can never remember how to do that.
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Why Self-Help Bores Me
Hi Patty,
EXACTLY!! I’m glad you see/feel what I feel. There’s so many great blogs out there by such amazing writers – there’s no way I can comment to all the blogs I read.
And, sometimes, isn’t it just sublime to just consume without the pressure of commenting? I mean, really, I LOVE to support others and to add to the conversation, but often I just can’t do it.
So, I figured that if I’m consuming without commenting and feeling bad about it, it’s time to stop the madness and, at least, give everyone the green light to come to JBN, read, drop a smiley, and feel good upon exit.
I see no harm in that. In fact, I DARE you, Patty, next time you visit – leave me a semi-colon + close parenthesis. That’s all.
I’ll know EXACTLY what you meant!
Agreed?
P.S. Thanks for your comments about my writing. I think I’m going to frame them and keep it on my desk! You’re awesome, Patty! Thank you!
Lori Love { new name for you
},
…. i cant make emoticons for those hugs 
And how about i leave you a comment..and Kiss and a Hug and Smiley
Would you like that…or would you rather not have anything at all..hmmm…???
See i give you irresistable options
Sweetie…how can one not comment on your gorgeous, from the heart writing…???
I know i cant help my fingers type…they just go click click on the keyboard….its not even an effort…
So i will comment..and i will comment long comments….If you have a problem with that…talk to my fingers..they are the ones who need to be controlled…I am just a poor little gal with typey fingers..
Big hug and lots of love to you…
Z~
Hi Zeenat,
Awww, I love it! Lori Love! That’s so much sweeter than my childhood nicknames (Lori Bory, etc.). It’s a keeper!
I thought of you when I crafted this post, Zeenat, because you are the queen of smileys! I love that you use them so much.
You’re making me laugh out loud, about your fingers needing to be controlled. Ha – I can totally relate! ha ha ha ha
Please continue to add you sweet, loving comments. They’ve rescued me from some very dark days, sweets. I appreciate you more than words can express.
Thanks for your loving kindness, Zeenat. We need more Zeenats in this world!
*hugs*!
Glad I found your blog last week with Lance’s interview and wow, I had no idea that there were articles on how to write a good comment…lots of information in our world! Peace to you, Katie
Katie West/The Levity Coach´s last blog ..Car Dancing for the Greater Good
Hi Katie,
When I read Lance’s interview with you this past weekend, I was very impressed and felt grateful to have met you though his blog. In fact, I traipsed right over to your site to subscribe, so I’m a new reader of your blog, too!
Thanks for your kind words and for coming here when you can spare the time, Katie. I love what you’re doing with the Levity Project and believe it to be so very important.
Again, feel free to come here and leave a smiley. I’ll know what you mean!
Then again, I don’t think anyone actually came to this post and took me up on my offer.
ha
That’s pretty cool, really. I’m honored to be surrounded by greatness. I’m speechless!
Enjoy your weekend, Katie, and thanks again!
I do appreciate you proactively helping us take the pressure off ourselves but like pretty much everyone else here, I love coming over here and joining in the conversations. I do love a bit of
and 
though! xxx
Sami – Life, Laughs & Lemmings´s last blog ..The Definitive Guide to Being An Aussie
Hi Sami,
Can I just say that you have brought (and continue to bring) such joy into my life. Sometimes, I have no idea why I’m even blogging anymore, then I see comments from people like you and I get those warm fuzzies all over again! It’s people like you that make this volunteer endeavor worthwhile! Thank you.
I know what you mean, though, when I go to Life, Laughs, and Lemmings, I can’t help but to add to your post. I love the community you’ve fostered over at L, L&L, too, Sami.
You’re the best! *SMOOCH*!
(And, thanks for the triple smileys!)
Wow, Lori, can I use other combinations of numbers and letters to express other emotional states? Watch out Internet, soon I might be communicating in nothing but those high-tech “emoticons”!
Hi Chris,
Again, love to see you here. Your Avatar makes my day every time! In fact, for you, you don’t even need a smiley, your 75×75 Avatar is full of smiles!
I know what you mean, though. Have you heard of the efforts toward a semantic web? My friend over at Website in a Weekend pointed me to this. It’s amazing – and goes way beyond communication via emoticons. I kind of like the thought of emoticon communication, though. ha ha
I hope your weekend is going fantastic!
Walter´s last blog ..Selfishness under the pretense of love
I HEAR you walter!!
I might be late to the party (some people comment almost instantly when a post comes out; I don’t know whether to be impressed or scared) but I usually want to connect with you in some way.
I almost never read one of your posts without having something to say!
Hi Hayden,
I feel the same way, I enjoy connecting with you very much! In fact, a day, a week, a month, or even a year could go by, but when I see your face or see your ~140 characters around Twitter, I always get a huge smile on my face. I find you to be a remarkable, amazing woman.
Truly.
And, yeah, I’m not sure to be impressed or scared, either, but since I’ve done such things (commented as soon as I see the RSS feed), I have to keep my lip zippered. ha ha
And, that’s so sweet that you’d say that you always have something to say about my posts. I try very hard to keep them interesting with a nugget of laughter or grooviness, so your feedback means a lot to me. Especially coming from a writer-extraordinaire like yourself!
Keep rocking the universe, Hayden!
Hi Lori,
I really dig how you just put your 80′s sequined mini out there.
Very refreshing, your place is. I like how real you are and how much your readership loves you. That is extra crispy cool, with a side of slaw.
I’ll smiley AND comment ’cause that’s what I loves to do!
George Angus´s last blog ..Flash Fiction The Good Knight
Hey George,
I was hoping at least ONE of my outfits would grab your eye!
Thanks for noticing that I am real. My husband would be very unhappy to find out I’m really a Barbie doll. ha ha ha
I think that’s why I like your site so much, too, George. You don’t have anything to hide and you show yourself with all your colorful peacock feathers (and tiaras), too!
I love your writing, which makes Tumblemoose so irresistibly detectible!
Yes, the super-human beings who visit my site are amazing. I sometimes feel I don’t deserve them. I mean, what did I do to deserve such beauty, grace, and lovliness? Sheesh, I get chocked up just writing about this community!
Yeah! Crispy cool with a side of slaw – and a bag of potato chips!! Mmmmm!
You’re the best, George! Don’t go changin’!
Hey Lori, I just wanted to say:
Keep on rockin’ chica!
-Miche
Miche – Serenity Hacker´s last blog ..Making Big Changes: Energy and Resistance
Hi Miche,
I love hearing from you, super star! I LOVE ALL THE SMILEYS!! Thank you!!!
Please free to repeat your comment every post here!! I LOVE IT!
Keep rocking, too, Miche. You were one of the first people I corresponded with via the blog/internet world, and you’ve made a big impact in my life, too. Thanks for your lovely words at your blog, Miche. You’re rocking the free world! Yee haw!!
Hi Lori!
:):):) Somebody beat me to leaving rows of smiles – just consider them here in multitudes. Ya know, I’m one of those silly people who, if I bother to read a blog, I’m commenting, whether the people like my comments or not – haha! It’s just what I do. I allow and accept that not everyone does as I do and that’s perfectly fine. So, kiddo, you’re stuck with me – ha! And that’s that. 
:):):):)
Hugs ALWAYS
suZen:)
suzen´s last blog ..Baseball vs. Football
Hi,
You are always genuine and honest. I love your post. 
Thanks for your feedback! I try to be as you described, but I hope someday these post won’t be archived and held against me! ha
Have a great day!
Lori´s last blog ..Vacay
Lori … does this mean you will also leave smileys instead of comments on other blogs? Maybe you could develop your own emoticon and develop a virtual branding. Something shiny and bright would fit!
Does this
really work?
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..The Truth And The Only Way
Yep!
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..The Truth And The Only Way
Hey Ian, great seeing you!
Thanks for the smileys. Glad you got to play around a bit, isn’t that sunglasses smiley dude a hoot! ha ha
You know, you bring up a good point. I’m not sure how I feel about leaving a smiley on other’s posts. I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe, if I ‘need to’ I’ll leave a smiley for someone who has been to this post and get my drift.
Oh, and hey, I like your new avatar! Coolio!
Lori´s last blog ..Vacay 
Take care, Ian.
Exactly!
