To go where probably many others have tried to go before...

Hello G+ Followers,

I've been active for over a year now on G+. I like the people I meet here, but I don't know much about many of you. I've tried Communities, discussions, hashtags  to try to clique with people from around the world, but I never get a lot of interaction (except the negative kind that I could do without).

I've read online articles on how to attract "like-minded individuals, and thought, "Why would I want to do that? I know what I think. Lol Yes, it's nice to find people with common interests (and I have many interests...), but there is a better reason why people interact: They get to know others. More than that, as we get to know others, we better understand ourselves. I remember Robin Williams quote about being "alone in a roomful of people." The Internet is very much like that. It can involve impersonal and shallow interaction - which, in my opinion, creates disunity rather than bonding.

I fully realize that many people are simply shy, or not the verbal type. They express themselves in other ways. I used to be very shy in front of crowds. It's a scary feeling. However, there are others who are not really interested in communicating; they just want status on the net. These people are not for me.

I do like followers, like most others, but I like them for what they add to a community. I read a psychology article about the size of group that produces the best sense of community. It was between 500 and 1500 people. This seems like the best size for an Internet community as well - at least, the kind of community I'm thinking about. There are many uses for most social medias, but I'm looking for true community.   I would like to be part of an Internet community where people get to know one another and engage with them, learn from them and grow as people.

This is my first attempt at a blog, and I'm completely winging it. It's going to be informal, because formality often lacks personality. I'm not trying to create a Facebook page, though I do have one of those for my family. I am also not trying to create a Twitter page. That's not for me at all. I am just trying to use G+ in a way I don't see being offered anywhere else; I simply want meaningful exchanges and a feeling of community with people I meet from outside my daily routine.

I'm hoping many of you feel the same, or there would be little point in trying. I don't know what I'll post - probably things that mean something to me. It won't be unlike the posts I have been posting, just more verbal. I also hope to put into context the reason I post the things I do post. Beyond that, I hope you'll get to know me better, and I hope to get to know you better.

Thanks for reading. Please keep posting:-)

P.S. I am open to suggestions and always thankful for input.