There have been odes and poems, songs and karaoke, names drawn out of hats, home-made RBC commercials, slouch hats, and so much more... All to commemorate a growing network of recruiters, HR professionals and the vendors that serve them. RecruitingBlogs.com made it through the war of 2007-2010, and while I don't believe the war is over, I do believe we are on a bumpy path toward that end. I have heard collective sighs of relief everywhere I go.

Almost every day, there is an invitation in my inbox to this executive dinner or that conference. The respite found in like-minds gathering, perhaps even commiserating, is like a fresh wind blowing over a field of golden wheat. You can hear the wheat talking and it is light-hearted and almost, dare I say, happy.

I wrote my first post here on RecruitingBlogs.com over two years ago and it has become my favorite pastime, really. Mostly because I have learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. I wrote through family drama and trauma, through divorce and death, through weddings and numerous holidays, through vacations and business trips, through happy, gainfully-employed times and scraping the bottom, just trying to survive times.

Trust me, I'm not getting mushy on you, just straight. "The best way I know how" is to share, to absorb, to educate, and learn. It never stops for me, and, frankly, I don't want it to. Who I am, what I do is splayed across hundreds of word docs, multiple profiles, and too-many-to-count posts. The stories I share come from a place of deep gratitude, from the need to discover. What I read on the site everyday encompasses an industry hungry for knowledge and a thirst for networking.

To be so teachable, to be willing to reveal "what's worked for me might work for you," to the sharing of personal pictures - further revealing the lives and choices with those whom we choose to spend online time. I can honestly say that I have met some of my dearest friends as a result of being part of this network, RecruitingBlogs.com. Minds that abhor pettiness, that dine on shared metrics, that delight in a juicy tale of recruiting gone wrong, or celebrate a rogue effort gone right.

My ode, my poem, my song, my story is simple. I am very comfortable out here on the porch because it feels so much like home. And home is a great place to be during times of stress, fear, joy, pain, and stability. The welcome mat is always laid out, and you don't even have to wipe your feet. Just login and enjoy the breeze.

© by rayannethorn