The internet is great. So much good stuff shared freely. You can learn how to do many things, whether it is making a diaper cake, a herbal education, visit places which use alternative energy, learn to do cool things on your blog, even online magazines. Blogs can contain videos, an audio podcast, enjoy beautiful photos from faraway lands. Families can use blogs to connect with their extended families, tell a story. Individual can use blogs to make a political statement, support a cause, express religious beliefs, to teach a group of people, inspire others, share their feelings.

So take some time today and visit some blogs, interact with others, add your thoughts to the conversation, you’ll find some jewels. Not sure where to go? Click on some of the links above, visit the ones below, read the comments, find a commenter you like, click on their name and visit their site, make new friends. Find a place you really like, bookmark it, subscribe to the rss feed, subscribe by email, digg it, stumble it, tweet, share on facebook, whatever fits your style.

I’d like to share a couple of gems I found today.

I’ve not visited Skelly’s blog in a while, almost forgot about it, except for her tip on using images from Flickr. But I’ve always liked everything I’ve read over there, past time to visit. I wasn’t disappointed. My kids are making decisions about school, career’s, life. I always advice them to find something they enjoy doing. To find their talents, passions. This applies to each of us, no matter what our age, our stories aren’t set in stone, still being written. In fact I have a new site in the works about this very subject. The HalfBaked Podcast. So Skellie’s post How to Find Your Hidden Talent was today’s must read. Check it out.

Christine Kane is always an inspiration. I love her post Extreme All-or-Nothing and Your Other Three Tires.

“A flat tire! On your brand new shiny car! How the heck did THAT happen?

What do you do?

Well, it is YOU after all. So you do the only logical thing.

You say, “Screw it.” You reach into your backpack, get out your camping knife – and slash the other three tires.

Hey, why even bother if they’re not all working?”

Visit Christine’s post and see what flat tires have to do with your dreams. While visiting, be sure to check out her music.

Be sure and share some of your favorite blog posts, whether by you or someone else, in the comments below. Let’s build a pile of jewels.

Blog Hopping for Jewels

Thanks for the Thinking Blogger Award, it is an honor.

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’.

And I’ll have to agree, there are many bloggers whose blogs make me stop and think, many I’ve seen tagged by others, and they truly are thinking bloggers. Instead of repeating what others have said, here are 5 new ones I’m tagging today, visit their blogs and enjoy their wisdom.

1. Christine Kane check out her thoughts on “A New Earth”, her songs, organizing your life and much more.

2. Bea Kuntz Did you know that dandelions were once used as a coffee substitute? Our food choices should not be limited to what we find at Walmart, there is a much better way, learn about sustainable living and other bits of wisdom from Bea.

3. Susan Loughrin I remember Susan a short time ago just learning what a blogging was, look at her go! Enjoy her creativity.

4. Jeanie Marshall Keep it simply by connecting with nature. Yep, I need to spend more time with nature. It has been too long since we’ve connected Jeannie, I hope all is going well with you.

5. Dean Hua is another thinking blogger who is good making connections with others. I love what he does with his Dean’s list each year. Almost forgot about Dean as we don’t hang out in the same places online right now.

Enjoy!

Thinking Blogger Award