On Thanksgiving, I Thank IMBB :)

On Thanksgiving, I Thank IMBB 🙂

By Surabhi Surendra

“Let us be thankful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our sould blossom” – Marcel Proust

On Thanksgiving I Thank IMBB

I don’t believe in Thanksgiving, I mean I find it weird to say thanks to people on any one day.  Life is full of Thank You’s and giving and we should be grateful for every small thing and every single day rather than accumulating it all and pouring out on the occasion of Thanksgiving.  But to contradict myself, Thanksgiving is not about saying thanks on one day of the year and being ungrateful for the rest. It means that we should think of all the good things on this day and thank the people, God, community and everything and everybody around whether we thank them otherwise or not.  So, this Thanksgiving, I am also taking the opportunity to thank IMBB. Why only IMBB out of all the things in the world? Here is why.

  • IMBB happened to me in Andamans – when I came to Andamans, I got a culture shock. As a foreign MBA graduate working with IBM in Kolkata, I landed in Andamans after quitting my job. I thought I would find some ways to work. Basically, I did not want to make my impressive CV sound lame, but within a week, we got posted to northern most part of Andamans. No jobs, no college, no decent market, no decent internet, breaking network and what not.  I was upset and wanted to go back to mainland. I even looked for opportunities to run away from here. But my husband always managed to keep me back 😛 I desperately wanted to do something to unleash my spontaneity and to interact with people outside phone and Facebook; that is when IMBB happened.
  • It gave me a purpose – I have written for many blogs other than IMBB. IMBB is the only beauty blog I write for but I generally write on several other blogs on self help, motivation and marriage. While all these other blogs have also been very helpful and encouraging and co-operative, IMBB is the one that gave me purpose. I was (and still am) a no-makeup woman and I want to stay like that. No hatred towards makeup, but I love to live life as raw as possible. Maybe which is why I am also a simple, no-pretence person. But IMBB got me to try different things.

I don’t use blush, concealer, etc., but I have always applied lipsticks; IMBB told me to choose right shades and apply it finely.  Other than this, when I do DIYs, it is a big challenge for me as I do not get many things here but then this is what I enjoy the most and this is the purpose I am talking about.  I try to do DIYs with the less(est) or least of things available and whenever I do a DIY, it is such a spirit booster for me.

  • It connected me to the world – some of you who have talked to me on phone know how difficult or broken network lines are here in Andamans. And Facebook is not a networking place for me anymore. I am on it because I just want to stay updated. With absolutely no company here, the very social Surabhi in me wanted to connect with people and that real connection comes from IMBB.  It is like a networking site for me. Every morning, I open it once and open it 2-3 times again and I know what other similar-aged women or younger or older are saying. Commenting is not a mere task here, but to genuine find talkers and listeners.
  • It gave me a job in an isolated place – my friends and family proudly used to tell about me that Surabhi knows how to live. Which I found so untrue when I came here because I was bewildered. Then IMBB came to my rescue. I get paid for every article that I write and though till date I have never cross checked whether I have been correctly paid or not, deep inside I know my work is being respected here and I feel safe that at least I have a job!

I tell people here that I write for India’s biggest beauty blog and all I see is exclamation! Writing from Mayabunder? Internet hai? Products kahan se milte hain? Do they pay? No, its not about paying, but so nice you are engaged with something, ohh.. now we know why you enjoy Andamans!  So true.

It is not about Andamans, it is about finding solace in some place because of a virtual network.  I am thankful to IMBB for giving me that very bit of confidence when I thought no, I don’t know how to live. I can not live in this secluded place.

I thank IMBB for letting me be me as a writer. Till date, not a SINGLE article of mine has been returned or not put up. Once Rati wrote back saying the review had only a few words but other than that, each time I write an article, it is put up in no time.

Writing for IMBB is probably the easiest thing to do. I just write in flow, what I feel, take a few pictures and see the work published. I don’t take nice pictures because IMBB doesn’t accept blurred ones, I take clear ones because I don’t want a blurry picture attached to my name! and same goes for my words.

I thank IMBB (and Rati particularly) for asking about my whereabouts in days of my absence from IMBB. Many a times, when I don’t write too often here or don’t comment because my net gets down, I get a mail from IMBB to check if all is okay with me. 😀 I know this is more like a formal gesture but initial formalities build the solid foundation of a strong bond later.

And lastly, I thank Jomol (on behalf of everyone) for making newcomers very comfortable here on IMBB and to the entire gamut of readers and commenters who make this place a safer and healthier place for interaction.

Rati, Sanjeev and Jomol and Neha.. very good job!

Here is my heartfelt thanks to you all and that is the reason, I am writing this post as blogger who first came to IMBB a year back and not a regular writer that she has become 🙂

( And guys can my article be complete without a signature? I mean…. Pic of Andamans.. hihihi.. so here you go! )

Andaman

About the Author:

Surabhi Surendra lives in Andamans and blogs at Womanatics. If you liked this article, you may very well like the articles that she has on her blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook.

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48 thoughts on “On Thanksgiving, I Thank IMBB :)

  1. Hi Surabhi….what you have written is so touching……we are really glad we have a contributor/writer like you who is so dedicated and it is a pleasure to upload your articles ….:)

  2. This is so touching Surabhi and I can relate to some of your feelings…. I lived in sydney a very busy city and then moved to Canberra , which eventhough is Australia’s capital is quite boring when compared to sydney and melbourne.IMBB keeps me occupied and also has given me so many ideas on makeup and skincare …..thanks to Rati and the team
    I like all the feedback and thanks to Jomol who always send me an email when im MIA for sometime you guys feel like you are part of my family:)

  3. this is such a lovely confession darling….and i think we all agree with you to a good extent as writers in IMBB…thank you IMBB 🙂

  4. IMBB really has changed so many women’s life in so many different way!!! You guys (@ IMBB) made me from a makeup shy to a hardcore make-up lover 😀 . I really wana thank Sanjeev and Rati for this! <3 and the whole IMBB team as well.. i wish you guys all the luck and hope the new year for IMBB starts with a bang!! 🙂

  5. this is such a sweet port surabhi 🙂 totally agree on each n every words here..imbb has given me too a sense of purpose and fulfillment, I am currently in your situation as I recently moved to Malaysia where my hubby is posted currently n totally wanna run away coz everything is just so new and m not able to make any connection with the outside world..reading your post truly gave me some positive aspect 🙂 tc

      1. Aww Parita.. so sweet of you to write this. You in Malaysia..? wow.. thats some beautiful place. If you wish, I have a small task for you.. 😉 will tell you in FB. 🙂 hihihi

        and yeah these islands na.. they can be too slow sometimes but look at it the way I said in the post. Many people want to be in your position right now. They are spending thousands of dollars just to spend a few days there.. so take the most out of it.

        Love n hugs to you!

  6. Totally agree wid u.. 🙂 IMBB is my identity today! U are a wonderful person at heart n undoubtedly a flawless writer indeed! I do remember hw depressed I was though I was blessed wid everything loving caring hubby, lil bundle of joy Aadya n peaceful fast US life!! Still dat spark n charm of my individuality was lacking! I used to literaly feel down inspite of being an agriculture graduate, I was nt permitted to work here.. 🙁 suddenly imbb came as god’ s signal to take me in my happy go lucky world.. nw my hubby proudly says dat my wife works from home being on h4.. 🙂 it feels really great to independently plan surprise party or gestures for family which was nt possible earlier.. 🙂 its actually impossible to write everything bt still Its small effort n respectful words to share my happiness n New life wid u!!
    I won’ t be able to repay you back wtever u did for me dear imbb gang! I heartly thank surabhi for this perfect article, I cannot expect any better oppurtunity than ur post to open my heart… 🙂
    My best wishes for every imbbian for a happy prospering future!

    1. hey Neetu… sooo very sweet of you to say this. Yeah.. we all have such moments and IMBB is really a good hope for many. And I am soooo glad to hear your story. Also glad that my post helped many women to open up today! 😀

      and yeah.. thanks for the compliments.

  7. Thank you so much for writing this post surabhi. It was really heartfelt. I think I’d need a box of tissues now. 😛 I am so glad IMBB could help you… it means a lot to me. :)) I hope one day we have huge IMBB meets and meet everyone in person. Always enjoy reading your posts. The andaman pics that you share are like your signature now. The day they are not included in your posts, it sort of feels incomplete. It feels nice when people add their personal touch to the posts. That’s actually the time when IMBB becomes their own blog. To me, it’s a very good feeling. Thank you for being a part of IMBB. It’s awesome and very inspiring to have you around. 🙂

  8. This is such a beautiful post, Surabhi! I really admire the way you’ve made a new life out for yourself even in a remote place like Andaman’s. 🙂 (BTW, until I was about 6, I used to think Andaman & Nicobar as well as Lakshadweep were just fantasy places like Narnia.)

    And I totally agree with every word that you say about IMBB. When I first started frequenting this website, one part of my mind told me that I was nuts to get addicted to a make-up blog because I didn’t even wear regular lipgloss back then, let alone proper make-up. But that was more than a year ago. I own a good enough vanity kit now. 😛 I think IMBB’s charm lies in the fact that it’s not JUST a make-up/beauty blog. I love the way people are connected here. I love how Rati, Jomol, Sanjeev ji and Neha make it all so personal and welcoming. And unlike other big blogs where your comments get sucked into a dark vortex, I like how they are always replied to here, how people interact and how some of the silliest conversations and jokes happen in the comment boxes.

    I am also glad that I chose to send that e-mail and decided to contribute to IMBB, even if just intermittently. I love how people enthusiastically respond to new posts here and frankly, the comments here gave me so much confidence in my writing that my walk has practically turned into a strut. 😛 Also, I can totally buy and even recommend to people good make-up items thanks to the reviews here and feel all smug. 😀

    So, IMBB, like Surabhi, I want to say thanks to you guys too. I know I haven’t been regular for the past few months due to my life being a little crazy right now but just a few minutes of checking out IMBB every day makes me cheerful. It’s like Tiffany’s. 😉

    (Sorry for the long comment but I’ve had a very good lunch and a full tummy makes me want to exercise – even if it’s just my mouth or fingers.)

        1. JW.. I LOVE reading your comments.. the hidden wit in your words is the real stuff. And woman.. you are way too ahead of me. I used to think of Andamans and LDweep of places like Narnia until I stepped onto this place while you found that out at the age of 6 😉

          What are you upto..? I mean.. whats keeping my brave girl crazy..? 😀

  9. It is all because of the way you have built IMBB. It has a culture, a value and a mission statement and that makes it stand apart from other blogs. And nothing more to say after this post .. just a great heartfelt thankyou and many many wishes to everyone who made it what it is today.

  10. Thank you for writing such a sweet article Surabhi !!
    And thank you IMBB !!
    Even my day is incomplete without multiple visits here:)
    One of the things I like abt IMBB is that there is so much positiveness
    around here.

    Ps: On a comletely different note, I was aware that Thanksgiving is a major
    holiday only in the US.. Has India imported it now?

  11. hey Surabhi…such a Beautiful article 🙂
    Thank you IMBB for showing so much love appreciation ..
    Team IMBB Rockss!!! I Love you guys

  12. Aww Surabhi I felt emotional reading this 🙁 … I also want to be a part of IMBB by writing reviews, OOTD, But I think I don’t have that strong writing abilities to write a post for IMBB. But I read all reviews of IMBB and comment also, and if u all reply it makes me smile and happy! Love u guys u all are a family to me! 🙂

    1. Aww Shilpa.. your comment is soooooo sweet..!!!!! I cant tell you how nice I feel after reading this. A big hug to you! Comments are the real backbone of IMBB, I guess. 😀

  13. and I cant thank IMBB enuff for giving me really good friends 🙂
    Rati is a v dear/close friend , I sometimes forget I met her via IMBB just 2 yrs back 😀
    and Jomol , ur a sweetheart :* I love u 🙂
    It was only coz of IMBB that I got to know some of my besties- Jinal, Heer, Neha and I went all the way to Mumbai just to meet these lovely ladies 🙂
    isliye IMBB ko big wala thankoooooooooooo :* :*

  14. Same with me, i come to IMBB not because i’m bored but i have loads of personal issues, of course this site does not deal with personal issues 😛 i came here to relax my mind everyday, whenever i reach my office the first site i would open is IMBB.. when i reach home again i login when ever possible..

    One yr back, when i was attending client call, i was so bored 😛 so i was reading IMBB, when my client called out my name to ask for status, i didnt even realize, i was so busy in reading review, it took me few seconds to respond.. but some how managed that network issue 😀 this incident i remember quite often

    Agree with you Surabhi, Jomol is the one of the best friendlier person..

    Thanks To IMBB team -Rati, Sanjeev, Jomol and neha (special thanks to nupur as well, i had bought so many products after reading her review without even second thoughts)

    1. Yeah Shami.. I think Nupuriii is the best reviewer. she really writes very good reviews. and this incident is so funny. I remember sleeping in such meetings or busy with chatting on gtalk.

      Once in a meeting I was bitching abt my boss in the same meeting to another colleague. We were in the meeting headed by our same boss who we were bitching about.. hihihihi..

      Talking to people is surely a stress buster.

  15. This post is so sweet, Surabhi! 🙂 I totally get what you’re saying here… IMBB happened to me when I was going through a pretty tough time in my life – had been a few years in a new country, and needed some friendly people to talk with. Though I’ve never connected on a deeper level with any of you on IMBB, the words we exchange in the comments itself has helped me get through some days.
    IMBB is a very special set of friends to me. Love you guys so much! Thanks for always being there.

    1. Thank you Samantha.. I am very happy you liked what I wrote. I didnt have a tough time in Andamans or something but yes, I wanted to connect with people. and IMBB is probably the largest community of women in India. And I also know what you mean. because except Jomo.. even I have not connected with anyone at a deeper level.. just a bit of chit-chat.. but I surely look forward to meeting many of them when I go to Delhi.. and maybe then it gets deeper. 😀

  16. Omg Surabhi.. This post was so heartfelt and warm. I have always felt that u r an inspiring person, and I’ve read ur articles many times n felt that u r strong n that comes across in ur writing. I truly understand how u must have felt in Andamans. U are a successful career woman n the fact that u made a happy life for urself even when u were in a new and a very different place shows that life is really how we make it. 🙂
    And IMBB… There have been days when just coming to IMBB has made me able to breathe even on hectic days. Rati, Jomol, Neha, Sanjeev and Nupur, and Nidhi on Miss Fit have made this place something much more than a makeup blog. IMBB is special. We are treated like friends here. I have never written for IMBB but every comment of mine is answered. Rati has a magic personal touch. I dont know to this day how she does it, bcoz there are a LOT of ppl who comment here. She still makes everyone feel special.
    In short, IMBB is one site I would wanna visit everyday, and thats not just for the reviews. This place feels like home 🙂

    1. Ramya.. this is such a sweet comment. Love you for writing this. I really feel what a person says or writes is a reflection of his personality. So, my personality comes out in words. And I am so glad many of you enjoy what I write.

      Thanks babes! And totally agree with the personal touch thing. Its the community that has made this place a must visit.

  17. well written article Surabhi , it really touched my heart!!! … and waah waah jomol ji all praises haa… i wish we get to see u soon… i meant ur pic 🙂

  18. Surabhi the post is so touching in so many ways. Totally agree with everything you said.
    As dramatic as it sounds, i bumped into imbb in a dark phase of my life and all the time I was online i was happy, just like hanging out with a bunch of friends.
    Not to mention the patience with these guys handle queries. 😀 love you guys :*

    1. hihihi.. I guess thats the case with most of them. But I didnt enter IMBB during any dark phase. I mean.. many pple are taking it as if I was sad when I moved to IMBB which is not true.

      I felt lonely but I certainly was not unhappy. 😀 But thanks a ton for liking the article..

  19. Surabhi its always a delight to read your posts…they are so personal and touching and its obvious that they come right from the depths of your heart…loved reading this one too! Whenever you are in Delhi, do let me know, would love to meet you in person 😀

  20. Surabhi, what a lovely thought. You would not believe it, I had been thinking about writing a similar post !! I do believe in Thanksgiving. It is not about picking one day in a year to be grateful. There is lot more to it. It is heavily rooted in tradition. And, then comes the good food:)
    Anyway, I understand that the post is not about Thanksgiving as such and you did add that you appreciate the idea. Just added my point of view.
    I totally understand what you are saying about IMBB. What you wrote was heartfelt. Kudos to your spirit !

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