I think that, by far, the most fascinating thing about blogging is... that people read it and, that they have opinions about it, but moreso than the opinions is the "wanting" to read it. Someone told me recently that I should not or, people in general should not write their thoughts down for other people to see. I have actually used that same line when referring to text messages written by teenagers, but when I think about this forum and the intent behind the blog, it wouldn't make sense if I didn't share those thoughts, even if that means putting myself in a vulnerable position. Maybe I won't get a full time job or I will lose some friends, but, if at the end of the day, I can look myself in the face and know that I was honest, then I am wholly alright with that. Words can certainly cut, but, in my humble opinion, they can also heal.
My blog is just an incessant means of venting about the rights and wrongs in my world; therefore, it is not really up for judgement by you or by anyone. It's the same with my life. You may think that you have an opinion about something that I've done or said, but unless that opinion has some ultimate purpose or unless it is given in a manner that is intended to "show" me my mistake or other incompetence, then your words have no more meaning than mine. My life is not up for criticism here; you read what I write because you are interested in my perspective. If you weren't, you'd be on some other site and, frankly, either way is okay with me. I read the comments that people write to me and I love them all, good, bad, critical and I laugh at some of the conclusions drawn by people who don't know me. There is one reader who lives in Europe, but who will not identify specifically where, probably for fear that I will show up in person and, what? Clobber her? I only know that she is female because she told me so and even then, I may be the tiniest bit skeptical. Irregardless, she reads this blog "faithfully," in her words and she has MUCH to say about what she'd like to read. It makes me laugh harder when I read that line because if she dictates what I write about then it is no longer my blog and it is forced instead of being off the cuff which is how I operate, pretty much the whole time.
I am a people person, always have been, but in the past couple of years, writing has helped me to be more introspective about the public and individuals, generally speaking. I listen to the voice in my head and the words just begin to come out. Sometimes an incident will release the flood gates and other times it is just a feeling. Like today, I was thinking about my students and they just finished a writing assignment and I watch as some of them write so freely, like it is second nature while others painfully write each word as if spilling their own blood on the paper. Writing is so very personal in nature; that is what makes it so beautiful.
I like to listen like I enjoy reading. I listen, digest the information, consider it and then come to a conclusion. I have gotten much more efficient at "sizing" people up and sometimes after I meet someone for the first time, I sit down and think about what kind of a "character" he or she would be in the novel that I'm probably never going to write. Oh, she's the antagonist, oh man, she's the heroine or maybe, he's the bus driver... whatever it is, I listen to that description that has to come out. A good writing teacher will tell you that the more that you read, the better your writing. As a writer teacher, I concur, but I also think that the best writers that I've had in class, write from a place of multiple perspectives. A great critical thinker/writer considers all sides of an issue, a theme or a conflict before sitting down to analyze it. He ponders it all in relation to a specific focus that will become a thesis, but, he also considers how that idea fits into the big picture. I've read some fantastic essays over the years, written with care and certitude, with alacrity and verbiosity. I've read essays that just plain knocked my socks off... While most of know that writing is cathartic, sometimes it can be so daunting to sit down and stare at the paper, trying to come up with something valuable to say. The thing is, when someone tells you to write what you know, basically that's all it is, write your "self." Write your perspective. Garnish accordingly...
We moved this weekend, yet AGAIN and now I must go and unpack the garage. Sigh... I'd like to just take my kids to the movies and stuff my face with popcorn. We all got a lot of sun this weekend so "sun" activities are out for today. As an aside, I told Ty that he has to read and practice math every day this summer and his sweet reply was "Mom, I don't need to read during the summer. I read a lot in Kindergarten." He didn't respond to the Math part. I could say the same thing about writing, couldn't I? Then again, if I did, what would you have been doing for the past 4 minutes instead of reading this...
As we used to "say" in our notes in school or letters that no one sends any longer... write back soon.
