In one of my comment threads yesterday, Colorado Bob talked a little bit about how he thinks of his blog. This is, of course, a question we all consider often, and much has been said about it. I will not attempt to link to, or to summarize, the ongoing discussions of this matter.
My anniversary is coming up, however, and I have considered re-posting and perhaps reflecting upon my very first posts to celebrate the date. For now, though, I will only note that I am much more sure now than I was then of what I am doing, both in this space and elsewhere.
People blog for all sorts of reasons. My most assiduous readers will know that this blog was established so that I could recover my voice. I thought it might work, but I did not realize how well it would. It is a space of play, but with parameters, and that is why I like it, as I like my art studio. I am noticing its good effects today, as I revise an article that was difficult to work on during my voiceless period.
When I was voiceless, writing was hard to navigate. I had surrendered my rudder to reeducation, so that although the words, my playmates, still swirled and surged around me, I found no way to sail through them. In the weblog, with no constraints except those I choose, I learned to work with words again – not only the words I write in secret, or those which will appear only in semi-public forums like these, but all words. I have not felt as tranquil, or as energized, in some time. Aum shantih shantih shantih.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
that made me happy.
I share Luisa’s sentiment.
When I, too, consider the evolution of my site, the way I have transformed it and the way it has tranformed me, I am pleased. Like my blog, I continue to evolve, to define and redefine who I am and who I want to become. I see progress, not in the finished product, but in the sharpening of the definition.
🙂
I’m glad you’re finding your voice because I enjoy taking it in. It’s an onerous process, but as you work on shaping and building it becomes worth it, doesn’t it?
Blessings, sister.
hallelujah. (substitute preferred statement of joy if needed)
Thanks all, I like the vibe! At this moment, I am quailing. 15 minutes at a time.
Voice: the voice, in conversation, I never lost. Lost the nerve to go public with it, though. Silliness. I used to say I was suffering from the Cassandra Complex (she made correct predictions, but was never believed). I am learning from the blog that one should make them, anyway.
Z …. Don Herbert aka Mr. Wizard did an experiment that I have always remembered. He was explaining the nuclear chain reaction, and the example was as elegant as any ever done.
They set up a ping pong table and covered the entire thing with mouse traps. On each of the bait clips of what was several hundred mouse traps, was a ping pong ball. Mr. Wizard, explained the whole process of the nuclear reaction, holding a single ball, and then tossed it into the center of the table. The first 2 to 3 seconds were just a few balls bouncing around, but suddenly there was a violent cloud of ping pong balls boiling up from the table.
The web is a lot like that experiment of Mr. Wizards.
ALL the words. Yeah.
I never thought of blogging that way. For me I feel all alone and it’s my way of reaching out. I guess I have rediscovered my voice too.
So true, Prof. I started blogging exactly 3 months ago and am just now beginning to find that stride you’re talking about. But it requires daily discipline in order to see the results. One of the major benefits is that some days a good piece has the power to put a spring in my step.
ProfCero, Colorado Bob put me on to your site, said we’d ‘appreciate each other.’ The man from Texas is at least half-right. I’ve just started a Notable Blogs list and yours is in the front six. Swing by whenever you like.
http://intimationsofubiquity.blogspot.com