A Disclaimer, I Think
I've been feeling weird about blogging lately. I'm sure it's part of the insecurity I feel about posting my writing on the web, but regardless of what it is, I don' t like it.
For starters, I'm not even sure if anyone reads my blog. It's ok if they don't, but if they don't, should I continue to blog? Why not just write in a paper journal? If no one is looking, then I don't need to document the happenings online.
And if I do that, then I can write whatever I like, because only I will know what I'm writing! Which leads me to my second point. Am I able to say anything I want on this blog? Is it true that I don't have to feel like I'll offend someone, or hurt feelings, or tell stories that people don't want told, or say something stupid and not worry about whether or not it'll be thrown back in my face? Is that the land of blogging? If so, then great.
But what if I say something and someone does take it the wrong way? Most times when I write, I'm trying to clear my head of the zillions of thoughts that go through it. Writing helps me to articulate my thoughts and words better than when I speak. And it helps me to figure out what exactly I want to say about certain topics, and how I feel about them. I love to write! And I want people to journey along with me and know the things I'm learning about. But what if, let's say, I write something that I'm still trying to figure out, and someone jumps down my throat to let me know that either I'm wrong, or my writing is bad. What then? Do I put on thick skin and tell them to shove it? Or do I hesitate to write anything more that I'm not sure about or people may disagree with? Knowing myself and how insecure I can feel about people seeing my writing, I may be tempted to do the latter.
That is the main reason I've been feeling weird about blogging. Despite my saying that there is nothing "happening", there is a lot I'm learning about. And I'm not nearly done learning about these things. I'm just discovering. I want to write about them, but honestly, I'm insecure. How can I write, and write good about things I'm just discovering? I always thought I was a pretty good writer, but as I venture further into blog-land, I discover hundreds of others who write much more profoundly, provacatively, and articulately than I.
So I guess here is where I make up my mind. My writing is exactly that, mine. I will say what I want, what I mean and what I think, and if you don't like it, too bad. I've always been authentic; I'm not going to stop now. To those who are quick to judge about my discoveries, know that like you, I'm just trying to figure things out. Extend grace. To those that enjoy reading my blog, keep on reading! I hope you'll journey along with me and contemplate your own what, why's and how's...
For starters, I'm not even sure if anyone reads my blog. It's ok if they don't, but if they don't, should I continue to blog? Why not just write in a paper journal? If no one is looking, then I don't need to document the happenings online.
And if I do that, then I can write whatever I like, because only I will know what I'm writing! Which leads me to my second point. Am I able to say anything I want on this blog? Is it true that I don't have to feel like I'll offend someone, or hurt feelings, or tell stories that people don't want told, or say something stupid and not worry about whether or not it'll be thrown back in my face? Is that the land of blogging? If so, then great.
But what if I say something and someone does take it the wrong way? Most times when I write, I'm trying to clear my head of the zillions of thoughts that go through it. Writing helps me to articulate my thoughts and words better than when I speak. And it helps me to figure out what exactly I want to say about certain topics, and how I feel about them. I love to write! And I want people to journey along with me and know the things I'm learning about. But what if, let's say, I write something that I'm still trying to figure out, and someone jumps down my throat to let me know that either I'm wrong, or my writing is bad. What then? Do I put on thick skin and tell them to shove it? Or do I hesitate to write anything more that I'm not sure about or people may disagree with? Knowing myself and how insecure I can feel about people seeing my writing, I may be tempted to do the latter.
That is the main reason I've been feeling weird about blogging. Despite my saying that there is nothing "happening", there is a lot I'm learning about. And I'm not nearly done learning about these things. I'm just discovering. I want to write about them, but honestly, I'm insecure. How can I write, and write good about things I'm just discovering? I always thought I was a pretty good writer, but as I venture further into blog-land, I discover hundreds of others who write much more profoundly, provacatively, and articulately than I.
So I guess here is where I make up my mind. My writing is exactly that, mine. I will say what I want, what I mean and what I think, and if you don't like it, too bad. I've always been authentic; I'm not going to stop now. To those who are quick to judge about my discoveries, know that like you, I'm just trying to figure things out. Extend grace. To those that enjoy reading my blog, keep on reading! I hope you'll journey along with me and contemplate your own what, why's and how's...
posted by Kelly | 2:39 PM
2 Comments:
Hey Kelly,
I read your blog!
I'm not sure if Ouisie has your blog address? you might want to send it to her, or I guess I could just give it to her. I know when you first told me it before you guys left, you asked me not to give it to anybody so I haven't, not even to Louise. We are both like that. If someone tells us not to say something, we don't, not even to each other. :-)
I enjoy reading your blog. I think it is very cool!
On my blog I sometimes try to be careful of what I write as not to offend particular people; but at other times I purposly throw things out to get a response and I don't care who I might offend if they don't agree with me, I am looking for feed back almost like:
OKAY I said that, you don't agree so what do YOU think "LET'S DANCE!" :-) Comeon lets go a few rounds.
Do you know what I mean?
I like to get opposition to things I write sometimes, especially with the scriptures. When I make statments about something in the Bible, and someone doesn't agree, I like getting feed back. Everybody can learn from that; new thoughts, new ideas, new angles that I might have never seen before. When it comes to the bible I am always open for discussion! I want to learn and see from all directions! I keep what is good and lines up with scripture, and I throw out the rest! No hard feelings,whatsoever.
I don't know if that makes sence to you.
Other than that, I won't mention someone's name on my blog, unless I know it is not offensive, or will not be hurtful or embarrising to them in any way. I will generalize.
That is how I feel about blogging. I like doing it! For me it is fun! And something I enjoy.
If you can, e-mail me Jeff's blog. I don't have his.
Miss you guys!
In Christ,
Frank
Thanks for your comments, Frank! I was pretty quiet about my blogging cause I wanted to keep it under wraps until we moved. Now it's up for grabs! But I do appreciate you respecting my request. I think I just needed to write this particular post mainly for myself--part of that whole thinking/articulation thing.
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