Tag

blogging

Things I could write about

Posted by — 4 Comments

I could write about how I got my nails done yesterday for the first time in months, in a super dark shade of purple/plum. But people don’t care about that.

I could write about the cauliflower soup I made yesterday. But I’m not a food blogger.

I could write about how I smelled and sensed snow in the air today. But there are no poetic words floating about in my head.

I could write about how, after two weeks off for vacation, I’m a little anxious at the thought of diving back into the joyful insanity of work again. I guess I could share how after every vacation I notice a little voice of fear in my head, wondering if I’ll somehow forget to be a good speech-language pathologist when I go back.

I suppose I could write about not knowing what to write. But I always do that.

I could talk about how the news, the articles, the talk of rape and rape culture and doubts and accusations and shame are breaking my heart, but I can’t stop reading.

I could attempt to explain how I am fairly confident that shame is the opposite of compassion, and the reason people shame themselves and feel shame for their decisions and experiences is due to the fear of being met with shame; if they knew they’d be met with compassion, they might find it a tiny bit easier to find compassion for themselves.

I could write about how it’s so much easier to say things to other people, to believe things for other people, than for ourselves.

I guess I could write how my grief comes and goes, and I’m not quite sure what to do with it. But I don’t have any words.

I could talk about my ever-ongoing battle of nurturing the introvert/routine-follower in me, and going out of my comfort zone/pushing myself a little bit. There’s a line somewhere between the two but it’s sometimes hard to see.

I could continue rambling on about anxiety or sensitivity or life. But I have nothing profound to say, and I write about those topics too much.

I guess I could write about any of those topics.
But I don’t have the words. I don’t have the courage. I don’t have the initiative.

So today, yet again, I’m not going to write.

What I’m Reading

Posted by — 5 Comments

I don’t usually never write blog posts that are links to other blog posts. Mostly because when I read those types of posts, I usually get overwhelmed at learning about all of these other corners of the internet that I didn’t know existed, and worrying if I’ll have time to read all of the links and the posts, and follow all of those authors, etc. But that’s just me and how I roll.

But I’ve been struggling this week to write, and what I have been doing is a lot of reading other things. So, I’m going to link to some of them. Maybe you want to read them, maybe you don’t, maybe you love this type of post, maybe you’ll skip right over it. It’s all good.

Things I’m reading (and re-reading) this week:

–> This post, “Parenting to the Lowest Common Denominator”, by Jamie Krug. I found Jamie recently through the blogosphere, I think through Lindsey, and am quickly going back through all of her old blog posts, loving everything she writes. This particular post, I have read and re-read at least five times in the past few days. It is so heartfelt and raw and honest and after posting it on Facebook, it’s clear that it resonates with others, too. The way Jamie acknowledges her daughter’s sensitivity and introversion is heartwarming.

–> A wonderfully real and inspirational article, called “29 Signs You’re Doing Just Fine (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It). My wonderful friend sent me this article Friday morning, knowing, as she often does, exactly what I needed at that moment. I’ve re-read this so many times. I want to print it out and keep it with me, always.

–> This flowchart entitled, “Should You Catcall Her?”, which was actually created by Playboy. Which makes me like it even more, because it uses language that might resonate with its demographic, meaning it might be effective. And it sure gets its point across.

–> “A letter from your introverted friend”, in which Becky eloquently conveys that which many of us feel from time to time but don’t necessarily have the words to express.

–> Not online, but I re-read The Secret Life of Bees for at least the 15th time this past week. It fills up my soul. I just love that book.

What have you read this week?

 

Your turn.

Posted by — 1 Comment

This is my first poll and I’m nerdily excited about it. So many people have shared thoughts about my blog and my posts. Different people seem to love hearing about different things, so it got my thinking that maybe there are certain topics people want to read more about, or less about, and maybe a poll is a good way to find out.

If I’ve done this correctly, you will be able to select as many or as few topics that you’re interested in hearing more about, as well as add whatever else you can think of. It’s 100% anonymous so even if you’re a lurker or I don’t know you in person or you don’t want me to know that you’re voting, no worries – because I can’t know who contributed.

Here you go, hope it works!

[polldaddy poll=8210441]

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”

Posted by — 2 Comments

That is the quote that I have heard umpteen times from my mom. My brother and I used to joke about it, because Mom said it so often. Of course, unsurprisingly, she was always right. We’d hear that when we were worried to ask a teacher for an extension on an assignment, when we were anxious about roommate troubles, when we wanted to negotiate jobs and salaries. A million times I’ve heard it. And it’s always been true. 

Mom would always remind us that the worst thing that could happen is someone would say “no”. No, I can’t give you that extension on your paper; no, I won’t wash my dishes; no, your job start date isn’t flexible. The worst that would happen is hearing that “no,” and yet, hearing that “no” wasn’t so bad at all. It was always worth it to know, rather than wonder, What would’ve happened if I had asked/spoken up? Plus – we could spend our whole lives thinking about doing things, wishing we were, or we could just DO them and see what happened, because chances were that what would happen would be a good thing.

And that’s how I feel about blogging. Yet another perfect example. I was scared to blog, then I was scared to tell my close friends and family, then I was scared to share it on Twitter and Facebook. And, for what? I spent so much time thinking about what would happen if people read it, wondering what their reactions would be, but once I actually did it, I felt great. I heard Mom’s voice in my head, advising me, “The worst thing that could happen is that people don’t read it, or they don’t like it.” And you know what? That’s not actually so bad. Because ultimately, this blog is for ME. And I’ve always maintained that if even one person gained something from even one of my posts, it was successful.

Plus – there would never be a “perfect time” to do it. I started to realize that I would never wake up one day and be 100% certain that I wanted to share my inner thoughts with the world. But if that perfect time was never happening….I might as well just go for it. And maybe someone will read it and be glad I wrote. Or maybe not. It doesn’t matter.

So I’ve already gained something from it. And I’m glad I ventured out.

Thanks, Mom! <3 

The Great Big Reveal

Posted by — 1 Comment

Okay. This is it. The Really Big Post that I’ve been dreaming/stressing/thinking about for almost 3 years now. 

The funny part is that it’s probably not that Big for anyone else except for me. So many people blog, I’m hardly unique here. (Can you tell that I’m trying to reassure myself?)

Anyway. Last weekend I very nervously told my fiance about this blog. He was excited, he’s been encouraging me to blog for years (not knowing that I was actually doing it), and I told him how nervous I was that he wouldn’t like it, that nobody would like it, etc. He very realistically, and gently, reminded me that I’m not a writer. Which was actually really comforting – if people don’t like what I write, that’s okay, because my job in life is not to write, it’s not to use correct grammar or perfectly articulate thoughts that people want to hear. I’m not a journalist, so the standards I set for myself can be fairly low. He asked if he could read it, and I said yes, and being the wonderfully patient person he is, he didn’t say another word about it for 24 hours. (I am much less patient than that, and if roles were reversed, I probably would’ve bugged him immediately until he gave me the link) A day later I emailed him the link to the blog, and….that was that. I felt like that was the first Big thing I had to do. 

And now? It’s time to share it more. Little by little.

Here’s what I’ve decided (honestly, despite my fears that nobody will like it, these are my Truths that I really do believe, in my core):

  • I will be okay if people don’t like what I write. When it comes down to it, I write for me, and I write for people who want to read what I write. If someone doesn’t want to read it, then….they shouldn’t read it. And that’s fine.
  • I will be okay if I don’t stick to my dream of writing all the time and constantly giving people new posts to read. I don’t want to this become a chore or something I dread. If people like what I’m reading, they’ll stick around, whenever it is that I happen to share something.
  • I will be okay if people disagree. I have opinions, and because of that, I have two choices. I can hide what I think and how I feel, thereby “playing it safe,” and also thereby trapping my essence inside of myself – or, I can say how I think and how I feel, set my thoughts free, and let them float to wherever they may land.

Other things I’ve decided: I’m not ready to fully introduce myself yet. Soon. And, I’m still a little too scared to post this on Facebook for every single person I’m friends with to see. I want to keep building it up small…so, next step is going to be posting the link on Twitter, which seems much less scary to me. Then an email to some friends and family. And then maybe Facebook. Or maybe not.

Okay. Here we go.

Publish Post.

Writing about writing

Posted by — No Comments

I spend so much time worrying about blogging, worrying that nobody would read it, worrying that I wouldn’t be a good blogger. But now, a year, two years later, I still am not regularly blogging and I still wish I was. So really, I’m just scared and I need to stop being scared and just write, even if nobody reads it, even if it’s just for me. Because time is passing and there is no magical moment when I’ll be ready.

Here are things I want to write about.

Posted by — No Comments

In no particular order:

  • My intuition and sensitivity
  • Being a speech-language pathologist
  • Working with kids with autism
  • Anxiety
  • Quantum physics and energy healing
  • Books I’m reading
  • Relationships
  • Tragedies in the world

Where on earth do I start?