I've missed this space in recent months. I miss how it fills me up and allow me to share my words/myself and meet so many amazing readers and writers.
This is the only place I can share my words, who I am, and who I wish to be without harsh judgement. Maybe others judge in private, in which case, that is fine with me. They move on. They stop reading. I never know.
Though it has never happened to me, some might judge in public. And if they did, I would simply delete their harsh words right off this page. It's my space, after all. But trolls ... they don't seem to come here. I thank them for staying away.
Though it has never happened to me, some might judge in public. And if they did, I would simply delete their harsh words right off this page. It's my space, after all. But trolls ... they don't seem to come here. I thank them for staying away.
I choose what I wish to write about. What the border looks like. The template. The photos. I choose the books and writers I want to read and celebrate. There's no editorial calendar. No one waits with a deadline and a finger wag. There are no request for revisions or stamp, stomp, DENIED.
No one tells me my words aren't funny enough or commercial enough or interesting enough. (And, hooboy, I know I've written some posts that have been real doozies.) Though I've tried not to, I've probably said stupid or uninformed things throughout the years. But I own them. They are mine.
My revelation, today -- and it answers a question others have asked me, a question I've asked myself, why do you bother? why do you blog? -- is that there is no other writing space in the world where this is the case. Maybe a journal but, with a journal, there's no opportunity for someone to whisper, or maybe shout, yes or me too or I understand or I don't or have you seen it this way? and it opens my eyes to how you and I fit together in this world, whether we're linking arms or laughing or nodding or wondering or pointing one another toward a new understanding.
This isn't me signing off, it's me signing in. Maybe it's the glop of love hormones from baby boy, but it's me saying thank you for reading my words and for letting me read yours. In this small corner of the universe, we have a space that is all ours.
No one tells me my words aren't funny enough or commercial enough or interesting enough. (And, hooboy, I know I've written some posts that have been real doozies.) Though I've tried not to, I've probably said stupid or uninformed things throughout the years. But I own them. They are mine.
My revelation, today -- and it answers a question others have asked me, a question I've asked myself, why do you bother? why do you blog? -- is that there is no other writing space in the world where this is the case. Maybe a journal but, with a journal, there's no opportunity for someone to whisper, or maybe shout, yes or me too or I understand or I don't or have you seen it this way? and it opens my eyes to how you and I fit together in this world, whether we're linking arms or laughing or nodding or wondering or pointing one another toward a new understanding.
This isn't me signing off, it's me signing in. Maybe it's the glop of love hormones from baby boy, but it's me saying thank you for reading my words and for letting me read yours. In this small corner of the universe, we have a space that is all ours.
Melissa, I'm so glad you choose to share some of yourself here. I can't say how much it means to me to read your posts and see a glimpse of the beauty you see. That's what art's about, isn't it? Sharing beauty with others....
ReplyDeleteWell, I say thank you to YOU for posting your beautiful photos and thoughts :)
ReplyDelete"No one tells me my words aren't funny enough or commercial enough or interesting enough."
ReplyDeleteYup. That's true. You don't have to meet anyone's expectations on your own blog. People come or they don't. They stick around or they don't. They comment or they don't. No sales figures to worry about. No submissions. No queries. Just a place to be.
This is exactly why I'm still blogging, despite many bloggers giving up and telling me I should too. You can't say these things on Twitter or even FB. And facebook has gotten too commercial for me, anyway.
ReplyDeleteLovely words, as always, Melissa. Thank you for all the inspiring posts you've given us, and I look forward to many more!
This is perfect.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm off to share it with a wonderful writer friend of mine who's been struggling with the "why bother?" This is such a wonderful and real "why".
Yes to all of this. When I first began blogging 8 years ago, I was passionate, even obsessed about writing nearly every day. I had dozens of “friends” all over the world with whom I connected via sharing our stories about life in general. In recent years, that connection has morphed to other areas of social media, and I don’t write on my blog nearly as often as I once did. That’s too bad. I keep telling myself to write more, because it is the only place where my words can deepen and expand and go out into the world. I need to do that. It’s good for my soul, and hopefully it might be good for someone else’s as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record..I love ALL your words. They paint beautiful, thoughtful pictures in my heart.
Beautifully said, Melissa. I keep coming back to blogging because everything you say here is true.
ReplyDeleteIntimacy and connection, without the push to be perfect. It feels authentic and true to me. Just like your post.
Couldn't have said it better myself. For me, blogging (and all the journaling I have done throughout life) is about making the time to have a conversation with myself, to draw out the sense and get it all down. And if not all of it, then half of it; if not half, then a fraction. Sometimes one sentence can say it all.
ReplyDeleteI love this. Thank you for putting to words why I relish blogging so much. You often put into words what is elusive for my brain to pen. I absolutely love the weave of your words, they always feel like beautiful longtime friends.
ReplyDelete