Thank you
I have to first say thank you to each and every person who commented on my post yesterday. It is so wonderful to know that people respond to what I write. I wrote for years at Build Peace on Blogspot/Blogger, but it wasn’t a place for comments. The comments were just as likely to contain lexical assaults as a “this made me think” type comment. I found out there are whole forums whose intent is to harass and intimidate liberal bloggers. It wasn’t pretty, but I kept at it because “I will not be silent” is so much more than a slogan for me. I had faced rougher crowds than these before when I took on the demons who assaulted my soul so regularly from the time I was a teenager until I grew to understand what unconditional love really was as I watched my child discover the wonder of life. So I really and truly appreciate the feedback, and it will take me a while to respond to them all. So I’m writing this in a mean while back at the blog type post.
But now that I am focused on more personal writing, well, a whole new world (do NOT key that sappy song) is opening up, and it is opening up in a way I really, really like.
Comments
Now I know really, really big Shew Bizz writers who can amass hundreds of comments on a single blog post. Does that make me feel inadequate? In all honesty? Well, sometimes… just a little bitty, bit. But not too much, because I am happy that their success allows me to have a model to study and from which to learn. I do sometimes wonder why I am always on a bit of a different path than seemingly everyone else, but then I remember, “I have things to teach too.”
Bookish
I’m working on a book about the journey I’ve lived in which I managed to learn to reframe my identity into a that of a positive, mature, and healthy woman. I’m leaving off the bit about also being a big mouth, bawdy, obstreperous hussy. These are some of the factors that allow me to write so personally. I guess I succeed at conveying the pain beyond which I’ve managed to travel. I’m always concerned that people are concerned about me. Really, I am fine. I want you kind folks and new readers to know that. I also want you to know that your supportive words mean the world to me. Your comments give me reason to keep working on the book. I think it will be a good read, and for some a helpful read, and I hope it will add to the understanding of what it means to be an unwanted child. I’ve been given the experiences and the voice. What else could I do but write about it?
Personal
Everyone has stories. Not everyone wants or needs to share them. If you do want to share them, great. If not, that is even more great. More great? Hmm…. that doesn’t sound right. What is an even greater achievement than sharing your personal stories and struggles is knowing that you are not yet ready to broadcast your inner voice. Truly. I am ready to share. I have always been an over-sharer; I would say nothing for the longest time, but when I did open up, boy it all came out. I’ve now, finally, had enough experience to be able to turn the faucet off after it has been opened. Now that I can regulate my sharing, I feel that I am ready to share.
Comments, Again
So please, keep leaving comments. I love that communities of women support each other. Support is a good thing to give. But please, do not feel that I am on the edge and will melt into a writhing mass of Jello if not supported immediately. Comment because you want to let me know that I wrote something with a voice, message, or managed to evoke a smile, laugh, or harumph. I’m not saying I am never sad or in pain. I visit those little bits of desert at the edges of my soul now and again. All humans have woes and injuries. But thank you all so much for caring. Your caring comments reaffirm to me that I am on the right path. I managed to reframe my initial reaction of “Oh my God, they are commenting, I must have said too much!” to “That is wonderful. I am thankful I can write in a way that touches people. Keep those comments coming!”
Namaste.
Big mouth, bawdy, obstreperous hussies are my favorite! It’s nice getting to know you, Nancy.
Aw, thanks! Nice to make your acquaintance, too, Anne!
We have to be able to say and write what we feel without fear! It is good for the soul. This seems to be the tone of the day with me, and this is why you are one of my new favorites!
Nina, believe it or not I don’t say everything that goes through my mind! LOL. But you are so right, if we are guarded we are not honest and people can tell that and can interpret it as insincere.
Well said, Nancy. I think readers are often uncertain what to say and don’t, which is a good thing. Others read and ponder a writer’s word’s elsewhere – also good. I am always tickled when a read shares their thoughts with me.. More often than not I have a new idea of a post or learn from their life experiences.
You have that one right, Brenda. The comments yesterday made this post take shape.
Seriously great post and you know that I love reading your thoughts. You will always be on my reader list and time permitting, I’ll comment, but know that I am always reading!
Now, is it possible for you to change or enlarge this font? Wow, it’s hard for these old eyes to read. i blew it up and still it is small! The comment box is like barely visible while you’re typing and then when you send it, it’s fine, but way too small.
Just askin’ cuz I’m really old, ya know?
For you, Jo, anything. I’ve tried messing around with this before, and the results were not good. So I changed it back. This time I went in and changed the font and the font size. I also changed the comment color, but the font changed too… I think. Let me know what you think. I am always somewhat hesitant to change CSS coding, but I can do it. I haven’t figured out the gray, as you enter, script.
And, young lady, I doubt your eyes are any worse than mine, which are terrible and change dramatically over the course of a day, with tiredness, varying light levels, and so on. But I can see, and that is good. I just have instamatic eyes in a Nikon world.
Also, since I do much of my blogging on my iPad, I see things as an even smaller typeface than you do, but I can enlarge the whole page with a fingertip drag and expand, so I forget how small it is.
Yeah, I like the big mouth, bawdy type too so go for it!
You got it!