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| One of those great CO days for walkin' and talkin' |
As is our ritual, our steps keep time with a lively banter of conversation, smoothly transitioning from one subject to another. Or sometimes not so smoothly. Today we talked about the horror of being stuck on a cruise ship for endless days without electricity or proper waste disposal. Then we drifted into a conversation about zoos (she has a grandson and wants to take him this summer), the wonder and joy of elephants, and my weird personality glitch of crying when I see kids at zoos with pure joy and wonder on their faces.
One of our conversations centered around a topic I read on a blog the other day written by Rachel Heath. The post was about teaching toddlers to own their bodies and our responsibility as parents, to protect them and grant them a right to protect themselves.
If I'd read this story earlier, we might have had a conversation about the Huffington Post article today written by my online writing friend Wendi Nitschmann. In the Post article, she shares her love story of being reunited with her now husband, after 24 years. It's touching and filled with hope.
All this got me to thinking about the power of blogging-- our ability to tap out words and stories on our computer, triggering thoughts and conversation with people we may never meet or know. Isn't that amazing? It gave me a pause for thought about our purpose, or even dare I say, mission as writers in Blogland.
Keep writing-- you never know whose day you'll touch,
Julie
A very nice thought. Yes it is amazing sitting in your computer and writing your thoughts, your stories, knowing that there are some people who will eventually read them and even find themselves agree or disagree with you. You just connect with others so easily and it has a certain magic. Writing is more powerful than many think and I wish someday, my writing, my stories will be loved by someone. That would make me happy as a writer. :)
ReplyDeleteAthina, yeah-- I completely agree. To know something you write resounds in the heart or mind of another, at some level... what satisfaction. And you're right, whether they agree or disagree, just to get them talking and thinking, a catalyst for an exchange of ideas. Awesome.
DeleteThanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteAnd elephants are my favorite animal. I think they are quite wondrous. :-)
And giraffes. They just amaze me.
DeleteYes, I continually marvel at the blog-friendships I have gained over the past 5 years of blogging. Don't know if I will ever get to hug these people in person but i can feel loved and send love anyway! Crazy!
ReplyDeleteIts a long story, but for me right now, you guys are my only consistent friends. My close group of 5 ladies that got together every week for wine, laughter and whatever, have ALL moved away this last year!
So my cyber buddies have been a wonderful solace and I am so thankful!
Susie- you're a great example of someone who writes posts that evoke thought and conversation. :)
DeleteWell, you continue to make me think on many things. I love to think. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't think I'll ever get on a boat, though. No cruisers for this dragon. :)
Al-- like Susie above, you often write posts that prompt a conversation or thought for me. I like that you write about different topics and aren't afraid to tackle complex topics.
DeleteWhoa...
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how we all connect.
Indeed.
DeleteYes, I completely agree! Personally, blogging as allowed me to share my personal experiences and provides a means for me to articulate my creativity and how I see the world, and then share it. Blogging is an incredible outlet to feed our creative spirits!
ReplyDeleteP.s. I'm not completely in love with cruises but I do love the food!
Cheers,
Anna Soliveres
Anna-- I love your posts precisely because you dig deep, talk about yourself or things that are going on in your life. You do an excellent job making me think. I love reading and commenting on your blog because of the thoughts you trigger.
DeleteI don't think I could ever do a cruise, to be honest!
Making friends and building relationships is one of my favorite things about blogging.
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend!
Indeed, Carol. :)
DeleteIt is amazing. 100 years ago, we might marry and move away, never to see or speak to our family again. Now we have no distance between us and strangers in other lands, people we'll never meet and yet can build strong relationships with...or be crushed by, depending on what is said. There is power in our words and the ability to touch millions. That, to me, is reaching for the stars and actually touching one.
ReplyDeleteMe too Laura, and at least in this post, the real point I was trying to make-- how our words, message, can touch lives and trigger thoughts and conversation. I know that other blogs do that for me. And I love that.
DeleteOh, and cruising is the most fascinating thing in the world! I'd live on a cruise ship - just not certain lines. ;)
ReplyDelete1.) You're not the only one that loves the wonder on children's faces at zoos.
ReplyDelete2.) We often need to think before typing. What we say can have an impact.
3.) The internet can help forge friendships that may last for years. I have a friend in NYC, who has been a friend for more than fourteen years. I've never hugged her in person, but did send graduation congrats to her daughter, never forget her anniversary or birthday, share laughs, tears and one day...I'm going to NYC to give her a real hug.
And we still have a glass of wine waiting for when we head that way again! I'll cry at truck commercials and take you to the zoo.
You love me. You really really love me. (ala Sally Fields).
DeleteI'm am so NOT a crier. Rarely. And yet throw me in a place of wonder where kids' faces are all aglow with wonder and pure joy and I get all wimpy. I did that at Disneyland too. Criminy.
And yes, definitely the friendships online can be solid. Love the connections.
I'm so grateful to all the people I've met through my blog.
ReplyDeleteI love the elephants too!
Those long-trunk beasts are sure popular. It all began with our love of Dumbo...
DeleteI really do get excited making connections with those I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise if blogging didn't exist. I find inspiration in other writers' posts and appreciate when they can relate to my journey and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI do too Melissa- I love the camaraderie, and in fact, I'd say that's my very favorite aspect of connecting with other writers. But occasionally, a gifted writer will give me a morsel to chew on beyond the writing friendship-- some serious food for thought. Truly, I savor that as well.
DeleteI've met so many great people through blogging. It's my number one tool for writing and connecting. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Christine. And hopefully our writing is deliberate and thoughtful enough to sometimes leave another with some real food for thought. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThe power of wandering minds and good conversation! It's great that you have great connections of those on both levels - real life and the web. It's almost like being in separate dimensions. Do you feel like the same person in both dimensions or are your "masks," you know the social masks we all have, different in each venue?
ReplyDeleteNancy, not that I'm "old n' wise" yet by any means, but honestly at 48 I have finally given up trying to wear any kind of masks. Frankly, it's just too dang exhausting. Of course, we may show different aspects of ourselves to different people, depending on the situation and appropriateness. One thing I do like about the online friendships is my ability to use the back space key. I'm trying to figure out how to install one of those on my mouth. Surely would save me a lot of trouble.
DeleteLove building friendships on blogging! Cute post girl
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy thanks. And apropos to nothing on this topic, I like your new profile pic. :)
DeleteYes, love the friendships too!
What a wonderful post, Julie!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel-- thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYour post made me remember back to days of real-life friendships, when I used to walk and talk and lunch and coffee with others. Caregiving doesn't leave much time for that anymore, and I've had to pass on many opportunities of relaxing days or fun dinners.
ReplyDeleteI'm an extrovert who has become withdrawn due to circumstance. A peacock with its feathers plucked.
Virtual friendships are all that's left me, and those can be as fragile as a glass menagerie. As in real life, I can only truly keep a handful of close friends and the rest fall under the category of acquaintances, which number in the hundreds.
It can feel quite lonely in this group of thousands.
Mike, I think you've heard me say before I could easily be the Happy Hermit. I'm introverted and my need for masses is very small. I have to make a conscious effort to connect with folks outside the lil screen, and I do so because it is so very nourishing. It is hard to make the time, and mostly I settle for quick coffee dates. You know how you were talking about spending hours writing at the new coffee shop you have going in near you? Well taking a half-hour to meet someone for coffee every now and again before you write or when you're done, might be a perfect solution.
DeleteVery thought-provoking post, the blogosphere is an ever-expanding maze of ideas, connections and reactions. You never know how you might touch someone or inspire them, even though you'll probably never meet! Pretty amazing!
ReplyDeleteNick-- bingo, this was exactly what I was trying to get at with this post. Yes, the value of friendships and connections is a plus, but sharing ideas, thoughts, triggering a flashbulb moment for someone, spinning a new intellectual foray... Yes, wow. Amazing.
DeleteSo true, Julie, and with this access comes a duty to be responsible and conscious of the words we put out for the world to see.
ReplyDeleteHi Joy-- and there's that aspect too. If we are sharing our ideas and thoughts, then yes, what is the responsibility? Where does freedom of speech and ethical and sensitive conversation intersect? Great point.
DeleteGreat post, Julie. Very true. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa.
DeleteI highly appreciate and enjoy the friends I met via the net, such a wonderful sharing of ideas and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteA truly wonderful thing to celebrate!
Indeed it is Yolanda-- and I appreciate our connection very much.
DeleteSo true! We think we're just writing something random, not always realizing that someone on the other side of the world finds something in it that resonates with him.
ReplyDeleteIn truth though, this knowledge is actually why I prefer blogging over all other social networks. It's just more profound, personal.
Misha-- I think I may agree with you about the preferred venue. This kind of connection just isn't possible with other forms.
Deletetruly amazing. never know who we can reach or influence! it's a wonderful tool!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Tara. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWords are always a powerful weapon and blogs now allows us to reach every corner of the earth. What a neat time to be a writer!
ReplyDeleteI so agree! Your blog is a great example of one I look forward to reading, Georgina!
DeleteGreat post. I love how easy it is to touch the lives of others. Especially those who may not be touched otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThe power of words can resonate and vibrate all over the world without us ever knowing the impact it has had. Nice post, Julie, and so very true.
ReplyDelete