Friday, August 28, 2009

Blogging & Triggers



There has been an excellent conversation going on with Bonnie at Original Art Studio and Delwyn at A Hazy Moon. Both excellent blogs, by the way, well worth checking out if you are not already a follower. The conversation revolves around the meaning and intricacies of blogging. Why do we do it? How does it change us? What are the expectations? And best one of all - what are we getting out of it?

I have been pondering and studying these questions for some time. And I believe we are in the beginning stages of an explosion of creativity. Which often happens in economic downturns, by the way. The blogging world is one way to ignite the spark within us to find and explore the gift with which we were born. We all have one, and it may not have anything to do with how we have been making our living. We may read a post, or comment, or be directed to a website, and then find ourselves thinking in a completely new direction. When you think about it - most of us have dozens of blogs that we read on a routine basis, not to mention the comments on each post. That is an abundance of information being processed. What are the odds that something wouldn't stick?

We have been sparked and ignited. Which then sparks something in someone else... and so on it goes. Little triggers, hidden deep in our subconscious mind.

It's exciting to read your posts that talk about doing something you have always wanted to do, but somehow didn't have the confidence, time, money, etc. But now, for some reason you have decided to take a chance, follow a new path, think new thoughts, follow a dream.

And there are many of you out there right now.

Are you one of those considering a new path, or idea, that you have always wanted to explore?

What do you think?

48 comments:

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

I think you may be right. There is so much talent and creativity just pulsing under the surface of some of these blogs - beyond the obvious creativity of photographs and artwork, etc. It will be exciting to see where this can take us.

Good thought-provoking questions Nancy. Thanks. And thank you for linking to Delwyn's and my blogs.

Rosaria Williams said...

Great question here. We are in a technological and creative renaissance; communication is so easy across the universe that we have information and opinions from all walks of life; the pervasive feelings are those of support and encouragement; most of the bloggers are women whose creativity is at a tipping point.

We are in for a wonderful rebirth.

Blogging is my new addiction; it used to be work. Is that the trend?

Lindz said...

I am going to post the more shallow comment with regards to the blogging world.

Seeing as I am a member of a younger and sometimes "less profound" group of bloggers, I have recently become of the opinion that blogging is something akin to high school all over again.

Don't get me wrong, I had a great high school experience. However, no matter how well-rounded you are as you maneuver adolescence, there are still many bumps in the road and maturity to be gained.

For example, there is an elite group of blogs that receive a lot of attention, comments and even money just for blogging. There are some blogger bullies out there that feel the need to use their blog as a means of criticizing/ making fun of other (which is their right as it is THEIR blog,) there are the smaller blogs with a lot to say but not much attention. Do you see where I am going?

I find it all very interesting because in the end, we all want to be liked and given attention, even if we don't want to admit it.

That isn't to say however, that there are noble and creative ideas behind each blog. Each blog serves a different purpose to it's writer and the public alike. Nonetheless I am interested in the inevitable hierarchy that we somehow fall into.

Whew.

Nancy said...

Bonnie - The creativity amazes me. Really, it does.

lakeviewer - I truly hope you are right about the rebirth. Blogging as a trend is a done deal, I think.

Ladybird World Mother said...

So agree... its an exciting time. We all seem to be finding our own voices. Good thought provoking post. Thanks for that!

Nancy said...

Lindz - I know whay you mean. I think there are many groups of bloggers. We tend to gravitate to where we feel comfortable. You are a very good writer. The fact that it feels like high school may be an indicator that you are outgrowing your group.

Expat From Hell said...

Leave it to you to articulate what I have been feeling for months. Thanks for putting in print. Once I see it with my eyes, my brain kicks into gear. I have overlooked Delwyn's blog, so I am off to join up now. Your word is sufficient enough. Thanks for this great post, Nancy.

EFH

Nancy said...

Ladybird - Wow - how wonderful is that? Finding our own voices!

Ex-Pat - You are one of the sparkers!

Meeko Fabulous said...

Hi Nancy! Blogging has totally turned me toward pursuing my dream of being a writer. I want to be published! My friend Kimberly and I are starting towards co-authoring a book. :)

Brian Miller said...

i tend to agree with ladybird...blogging has created an environment for us to find our voices and share them with the world, wether that be writing, photography, art, poetry...it allowsus to experiment and play and we each become a catalyst for others, refining each other...i think its great.

Celeste Maia said...

Emerson talked about each person having their own particular wonderful thing, their own potential. For me it is my painting which is a whopping experience. Creativity has no age, so we blog and discover talents. Photography, writing, cooking, gardening, sharing or writing poetry, drawing, painting.
Very good entry, as always.

Nancy said...

Meeko - Meeko Fabulous! - You are a unique writer and I can't wait to read your book.

Brian - Exactly!

Celeste - I agree with Emerson, and with you!

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

All good questions about why we blog and does it make us change course. I started a blog for business but quickly found ti just wasn't me to push, push, push. It became more of a cathartic experience just to put down thoughts that I think during the day..more of an escape from what I do day in and day out. reading blogs has opened many a though process that would not normally happen so to answer the question of if it has changed my direction..definitely! Just to become more of a thinker in the long run..

Anonymous said...

Great post. I was initially drawn to blogging simply as a means to express my thoughts and keep my "real world" friends and family up to date on the happenings in my life.

I quickly found that writing was a way force myself to organize my often jumbled thoughts into somewhat coherent sentences, which helped me sort things out in my mind and make sense of some of the random thoughts that were rattling around in my head.

Then I met some amazing people who pointed me in new directions, allowing me to explore topics I never knew existed (you are one of those people, btw). I have learned so much through this medium.

I've also found a supportive group of people to help me through some difficult days, and I've been able to offer the same kind of support to others in return. Touching the lives of people I've never met, and in turn being touched by them, has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me.

All-in-all, it's been an amazing journey so far. And I'm just getting started.

L'Adelaide said...

Hating to get heavy on this but will for just a few minutes...

When I began blogging and gained the nerve to post my paintings, I gained an audience for the first time...Without one criticism, I might add, which is important because that is not what would happen in life...For me, one who painted alone, who did not do the gallery scene, the etsy scene, the weekend art faire scene, any art scene except my own, blogging about art was rather new and expanding...Meeting other artists without even getting out of bed, looking at paintings, reading about an artist's process, all of it is fabulous.

However there is a dark side to blogging and to lose sight of it, can cause one to become caught between what is real and what is not...Which then leads to a false sense of security, which can be dangerous...

It is important to remember that while there are fascinating, wonderful, intelligent and creative bloggers out there, there is also no way to know who it is we are 'seeing'. The distinction between the 'real world' and blogging is being lost through the medium, something I dislike on many levels besides the one I mention here ... I pull back from that and over time, find my blogging world is actually growing smaller but more personal, blogs become people who become friends because keeping it "real", for me, is vital...

Perhaps it is because I just fired off an email [and am removing the gmail link on my blog] to a man who seems to have taken a liking to my 'blog' BUT has written me two emails [not comments] since yesterday. From experience I know that there may be more to that than just 'interest', and one day the phone could ring and you end the day with the sheriff tearing through your computer and later, a man arrested in Florida....IP addresses lead to people, if you know how to do the detective work! Keeping stats will tell anybody who wants to know your IP.

Your thoughts on this are important and I simply wanted to present another side to it that also exists[perhaps because of my own irritation over these emails!!]

I am interested to read the links you provide for this discussion so thanks for sharing them!
XO

Ambiance in the Attic said...

I am exploring a new path that I always wanted to do but didn't think I had what it takes. I recently quit me job to work at home with my husband as we are opening our own business. It allows me to utilize all the business skills obtained from 25 years of working for big companies. My pleasure is that I get extra time on the computer and find your blog and some other favorites are just the inspiration I need to stay disciplined and focused!

Nancy said...

Alicia - I like to learn things I had no idea about.

Jeff - Sometimes it's just nice to know people care.

linda - Wow, good to think about. We get so much good out of blogging but there is that other side we don't like to think about, but it's there.

Ambiance - Best of luck! My husband and I are doing things from home, as well. I like the idea of working for ourselves. We're both working on different projects, but really happy to do what we want to do, and not what someone tells us to do.

Hilary said...

I am living my dream....at Crazy as a Loom Weaving Studio. I sometimes can't believe it, after being an RN for 30 years, 20 of it in a maximum security prison.
But now it seems like my "real" life. Hard to explain.
I am very grateful.

Lillian Robinson said...

Yes, I've always loved to write and started blogging just to exercise my thoughts. Once I decided to try again at writing a novel, I started a blog to focus on just that. Now I have three blogs, each with different topics.

I not only love writing and reading other blogs, but the social aspect. I have made friends in Blogville that are every bit as dear to me as my other friends.

Delwyn said...

Hello Nancy

you have written a great post that has stimulated a fruitful discussion.

I love the way you talk of sparks...how we ignite each other with ideas, enthusiasm and support.

The blogging medium offers a platform for the expression of our creativity in the myriad of ways that our individual gifts take form
and shape.

It provides a meeting place for the sharing of these ideas, talents, musings and meanderings.

And a forum for the continued extension of these subjects amongst like minded blogging friends and acquaintances.

This combination of platform, meeting place and forum is something that most of us would never have experienced of in the real world...we are not all destined to become writers, orators, public speakers, film makers...in fact I believe that many of us are quiet, self contained people who would shy away from those situations and therefore blogging has provided us with a great gift is of enormous benefit to us...

We are able to release our creativity, experiment with it, play with it, give it a voice and a face, share it, all of this in a safe environment with encouraging friends, and in doing so be taken along on this wonderful river of expression and connection...

thanks Nancy for this post today...


P.S. thank you for the kind words and link also...I have meet some nice friends of yours already...

Happy days

Unknown said...

I recently retired and the thing I've always wanted to do is write; blogging has given me that opportunity; plus I learn a much from reading other people's posts--about writing style, point of view, etc.

robert said...

Not too long ago read that what cannot be dreamed, can't have a reality.
Dreaming to have a child, has become a reality (much felt) for now nearly two years.
Seems as if it's very much worth to follow ones dreams. Many times the only 'thing' which remains.

DJan said...

Hi Nancy, in some ways the blogging world has allowed us to be creative in new ways. I am a little overwhelmed at how MUCH there is out here, and I'm always a little afraid of falling behind and missing something. But for me, the most important part is finding kindred spirits who read and comment, and I read and comment. And there are some I follow for pure visual entertainment.

Cloudia said...

Well said, Nancy!
Change is afoot on little cat's paws ;-]

Aloha

Comfort Spiral

Pat said...

I enjoy reading other people's blogs, and have met so many nice people from all over the world. I truly look forward to writing my blog and getting my creative juices flowing. It's amazing how one you start writing, the ideas start flowing in.

Nancy said...

Hilary - You are a great inspiration when it comes to following one's dreams.

Lily - I know exactly what you mean!

Delwyn - You have such a wonderful way of stating things.

Eva - It's a gigantic school for writing!

robert - I'll bet your little son is glad your dream came true :-) And you're right - sometimes it's the dreams that sustain us.

DJ - I feel exactly the same way. It is a little daunting when you know how much is out there, and you can't possibly access it all. We creat our own communities of like-minded people, but there are many communities out there. I have been amazed I have found so many people that I care so much about. Who knew? I feel sorry for all the lonely people that probably don't need to be. It really is an amazing mechanism to connect.

~JarieLyn~ said...

You said it very well. A spark has been ignited, and little triggers cause us to discover our talents.

I started out just wanting to write, but now I am discovering that I really love the photo blogging. I want to learn much more about photography and get really good at it. It's fun and the spark has set me on fire.

Great post.

Nancy said...

Jarie - How exciting - can't wait to see more!

Deboshree said...

Very right!!
We are ourselves exploring what we can and cannot do and blogging is a lovely journey to the destinationa and as always..it's the journey which makes the destination worthwhile.
All of us need love and attention along with appreciation for what we are..perhaps we seek that the most. Blogging just shows how empty our existence can be without others. Whenever we write a piece on something..we come back to read the comments..it shows a lot abt us...we love to get feedback abt how ppl felt abt our writing.

Great post!

Love
Deboshree

Lydia said...

Yes, I want to find a teacher to give me lessons on my violin that I purchased two years ago. I don't read music and have never played an instrument. It's about time I did.

(Just read lakeviewer's comments about being in a renaissance, which, as you know, was a point I made in my recent guest post at another blog. Just as you said, there are sparks all over the blogosphere and many of us are thinking the same things. Remember in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" when people began - independently of one another - to fashion things into the shape of the place where the encounter was to occur? ....
Yuh, all that ...)

Anonymous said...

Hi Nancy! I definitely love the creativity of posting on my own blog. It started as an online diary of my thoughts to help me through a tough time. But I have to say that talking about my life and getting feedback from people has really helped me to open up and I know that's why I'm becoming increasingly more creative and happier too!

Ruth said...

It's a wonderful thing to see this explosion. It's significant that most bloggers are women, I think. Instant publishing of what resides in ourselves, in a world where we still don't have the exact power we need perhaps, is releasing something worldwide. Extraordinary!

Your among the best, Nancy. So glad to know you.

Swetha said...

I'm sorry i missed your posts!! You are a very positive thinker!

i really love to blog and it help me to come out from my stress and look in the new world where i can find so much creativity and fun!
I'm kinda addict to it and it makes my brain to think something useful:)

Dear, i have something for you in my blog.. have a look!

Nancy said...

Pat - I think it is in the act of actually writing, that we discover how creative we can be, I agree.

Deboshree - I think it's the positive comments, for the most part, that encourage us to go a little further in our exploration. Something we don't always get in the "real world."

Lydia - Close Encounters and the shapes is a great example! We are here, in this amazing group, that encourages others to join, to be all that they can be, and all we ask is that you are nice about how you express your thoughts when you comment. You can disagree, but please be respectful If only we could do this in the real world! Good luck with that violin, btw.

Rain - I have watched you change so much over the last few months. It has been such a pleasure to read each day as you got your mojo back! You are an inspiration to me.

Ruth - Thank you, it is a pleasure to know you, too. You have a great blog - always interesting, soulful.

Pranky - I agree that blogging is the good we need to hear about. The media is so full of anger, stressful stories, fear. Blogging is a counterbalance to all of those negative thoughts. I'll stop by your blog, thanks.

Anonymous said...

I started my blog more than one year ago and didn't touch it. I wrote one post, a poem I had written, and that was it.
I decided to take it up as a hobby, and now I'm smitten. It's wonderful to spew my thoughts on the internet. :)

I love reading other spews as well.
Your blogs always make me think... It's wonderful, and you are so gifted.

Nancy said...

Phoebe - You are very gifted, as well!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I started my blog because a friend urged me to, in order to promote my upcoming book, but now I blog because it's a great way to get read, and to read other's blogs. I had no idea how life-changing it could be to connect with others virtually. I truly enjoy blogging and reading other's work. What a great post, Nancy!

Nancy said...

Elizabeth - I feel exactly the same way.

California Girl said...

with so many bloggers and so much interesting input, it is hard to believe I can have an impact. I mean, even if I had 1000 followers (which I do not) I'm not sure how much of a difference I could make.

On the other hand, if I change just one person's life for the better, then it is worth it.

Nancy said...

California - I think sparks go in all directions - who knows when it will light a fire, and then emit more sparks. I think it happens by itself. You have inspired me many times to write different things, someone else reads it and writes something else....

pam said...

I think it helps us feel not alone. You blog something and, boom, you find out there are lots of people who walk around at dusk looking in peoples windows to see how they decorate. Suddenly, you are no longer weird, you're part of a group.

Lille Diane said...

Get out of my head~~~~ seriously, I believe the same way you do about this. We are in a creative awakening. Finally!! Hooray! Found you through Robert. Thank you for the inspiring read.

Nancy said...

Pam - LOL! I know exactly what you mean.

Lille - Hi - thanks for stopping by.

PeacefulWmn9 said...

What thought-provoking questions, and yes, I am one of "those." I have always wanted to be a "real" writer, and the online world has allowed me an avenue for that.

It is wonderful to get paid for articles and poetry...for writing!
A thing I have always done and will always do anyway...for pay or not.

Next, I need to begin painting again.

Seraphine said...

no, i'm not exploring new ideas. mostly, i eat from the same plate that's been served to me. sometimes there's something new, a piece of colorful lettuce say, or a new dessert topping. i eat a lot of leftovers.

Nancy said...

Peacefull - Wow, good for you!!

Seraphine - I think if you're happy, then that's a good thing. If not, then you never know when a spark might light.

JeannetteLS said...

I think my blog is helping me find the courage to publish. The message has been that it is harder and harder to publish creative writing--we'll have to market our work, show that we know WHERE to market, and blah, blah, BLOG.

I can use my blog to play with my own voice, test what I'm comfortable writing for public eyes... what I think perhaps I should re-think. Since I started blogging I've managed to dare to submit for the first time in years. It's a training ground that bridges the private and the public.

There seem to be several reasons I see: community--to connect to people with our own opinions, JUST the ego boost (I refuse to pretend I don't love it when people are kind about my writing), professional connections, and working out our psychological/emotional messes sometimes.

Mostly, though, the reason that draws me to write and to visit certain blogs, is creativity. Enjoying others' work inspires mine. I am learning how to write a public journal. I could not learn to do this any other way. And in doing it, I've been privileged to read and enjoy other people's public journals--artistic, emotional, political. All of them. It's fun and inspiring.

CrazyCris said...

I wish I were. But sadly I'm still trying to wrap up an old path...

But I have fallen into the world of blogging much deeper than I'd expected. It's all I can do to pull myself away from it each day and remind myself that I have responsibilities in the "real world"!