A Blog About Blogging

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Intention

This blogging thing, if I’m going to be honest is an experiment. And, I’m okay with that. I’m here to spread my storytelling word. To entertain. To stoke some fires. To put my opinions out in the world. Maybe I’ll stir your emotional pot a little—you know—like art should do if it’s done right, and if you’ll be brave and let yourself go there. I will do my best to entertain and captivate. And hopefully I will fill a small bit of silence in your day while you’re waiting for someone, or quietly enjoying a cup of coffee, or simply want a distraction.

Authenticity

I will be as authentic as I possibly can. That means that all the opinions, unless otherwise stated will be my own. That being said, I sort of like cussing. I’ve read that people who cuss are smarter and more honest than most. I read that on Facebook so it’s got to be true. But this is your warning. There may be some adult language. Those who know me are sitting here right now saying “Well, ya. We knew that.” Thank you. And the rest of you, I apologize right now— if profanity offends because that is not my intention.

Size matters

I will do my best to keep the posts the right length, whatever that means. 

I had a high school art teacher who drank Earl Grey loose leaf tea every morning. Classical music wafted from a small storage room where he kept the radio. He never raised his voice and he had a beard Moses would be proud of. When he’d give us written work someone would inevitable ask how long the assignment had to be and he would always answer “as long as a string.” I always felt that sentence should be followed by the word man. “As long as a string man.” Thanks ya hippie! I loved the old guy but I was never sure what that meant—until now. My posts will be the right length—as long as a string, man. Hopefully you won’t be bored, you’ll read right to the end of every post and you’ll come back for more.

Kindness also matters

I love the quote that says before you speak, ask yourself is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve the silence? by Sathya Sai Baba and I will ask myself this with every post.  Of course you may not agree with everything I write but that’s okay. I’m going to try my best to remember the above while carrying on with this weekly experiment.

Pictures are worth 1000 words

As often as I can, I will use my own photos for my blog. I’ve been taking pictures for a long time—like when dark rooms were a thing—using chemicals to magically have images appear on photo paper. Yes, I did that. It was magic every time. I also dropped rolls of film off at the local drug store counter where negatives would be sent off and back again, taking a week—or weeks.  How did we survive?

Maybe because I’m also a visual artist I’ve been drawn to imagery as much as words, each a very unique way of storytelling. Once in a while I ponder the idea of picture taking. Why? What’s the point? Why document anything really? Then I catch myself staring too long at some antique photo of someone or someplace—trying to pull something more out of that image. And then, as I start feeling something more than a picture, confirming that I should just keep documenting this world however I like.

Recap

This is an experiment. I’m going to be as authentic, honest and kind as possible. It will not be too long, or too short. It will be just right—hopefully. I will use my own photos—also hopefully. And there maybe the occasional typo that squeaks by. I think that’s about it. Now let’s wrap it up.

Closing time

This blog is just my simple, but hopefully positive view on my small world.

I try often, to grab life by the horns and make the most of my days. My attempts are imperfect but they are mine and so is this blogging experience so please try to look past any small but distracting errors. I can’t afford an editor for every post I put up here—yet. I hope you let yourself fall into some words that may leave you with a pause, long or short and with any luck your emotional pot will get a little stir.

“The Bhagavad Gita–that ancient Indian Yogic text–says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.”

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love