A few more thoughts on the "How We Matter" discussion going on at Using My Words.
Yesterday, I put out a rather vague post about a condition in my life that was causing me anxiety.
And a few dozen people ('a few dozen' is a lot of people!) came by here and left very kind comments. One of them made me cry ~ and I don't typically cry.
This may not seem like a big thing. Commenting on blogs. We all do it. We go from one site to another, sprinkle the sites with our thoughts, our encouragement or our opinions.
And it matters - because it just does. Because there is someone sitting on the other end of the screen who is reading them. If they make someone smile, make someone think, make someone look at something a little differently or if they encourage someone by validating their own view of something, that is value.
Western culture weighs and measures too much. For a long time, I got trapped in that, too. Concerned about whether or not my blog, my writing, my opinions, my very personhood measured up to what I saw around me. Interesting hierarchy, that. Up. Down. Lower. Higher. All with an intrinsic value attached.. a measurement.
What I finally concluded is that we can never know how much an action might matter to someone else. The only solution is to walk along our path, sprinkling a few rose petals where we can and let it go.
And I thank all of you for the rose petals you sprinkled here yesterday ~ and sprinkle here daily. It matters. To me.
Palms together (ไหว้) to all of you.
กอดกับรัก (May you be well and happy.)
~*
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
It All Matters - Because It Just Does!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
Absolutely it matters - that is why we should endeavor to encourage other bloggers with our comments as often as we can. Sometimes there's just not enough hours in the day. Sometimes I want to comment on every post in my reader and there's not enough time to do it. Spread the love. ;)
I'm glad you have been able to let go of the measuring yourself against other bloggers. At the same time, I believe we should all be reaching, pushing, learning, improving, trying to be the best blogger WE can be - and the rest will follow, if we do that.
There are endless things we can learn about blogging, from html code to how to write things in a way that draws your reader in to read the whole post instead of skimming. That is one thing I've been trying to do with some of my recent articles and I have watched other bloggers make major improvements - to their blog design, to their writing, to their RSS feeds, to the various topics we've had. That has been so rewarding for me. ;)
I'm going to have to do a post where I point some of those things I've noticed out, I think.
But most of all, I think you will agree with me on this - I have met some wonderful people through blogging, people I care about dearly. My life has improved thanks to others writings. I have changed the way I think about things often, just by reading someone else's thoughts.
What each blogger contributes to the blogosphere is so valuable to us all. That can never be measured by site meters or technorati ranks. ;)
Cheers!
Snoskred
and thank you, friend. for you matter so very much to all of us, too.
and to you, friend. And to you
Thanks for being another life line for me. It's no small thing. I am glad you're out here.
support means everything. having another see us and be genuinely concerned and kind matters. absolutely.
It is easy to support one so honest. (That would be you!)
Hi Chani
I really enjoy reading your blog, it's so honest, it's refreshing! I'll keep coming back for more ;-)
I enjoy your blog too. You always have something thought provoking to say.
Commenting is a double edged sword, I think. I love to get them, but sometimes get weighed down by the responsibility of leaving them.
But they do matter to people and they do drive the blogosphere.
There's an enormous amount of support that can be found, and that's a really good thing.
Recently I haven't had much time for blogging, and I really miss it. When I visit my dashboard, I'm surprised at how few posts I've made in the last two months. It's surprising because (1) I think about the bloggers I "know" all the time, and (2) I've had so much real support from commenters, I feel it continuously, even though I haven't been contributing much. If I hadn't already made the gratitude button, I think I'd do it again! :)
You are right, our actions are the little butterfly wings that fan the bigger things, good or bad. I find it facinating that we rarely get to see what a little comment or reaction can have. But those times when we do get to see outcomes, well, its wonderful.
I know I personally blogland has been good to me. If only we could all be this real and positive in our everydays, wouldn't that be something?!
I am often struck by the warmth and kindness of bloggers. It is a great support and makes a big difference in a life. Loneliness and isolation are kept at bay through blogging.
Rose petals to you Chani! I hope you feel better! :)
Yes, just this. It does. :)
Julie
Using My Words
So true, Chani.
I had a discussion about this with someone...she said "when dealing with people - the public - or even direct service, you just never know how you touch someone. You'll never know your impact. But I guarantee, everyone in here has had an impact."
And you're right. It does matter.
I cannot think of anyone more deserving of rose petals than you, Chani.
You matter. A lot. To many.
(No shit.)
You are so welcome, dear heart!
You right. It's important to let people know we appreciate their words. I haven't had the time lately to get to everyone I'd like to because I know how much readers comments mean to me when I get them-big or small.
I'm not the least bit surprised at all the rose petals you got Chani. Your blog is very special to me and I'm sure many others.
I'm so glad you were encouraged. I must confess that some days I'm strictly a bloglines reader (for all blogs that I read), and yesterday was one of those days. But I too have been very touched by people who comment...its so nice to have the human touch...
Namaste
That's it exactly. It makes you really try to be a better person when you realize how much a random act can affect others.
...and to you Chani a veritable windstorm of rosepetals.
Your voice is singular and signifigant.
Post a Comment