I think a lot about paradox. I don’t actually know how you can be in this world and not think about it. Life is, we are, complex, and while it seems our culture and these times in general urge us into surface-y reactions and superficial interactions, I know that’s not what any of us really wants, or who we are.
No matter what our life looks like, if we aren’t occasionally hitting the pause button to reflect I’m not sure we can consider that living. And that’s the sort of thing I’ve been thinking about lately.
If you know me in real life you know I’m reclusive and shy, but that doesn’t mean I’m not curious, that I don’t like sharing peeks into my world and peeking into yours. I just means I think of it as an unfolding process deserving of the attention and care you devote to any relationship. Which I suppose is why I like blogging. And why I’ve suddenly seem to have taken a great interest in Instagram – I get to do those things my way. I understand the very real criticism and concern that these very medium promote very skewed perspectives – that what is presented is more curated than factual. But what if that weren’t true? Or what if it was true and we chose to figure that into the equation as a factor that helps us correct our own margins of error?
Over all the years I’ve been blogging and reading other blogs, I’ve always loved those posts where people share links of what they’ve found interesting. It feels like a such an expansive share-the-love kind of thing. For a while I did it weekly, and I’m thinking of returning to that practice, beginning today.
- I love a good rant on why we should continue to blog even though it’s so old school.
- Artist threadstories work addresses how we portray ourselves on line through the creation of masks and “falsehoods.”
- Knowing my obsession with abecedariums, a friend shared this fabulous link. Nature rocks it once again.
- I kind of like this brief explanation of what second cousins once removed, actually means. I swear I almost failed a college anthropology course because the instructor was obsessed with family trees and I had such a difficult time grasping this cousin concept.
- Moving from family trees to altered leaves created by Susanna Bauer.
- Creating beauty in an unexpected way – literary star charts.
- And wrapping things up, a short inspirational film.
What have you been thinking about lately? What have you found inspiring? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Hari OM
Thank for your ‘harvest’ choices here today – I particularly enjoyed the first and the last. Although I did take up Instagram about three months back, it is purely for fun and I think serves the purpose of ‘instant gratification’ for the eyes, which is no horrid thing to end one’s day with. (I only spend half an hour before bed.)
Blogging is far and away my preferred medium, for creating and consuming. As you are aware, I do a fair few ‘info’ articles and love to place links for folk to further their own knowledge and understanding.
There is just so much out there – I have days of wondering if I ought not to draw back into myself and shut off the online altogether. Not yet, not yet…
YAM xx
It sounds like you’ve found a right-fit practice for IG – so yay Yamini. It’s currently delighting me and satisfying my need for visual inspiration, and feels like a welcoming way for me to participate in social media.
I’m impressed by your blogging proclivity and the wealth of things you share. That requires a great sustained commitment, and I’m not really sure how you manage.
But like everything in our lives I suppose, we have to find our balance. I’d hate to see you entirely withdraw your online presence, but I clearly understand. I think I just do it in more measured pacing – disappearing for a while and then returning.
oh good grief – second cousins once removed always does my head in … My mother has a word that encompasses all of them – they’re ‘friends’! I’ve always thought that was weird as I treasured my friends who weren’t related to me at all, but no, she insists – they’re friends of ours – way out somewhere lol But thanks for clarifying that Deborah.
Those leaves are exquisite – what patience she has to create such works of art.
Have a lovely week
Fil
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who struggled with sorting out those relationships, but I most definitely give a thumbs up to your mother’s solution.
And yes to those leaves – I can hardly imagine the patience, effort, and skill they require. But they’re so beautiful!
The unexamined life and “storefront” social media – much to think about. Thank you for the links!
“Storefront social media” – love that term Carol.
I suspect blogging will always be my first love and the place I feel most comfortable. But I’m certainly part of an increasingly endangered population, and it makes me value everyone who blogs even more.
The children of my second cousins are my 2nd cousins once removed, right? I’ll check myself out on the link. I’ve been watching the Oscar nominated films and doing short critiques. I never thought I would get into cinema, but I’m enjoying it a lot. Several of the films I would not have seen if not for my goal. Every new experience (even the ones I don’t particularly care for) stretches me. I take Instagram and Facebook for what they are (mostly entertainment); I’m Margaret Lite there, although I do post some quotes and opinions. However, I don’t show myself openly as I do on my blog. In real life, many people consider me an extrovert. I can play one for a while, but it’s far from who I am. I am an outgoing introvert!
What a fun film-watching project Margaret. And hooray for all the opportunities that invite us to stretch. We don’t grow otherwise, do we? I understand your point that your blog is your personal platform where you show yourself more fully. I’m glad we get to see each other authentically.
Oh Deborah…your posts always make me delve into myself, at a time when I have been paying so much attention to everything and everybody elses’ needs… And funny, how the “cousin” thing came up, because I got an online message today from a FIRST COUSIN that I have not seen in over 40 years…so we surely do have some catching up to do!!! I love the leaves… Thank you friend for always pulling me in, to where I really want to be…
How fun about your first cousin Vicki – that’s quite a catch up to undertake!
And I love how we can trigger things for each other. It’s such a beautiful flow of reciprocity when you can receive from another what you need, and by sharing yourself someone else can receive from you. Being in this embodied life is a pretty amazing thing at times.
Fortunately, accordingly to some marketing specialists, people want more real content and engagement and no longer only ‘the likes’ and superficial ‘stuff’. I think blogging is a great way to share perspectives and also more meaningful content. Personally, I also love to read more personal blogs and get insights of the life of my neighbors. Curious for the sake of expanding my understanding of various different cultures and belief-systems.
Looking forward to many of your beautiful posts.
Warm regards,
Patty
I have not doubt your curiosity and gift at connecting will keep you blogging long into the future Patty, and I for one am really glad about that. I definitely enjoy personal blogs the most – I always feel grateful when people feel able to share glimpses into their lives and souls. It’s magical how diverse we can be in our unity, and unified in our diversity.
I like how you’ve conceptualized this project of sharing the links. It seems like a perfect way to use your curiosity to connect with other people, if only in that it shows us who you are behind the social media mask, so to speak. The link to the literary constellations is fascinating and nothing like anything I’ve seen before. Will be musing on how any novel could be conceived as its own galaxy. Wondering if all our blogs might be the same way.
I’ve been musing with you about novels as galaxies Ally – isn’t it fascinating?! But I very much like your thoughts about blogs as well.