There's no doubt we aren't good at many things... stewardship of the planet for one thing and, of course, we are often far too cruel with each other.
But there’s other things too.
We live in a time of wonder.
I can drop in on an internet friend, talk and see distant family and I can take a vicarious drive to a beautiful place of personal significance.
Summing up this first decade of our newest century, excluding our violent tendencies, our technical achievements and medical advances are what we’ve done the best. Perhaps with these inventive marvels there's clues and the tools to make us better.
Yes, climate is changing. Yes, the earth is over-populated. And, yes, our values, religions and governments have become too reactionary but somewhere in the hearts and souls of each of us is the potential to right all the wrongs and to make the world a better place.
My efforts in that direction are through my art and my craft.
Following your own path and your journey ... may we find joy and happiness together.
Peace.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Let me explain
After 25 months and over 700 blogs I figured I'd done enough, I never thought of blogging as an infinite exercise. Everything has an ending, or so I thought.
Initially I pulled the plug on this blog because I needed to concentrate on other things - the caveat is - I also enjoy blogging plus there are several of you I don't want to lose as blogging friends.
Here's the deal, here's part of my frustration. I don't do things lightly or with indifference. I suppose that comes from being self-employed and from creating stuff for a long time. I began this blog as an experiment of sorts, I wanted to see what would develop - if I could create a steady stream of interesting, perhaps creative blogs. I wanted to connect with people.
I had a few basic guidelines - I wasn't going to dwell on the mundane, I wasn't going to chatter about my private life. I'm sorry, I've never thought talking about daily ups and downs that compelling. And I have little interest in metaphorically pissing on your shoes or being controversial just because it's easy to do. I am not a Walter Mitty.
So I wrote poems, short stories, showed my artwork, my woodwork - things I found interesting in the news or on the web and I made best effort to be as professional as I could within blog context.
The results were mixed. I blog-connected with some terrific people, never had conflicts with anyone but, while those positives were happening, other things weren't.
The "Follower" thing drove me nuts! I wish it had never been created. I had 76 followers and from most I never heard a thing - not a single comment. In truth, of those 76 followers perhaps only a dozen or less ever left comments. I understand lurking, and that's OK, but if there's enough interest to become a follower, why not once in a while chime in with a "hello".
And the rub of the followers and comments process is I'm fully aware of blogs which feature cream puff stuff resulting in scores of fawning often dopey comments ... does that mean the majority of bloggers are that superficial and thrilled by the mundane? From the few people who have connected with me I think not - but those hundreds/thousands of fluffy comments are a dark spot I can't ignore.
Here's an insight to what makes me tick: I've taught stuff to both small groups and large audiences and when there was no reaction to what I was saying/teaching and there was silence, I figured I had failed in some manner. It wasn't that the audience was wrong, I simply needed to find ways to connect. Questions, dialog, passionate debate, conversation - that is the best part. Silence and indifference I can do without.
Because of getting few comments and that diabolical Followers list I felt my blog was stagnating. The teeter totter of effort and results was not in balance thus making it time to regroup or pull the plug.
I've gotten several emails and Twitter notes suggesting I restart my blog. So I'm going to consider that and after the first of the new year I will make a decision about how to make this work.
Often fun, sometimes frustrating, I probably spent too many hours trying to make interesting and creative blogs.
Here's the deal, here's part of my frustration. I don't do things lightly or with indifference. I suppose that comes from being self-employed and from creating stuff for a long time. I began this blog as an experiment of sorts, I wanted to see what would develop - if I could create a steady stream of interesting, perhaps creative blogs. I wanted to connect with people.
I had a few basic guidelines - I wasn't going to dwell on the mundane, I wasn't going to chatter about my private life. I'm sorry, I've never thought talking about daily ups and downs that compelling. And I have little interest in metaphorically pissing on your shoes or being controversial just because it's easy to do. I am not a Walter Mitty.
So I wrote poems, short stories, showed my artwork, my woodwork - things I found interesting in the news or on the web and I made best effort to be as professional as I could within blog context.
The results were mixed. I blog-connected with some terrific people, never had conflicts with anyone but, while those positives were happening, other things weren't.
The "Follower" thing drove me nuts! I wish it had never been created. I had 76 followers and from most I never heard a thing - not a single comment. In truth, of those 76 followers perhaps only a dozen or less ever left comments. I understand lurking, and that's OK, but if there's enough interest to become a follower, why not once in a while chime in with a "hello".
And the rub of the followers and comments process is I'm fully aware of blogs which feature cream puff stuff resulting in scores of fawning often dopey comments ... does that mean the majority of bloggers are that superficial and thrilled by the mundane? From the few people who have connected with me I think not - but those hundreds/thousands of fluffy comments are a dark spot I can't ignore.
Here's an insight to what makes me tick: I've taught stuff to both small groups and large audiences and when there was no reaction to what I was saying/teaching and there was silence, I figured I had failed in some manner. It wasn't that the audience was wrong, I simply needed to find ways to connect. Questions, dialog, passionate debate, conversation - that is the best part. Silence and indifference I can do without.
Because of getting few comments and that diabolical Followers list I felt my blog was stagnating. The teeter totter of effort and results was not in balance thus making it time to regroup or pull the plug.
I've gotten several emails and Twitter notes suggesting I restart my blog. So I'm going to consider that and after the first of the new year I will make a decision about how to make this work.
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