Ignore all your best laid blogging plans
Has this ever happened to you?
It’s 1 p.m. I sit down, planning to spend 20 minutes browsing the blogosphere looking for great posts I want share with my readers. On recommendation from my husband, I start at Patti Digh’s 37 Days and am quickly mesmerized by her
Forever Hold Your Penguin Dear (Trust me, your life will be measurably better if you read this post; some of which is about the March of the Penguins film.). Soon I’m crying (you may or may not, but I’d wager money that you will), grieving for my own losses and deeply touched at the compassion, heart and courage of the people in the story. Now, I’m so involved, I have to read every comment to see how others were affected as they read (or participated in) this story. Once I’m finally composed, I’ve spent an hour on this endeavor and I only found one story to share (granted it’s awesome).
I hope this sounds familiar to you because that’s the sheer beauty of the blogosphere. . .the opportunity to be touched, captivated, moved, enthralled, and riveted by the creativity of our fellow globe-sharing homo sapiens. At times like these, ignore ALL your plans and rules about blogging and managing your time.
In no way could the hour I spent with Patti’s post be seen as wasted or poorly used. To have rushed through it, or skipped it for fear it would take too long, would have robbed me of a profoundly heart-opening, life-enriching experience. And, in turn, you might have never had the opportunity to be moved by this story either. And, of course, the people who you now choose to share this story with wouldn’t have know about it either.
I was on a train on a rainy day. The train was slowing down to pull into a station. For some reason, I became intent on watching the raindrops on the window. Two separate drops, pushed by the wind, merged into one for a moment and then divided again - each carrying with it a part of the other. Simply by that momentary touching, neither was what it had been before. And as each one went on to touch other raindrops, it shared not only itself, but what it had gleaned from the other. I saw this metaphor many years ago and it is one of my most vivid memories. I realized then that we never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace.
~ Peggy Tabor Millin, Mary’s Way
I believe we are each here to make a contribution to something big. Something that many times we cannot or will not ever see. We are stones dropped into Life’s ocean, rippling out the rest of the water though we remain stationary in that place where we landed. Though I believe it’s valuable to have a plan, a strategy, and a system so that you can blog effectively, remember to never let your plan or your rules override that childlike voice inside you that tugs at your soul saying, “Wait. Let’s stop and play here awhile.” That “detour” may be one of the best choices you’ll ever make.
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2 comments. Thank you for sharing! »
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shonnie - many thanks for your generous words. i’m so glad that my rendering of Meta’s powerful story held meaning for you. The comments that people left after reading it were so powerful to me, a real gift. Thank you for your very kind words…
Comment by patti digh — May 5, 2007 @ 8:46 am
You’re most welcome Patti! I’m so grateful when people share their gifts like you share your writings and your insightful perspective on life.
Comment by Shonnie — May 7, 2007 @ 12:03 pm