I've talked about this in various blog posts before - I am not a daily blogger. I know that many are and find a satisfying sense of order and discipline in the practice of writing daily blog posts. I am not focusing on which is right or wrong, as I feel it is an individual choice from writer to writer. My personal choice is to write when I am inspired to do so. That can mean writing daily, but more often my blog articles are published less frequently than most.
Because I choose to wait for inspiration to spark my writing, I honestly never know what the next blog article will be. For me, that's part of the enjoyment of being a writer. I usually have a variety of topics flitting around the edges of my consciousness, and I wait patiently for them to either sharpen and grab my attention or I continue to let them circulate on the periphery of my mind.
My last blog post, Cosmic Symphony, was my own ruminations on how we connect via social media in a very elemental, curiously intimate manner. I am pleased to be able to say that that blog article was very well received. The most recent Comment posted was written by a lovely lady named Judy J., whom I have never met face to face. I have no idea how she was led to discover Healing Morning blog, but find me she did.
She has been dealing with quite a challenging set of circumstances in her personal life in a manner that not many of us can imagine. She is located in California and authors the blog Caregiver to Hubby, describing day to day life as the caretaker to a brain injured family member. I urge all of you to visit her blog and follow her writing. I am just now working through her archives and am still learning about her journey. Somehow, she found my blog and it gave her a moment of peace and solace.
As a writer, I cannot express how important it is to hear that I have touched another person in this manner with my work. I have been told that on an in person basis, I exude a calming, peaceful energy. This is one of the reasons that I chose the name of Healing Morning for my blog. We each have a specific energy, a writing style and personality that projects itself through our writing. This is our voice. When I am writing, I honestly am not focusing on making sure that my voice comes through; I just write. The only way that I know that I am succeeding in my goal is when people leave comments and their thoughts. Judy J. gave me such a moment with her words the other day.
It is no secret that creative people harbor some degree of insecurity about their talent. I am no different in that regard. Although I am extremely confident in my writing ability and am also very centered in the message and concepts that I work to convey, I will not claim that I am always confident that every reader will completely "get" what I am communicating.
I learned many years ago that this is actually not an issue to wrestle with. Writing is the goal, plain and simple. It matters not that each person reading a given article interprets the overall theme exactly as I mean it to be understood. Indeed, I recognize that there may be many moments that someone comes away with a completely different, diametrically opposite perception of my words. For me, what matters more is if they were touched in a positive way. And apparently I am achieving that singular goal.
I am still growing as a writer and will continue that growth until my last breath. That is the beauty of life, continually growing, changing, learning. The moments that cast a blanket of deep satisfaction are those that let us know we've made a difference; that we've touched the very Soul of another person out there who may be struggling. To me, that is the moment where everything stops, hushed and profoundly, brilliantly resonating...and you are given a mirror of sorts. A noble nod from God/Universe that yes, you are in Divinely vibrating unity with your purpose.
It is a curious thing to know that you can and do make a difference with the basic need to express yourself with words on paper or computer screen. In a spiritual manner, you have touched thought, touched Soul with another. It is a musical exchange, don't you think? Harmonies melding as one reads the written thoughts of another and that first one is lifted up, heart gladdened or lightened in some small fashion.
In a world where feeling disenfranchised and isolated is encroaching at an alarming rate, it is no small wonder that we find unexpected consolation and moments of community via the internet. Judy J. may be surprised to learn that her comment on my Cosmic Symphony blog post lifted me up equally. We all need that encouragement as we fight the daily fight on this Earth School, navigating our way through the morass of experiences.
On days where I might hesitate to post an article that I feel pushes boundaries or that might confuse readers as I delve into esoteric or complex concepts, I will remember Judy J's comment and click the Publish Post button with confidence. No, every post will not be a polarizing moment for every reader. And no, not everyone will automatically fall in love with my work. But some people will find me out there in the constantly changing, busy, frenetic world and discover a calm oasis where they find respite. That is my goal for my writing - to touch, to inspire, to soothe, to challenge to view the world in a different manner....and most certainly, to tease the occasional moment of laughter out of you. This is, perhaps, Part II of Cosmic Symphony, as it discusses those ethereal, yet indelible threads of energy that weave together when we connect through writing.
I believe that when you read my writing, my thoughts and energy are woven into the words and they leave a permanent mark on your heart. Whether you embrace my thoughts or reject them out of hand, you will still be changed by reading the words here. I find that to be such a powerful thought that it is what draws me back, irresistibly, to my virtual pen via the computer keyboard, to tap away and fill the screen with my thoughts. I bare my very soul in the process and am more vulnerable than many would think as a result.
When you look into a faceted diamond and it sparkles, that is occurring because light is finding its way into the center of the gemstone and is bouncing around, hitting the facets and refracting brilliant light outward. That is what makes a diamond beautiful, and it is also what makes each person beautiful. I am opening my inner self up through the process of writing - opening a virtual doorway for light to pour in. I believe that my life experiences and emotions are the facets where that light refracts, bounces around and shoots back out into the world in a bright, sometimes chaotic, other times peaceful, calm and sure display. Judy J.'s eyes just happened to be sharp and clear when she read my blog and she caught that light. She found logic and order in my words in a manner that spoke to her and gave her pleasure. My very heart sighs at that thought!
Judy J., thank you for your comment on my blog page. I hope you read this and know that you, also, make a beautiful mark in the world with your Spirit and your writing. Well met, my newfound friend, well met!
Thanks for your words today and thankyou for introducing Judy. Take care, Wendy
ReplyDeleteYou're write about blogging being such a strange world. Casual, intimate, yet lacking many of the types of information we'd normally rely on.
ReplyDeleteI always try to remember that I do not have to share it all. I can turn the dial and adjust the level of intimacy.
Dawn, first of all, I must attempt not to leave a novel for you as a comment :), so I will begin with the most important message.
ReplyDeleteI believe without a shadow of a doubt, that not only are you accomplishing your goal, you are standing at the very top of the mountain holding a winning flag of success. You are a beautiful soul and it resonates very clearly through your writing, and I know with all certainty that you have touched many through your words, and will continue to do so for as long as we are each here.
No, Dawn, not everybody who steps into the lovely world of 'Healing Morning' will "get" all of your message, and no, it may not resonate with everybody, as part of the beauty of life is our many differences. But I do believe strongly that each person who passes this way will see the sparkles of your soul. And then ... the many others, like myself, who are reunited within that 'Cosmic Symphony', and say, 'it's nice to have found you once again'
Now, the Irish jig is beginning, I see your light guiding the way, and I must put my dancing shoes on - see you there Dawn!
I believe people often read what they want to see... I mean if I want to find some message in someone's post most probably I will even if the author tried to convey a different idea. The fact is though that when we write even with some idea in mind, we add some more ideas and thoughts alongside, they might be major ones or main ones for us, but for some of the readers they are. So they pick on it and miss some other meanings. But I guess that's okay, because after all they benefited from what you have written.
ReplyDeleteAnd you, Dawn, really have an amazing talent in conveying messages with your wonderful writing :)
Lena
My goodness, what wonderful comments! This is Easter weekend and I am writing this reply on Saturday. I am smiling at the gift all of you have left me w/ your individual statements.
ReplyDeleteWendy, thank you for visiting my blog - I love meeting new people! I'm also happy to be able to throw a spotlight on Judy's blog. I am getting to know her and am finding her to be a lovely light. I'm glad that you enjoyed this post and I will take a few minutes to visit your blog in return.
Cassandra, what a perfect way to describe it: "I can turn the dial and adjust the level...". I loved that! This is a strong lesson for we writers, I feel - to just write and let the words stand. Our readers can make the choice from there as to how deeply to engage. I'll be visiting your blog later today also!
Bernadine, my dear friend, I hear the Irish music and my dancing shoes are on my feet! *L* You know I'm always up for dancing in the Light! And never worry about epic length comments - I love those. Finally, yes, it is so nice to have found one another again - what a blessing to enjoy! Laughing in the Light, sister! Thank you, from my heart, for the affirmation that I am achieving my goal with my writing. That means SO much!
Lena, I just love reading your thoughts! I do not remember when I learned the lesson of letting go of my writing, it was so many years ago, but it is such a powerful thing for writers to learn! Simply by the act of writing, we do leave a mark on the world, and someone out there will find our work and read it. That is continually fascinating to me, how we live on in that manner. Thank you, my friend, for visiting my world today!
Namaste' to all of you & Happy Easter!
~ Dawn
Happy Easter to you too, Dawn!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, both spiritual as well as helpful in the "practical" sense, about letting your writing out there and speaking for itself.
As one of those daily bloggers you describe, I sometimes work to figure out something to write about. However, when I've finally figured out what that is, a lot of times the words just flow and what I thought would be a short post turns into a super-long one.
I sometimes wonder what the response will be to something like that, but I've learned, like you, to just let it go and be itself.
And getting a comment like Judy's means a great deal.
Have a great day!
Happy Easter to you, Dave! It's interesting, how inspiration comes to each of us. For me, adhering to the blogging daily schedule would take the joy out of it; for others, blogging less frequently might "dry up" their connection to their inspiration. The nice thing is that regardless of how posts are written, once you build a loyal following and strong presence in the blog-0-sphere, people just appreciate what you post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting & leaving a great comment today!
~ Dawn
Your voice will always come out in your writing because you're in tune with what's inside; & what's inside is always bound to come out. I've probably said this a billion times already but you really have a way with your writing. Never stop writing! Love ya' girl! :)
ReplyDeleteAnahid, I'm just as much a fan of yours - you write in a way that speaks my own thoughts quite often! I appreciate your comment so much about "being in tune w/ what's inside". That's beautiful, and it says it all, I think. I faithfully promise to never stop writing and I also promise that I love you right back, little sister!
ReplyDelete~ Dawn
This post is very inspirational and I plan to print it out and keep it for those days I'm feeling a little insecure about my writings. Just wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteFor the person who commented after my reply to Anahid, I apologize for not being able to type your name out here. Thank you for your comment - I'm so glad you enjoyed the post!
ReplyDeleteKristen, you gave me a big smile with your comment. I do that too, print out articles that really resonate with me, so that I can go back and read through them in the future. I'm honored that my thoughts gave you inspiration for your own writing!
~ Dawn
Thank you. Am no writer but do have a blog and my writing is very simple and basic. I do get intimidated when I see wonderful written blogs. There have been times where I am nervous to post or write....
ReplyDeleteWill print this out for myself...
YogaSavy, good for you! I think it is key to just write in your own unique manner, then release it and expect that it will resonate with the right people. Your work will connect you to the ones who need to hear your specific message, I'm very confident of that! Thank you for the kind words and keep writing!
ReplyDelete~ Dawn