THERAPY, LESS THE THERAPIST…
I’ve been interested in this ‘blogging’ stuff almost since it started. But, interest isn’t always enough to motivate one to action.
I don’t watch television because it is a distraction I can ill afford. I work eleven or twelve hours a day at the shop and spend most evenings writing for both sides of the industry I am involved in. If you understand deadlines and recognize the kind of writing responsibilities I’ve accepted, it shouldn’t be hard to understand why someone like me would not allow themselves the luxury of getting involved with a series they know they’ll never be able to follow?
So, despite my interest, I never allowed myself the luxury of following a blog or a blogger until my son started writing about his Iron Man training experience (theironmadman.com).
You might be able to ignore a televisions series, but it’s unlikely you would be willing to ignore one of your kids – especially, when that kid is as articulate, thoughtful and as entertaining as mine is.
Consequently, I found myself ‘hooked’ on Ryan’s blog for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the tendency most writers have to share their innermost thoughts and feelings in print more readily than they might in conversation. The interesting thing about following his blog is that it inspired me to go back to the gym and start training again myself.
At about that same time, and through the same son: I discovered Seth Godin’s blog and became an addict almost instantly. That blog started me thinking about my own business in ways I never even thought possible before. Now, I wouldn’t think of starting the day without checking in with either.
Reading about blogging and starting to follow more and more blogs forced me to consider blogging myself – a difficult decision when you aren’t sure you have anything of value to contribute to the terabytes of material already out there. Nevertheless, I added this blog to our company website.
After I started blogging here, I discovered that there were parts of my life independent of the shop and my industry involvement that I felt compelled to write about.
Please note the use of the word ‘compelled.’ Somehow, this ‘blogging stuff’ has gone from an interest – and, a moderate one at that – to an obsession. Note to self: do not get obsessive-compulsive, anal-retentive individuals started on projects that feed their compulsive-obsessive nature! Not, if you want them to stop! Not, if you care whether or not they ever enjoy a normal life again!
So, I started a second blog… Not bad for someone who didn’t see the need to have a first one! Now, I spend more time than I would like agonizing over what to put where, and whether or not I really do need two blogs in the first place.
Barring all that, I’ve got to tell you that from a personal point of view, whatever this is: it’s weird! You start out not knowing what you’re going to say one moment, and then trying to figure out how to stop the next.
It’s kind of like going to therapy without a therapist: you’re on the couch struggling to make a breakthrough, struggling to say something substantive, when all of a sudden you’re stricken with verbal diarrhea and find that you just can’t stop! And, all the while – not a sound can be heard, because there is no one there to guide you.
It’s like talking to yourself, only you’re not. You’re talking to anyone and everyone out there who will listen.
You’ve got to wonder what it says about us: this need to connect, the need to communicate, the need to share the intimate details – the minutia, of our lives, with literally everyone in the known universe.
What does all this say about the nature of our relationships and how we choose to interact with each other? Is this some kind of a window into an ‘arm’s length’ future where relationships become more virtual than real; more distant than intimate?
I don’t know and I’m not sure, but this does seem like a good place to ask questions like these: doesn’t it?
Captain Carfix