VOF Week 3: Blogging?!?

Blogging?!? Do I really blog? I guess that I do, although I had not thought of myself as a blogger previously. When I thought about it, I realized that I used to write in my journal far more often in my younger days (ha!) than I do today. I no longer physically write in beautiful, artistic journals that I hide in secret places throughout my home like I used to. Instead, I typically meditate and use my computer keyboard to express myself. This is quite a shift for me.

Challenges and barriers with this shift toward blogging include: 1) finding and creating safe spaces for honest and open communication, 2) creating an environment for intellectual thought and resource-sharing without being boring and too verbose, and 3) expressing my passion without being dramatic .

I have been overcoming these obstacles by using proper online conversation etiquette, if there is truly such a thing. For example, I limit my use of caps, bold font, and exclamation points in my writing. Admittedly, sometimes it can be difficult to contain my enthusiasm. Some sites, such as Twitter, impose much-needed word limits that are useful.

I realize that I have started using Twitter as a vehicle for inspiration and affirmations, much like I used to do with my journal. Sometimes I post a thought or positive self-talk statement for the day. While they may be useful for other people, I find them very good for me, especially in the beginning of my day.

In addition to overcoming blogging obstacles in the ways previously mentioned, I also strive to find safe spaces. This is the most difficult hurdle for me. Due to the open accessibility of online forums, I write knowing that there is no such thing as a “private email message.” We live in an era where our thoughts and feelings could be copied, pasted, forwarded, and used without knowledge or permission. While it is not a conscious thought, I know that it inadvertently affects the depth of my online experiences.

What I need in the future is more spaces like Pulse Wire that is created for specific purposes with shared goals and a vision of online connectedness. Some of the areas of the site are restricted and there is transparency regarding posts and access. There are also other opportunities to create friendships and groups to enhance your experience. It may also be helpful to connect more immediately with others, even using relatively superficial criteria such as geography, age, educational experiences, lifestyle, etc. Maybe there can be a matching system to match women with similar interests on different dimensions the way that dating sites use questionnaires to match mates?

I also enjoy being able to use my mobile phone to connect with others, in addition to using computer systems/devices. I think that most of us benefit from this type of communication because our mobile devices tend to be more personalized.