by Guest Writer Suzie Cheel
Today I was making the badge for my newly launched SAB -Super Abundant Blogger – award. I had just taken this photo when a couple of other regular morning beach walkers, Ros and Ivan, stopped and tried to guess what the letters stood for.
After several guesses we enlightened them. Or thought we had, but then noticed their looks of incomprehension about "bloggers", "blogs" and "blogging".
Ivan wanted to know more.
This led to Des launching into seminar mode – he can’t help himself when there is some blogging evangelism to be done, even on the beach in his board shorts – and 20 minutes or so later we continued our beach walk.
As we walked away Des said:
You heard Ivan say at first when he heard "web" that he is okay with his phone and his fax? Well, from being "okay with a phone and a fax" he went to starting to see how blogging might help with a community project he has. He asked me if I had a business card. Not right now, I said, but I’ll bring one next time. No question his interest is piqued.
Des did also tell the story of how just 3 short years ago, my eyes glazed over when he launched into seminar mode!
Blogging maybe dead for some, for others it still hasn’t been born!
How did you respond the first time you heard about blogging?
Suzie Cheel and Des Walsh
The first time I heard about blogging was back in 2001 when I was hired blog for a health website.
back then it was more referred to as online journaling and, quite honestly, I was baffled that anyone would *want* to read my healthy living navel gazing (as it felt to me) on a daily basis.
Eight years and myriad blogs later it should probably still feel like navel gazing but doesnt 🙂
and I have had my life changed/tremendously impacted by reading other people’s blogging words.
It was fate, it had to be.
Considering where I live (the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont) it was just about impossible that I would
ever hear about blogging say 5 years ago from any of the locals. Not that they’re ignorant or non-informed it’s just that they’re work takes up all their time and, more importantly, dial up was only way to connect back then (still is now in many areas) and that makes for hard blogging indeed. But once DSL came into my area everything changed for me shortly thereafter.
Blogging found me rather than the other way around and once found the thought occurred to me, shortly after, that starting a conversation with entire world might be a fine idea. So I did.
Three years later the entire world has yet to knock on my virtual door but I still enjoy holding up my side of the conversation. I doubt I’ll ever make one whit of difference outside my small corner of the blogosphere but that really doesn’t matter to me. I couldn’t even explain why I still enjoy doing it no more than I could explain what my blog is about (I haven’t figured that out for myself yet). All I know is that I still sit down now and then and publish my thoughts to the world…
…whether it’s listening or not. 😉
Blogging gave me a way to find my voice, and it definitely shaped me into the person I am today. I’m an avid blog reader, and use other’s words for inspiration. I love the way people use words to display their energy and essence, and I’m so grateful to have a platform upon which to listen and speak.
@MizFit – and I’m sure others’ lives have been positively impacted by your words and your caring: I never cease to be amazed and grateful when people tell me they read my blogs – I know some people do but these are people who know me anyway! 🙂
@Kirk M thanks for sharing your story: you might be surprised at how far your words travel – one of my favorite blogs is SignsNeverSleep (google it) from Lincoln NH – pop 1331 (all”rural”).