When was the last time you made a decision to start doing something and started right away? Or stopped something and got right on the case?
When it comes to this blog I knew that it had been a long time coming when I spotted on my bookshelf a couple of days ago a copy of 'Blogging for Dummies'. Brilliant I thought, just what I need right now! A quick scan through, and guess what? It's full of out of date information, recommendations about long sidelined social media platforms and out of use internet terms (so old that even I can spot). Then my amazon receipt fell out - I had bought the guide in 2011. That means I have been intending to start a blog for over 6 years (and what a six years!).
It tickles me to think what on Earth I would have written about all that time ago, a time before children, before self-insight and definitely before I was ready to share anything meaningful.
So much has happened since then, both in the real world and within my perception of it. Discovering the ancient receipt has made me crystallise what my aims are for this blog, what I want to say and how I want to say it.
The first of those is being transparent and honest about my aims and opinions. They come from me, I am certainly not perfect and I don't pretend to be an authority on anything (apart from my son I guess). I promise to will send you in the direction of those experts in the know whenever I can.
The second aim is to invite your feedback and input. I want this site to be an interactive record and collection of my observations about and inspirations in my life and a dynamic forum for discussion on topics such as mental health, personal growth and the highs and lows of living in our times really (yes leaving it quite broad!!).
The idea of putting myself out there scares me silly periodically but I think it's worth the risk. The decision to start blogging and share my story and views is risky - what if you hate them or me? I have no idea how positive, negative or neutral attention (none) will make me feel but I invite you to join me in taking the risk of self-expression.
I thrive on it and I believe most people do, one way or another.
Thirdly, I am driven by the possibility that my words could one day help one or two people by encouraging them to talk about and start to deal with their difficulties, accept their successes, celebrate and/or accept their own differences. This to me is a worthwhile endeavour and if it meets my need to express and collect my thoughts, ideas and work on myself then bring it on! I promise to talk about the good and the bad and probably more in the middle than I realise.
