Adventures

The blinking line

Shelley

In the glory of the mornings, I think about blogging and the blinking line a lot. I wrote about the blinking line years ago, I think? Yeah, let’s just go with that. Years ago. Years ago when I had the audacity to think I could be a blogger with a following of peeps who ‘get me’ and ‘like me’ regardless of what I chose to write about on any given day.

It’s easy. . .just write what’s on your mind. All will be well if you stay true to yourself and your voice – own it. Others do it all the time. So I wrote, and wrote, and wrote.

It’s a fine line, though, a very fine line to write about something that sparks comments that inspire me back without accidentally writing something that offends someone you/I care about. I’ve felt all along that I can’t be as perfect as you’d or I’d like me to be. I have many colorful flaws. And room for growth.

So I wrote day after day after day about my random and silly thoughts to keep learning and stretching my voice I share here with you. I share pictures too. I’ve grown into feeling my blog was a safe place to be. I still hope it is after all these years. The connections I feel here make me feel a bit more full in a way. Until the connections abruptly faded away.

When 2020 came along I found myself with a wounded spirit. So that blinking line I once trusted to be useful is different nowadays. It’s tempting to use it to say how I feel on the darker days. We all go through darker days. It’s part of life.

Wind, blow through me, and lend me your memories.

While I write, as to abate the storm that rages in my heart.

Eiravel

It is not necessarily okay to write about what’s storming in my heart. It’s scary to throw those words out there to swirl in the blogosphere. I’ve learned I don’t have the right platform for breaking my own blogging rules. It’s best to play it safe. Even if my platform is bought and paid for, it still can use polishing, re-painting, and a quainter revival of a different sort. And a healthy dose of self-censorship from the comfort of my own office.

Copper loses me in the yard now, dang doggy dementia and loss of hearing are part of our daily routine.

I learned yesterday, whether friend or foe, we bloggers are battling something bigger than all of us. The power of our words we share is mighty. Therefore, I censored my own post and put it back into draft mode to let the storms settle down. I doubt it will ever see the light of day. All in the hopes that friends will return again someday. And feel safe here too.

Anyhoo, what is life all about if you or I can’t keep on learning something about ourselves as we carry on in our daily lives? I don’t intend to find out, I love to live and learn. There are plenty of mysteries out there to discover.

What will I see today?

Enough, be off with you, you silly blinking line. You’re not my favorite today. I’ll let you stand alone. I shall ponder what will come of you here on my blog on another day.

Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hills’ Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “least-favorite word.” Use your least-favorite word in your post. If you can’t decide on one, use a word that just really bugs you. Enjoy!

PS – I hope you all are well and are off to a great start to your week. 🌼

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

51 thoughts on “The blinking line”

  1. There are plenty of stormy words I could write on my Blog but they stay in my head instead. There is too much stormy weather in our lives as is, I don’t want to add to this by adding my complaints about politics and so much more out there already. Just photography. The flower looks almost edible with it’s smooth shiny texture.

    1. I know how you feel, John. Thank you for sharing your tips on what to do and not do. Your photography is great and it’s fun to see what you see in your state. Stay cool and keep on shooting and sharing! Zinnias are so fascinating to me. Such tiny details to admire.

  2. You are always welcome to post whatever you want, Shelley. Your blog, your thoughts, your rules. As readers, our thoughts and comments follow the same process. I wouldn’t stop reading because I don’t agree with you.

    Blogging is interesting though. We tell people what they can expect, and they expect it. I have lots of posts in my idea bin that will never see the light of day. Some would have been fine at another point in time. I actually have posts that were written, but then an event happened that would have made them a lightning rod, so I buried them.

    1. Thank you, Dan, I appreciate your words of wisdom. Your blog is a role model for us – your mix of playfulness, reality, facts, and humor are a joy to read. I do think it’d be fun to share a beer with you and the Editor!
      I now have 4 drafts of posts that will never see the light of day, the photos, though, they might make a comeback! 😉

  3. Dear Quaint et al,
    Learning 101 has taken place! Hurrah!! After my own “response-rant,” I now strongly believe that a blog is a totally different space than social media.!!!

    It’s a [sacred] place where someone is able to express their hearts, and you don’t get to “diss” that as you do on SM. Where I made my big mistake was in riding right over any respect for that fact.

    Your blog has entertained me for years. It’s combination of self-revelation, humor, wisdom and great photos has allowed me to share your joys and sorrows and I feel welcome in your home.

    Bearing the above clearly in mind (that’s in bold and caps), what I should have said was something like, ‘Much here I don’t agree with, but this is your blog and you can say whatever you want…’

    If I don’t like one blog of yours, I can always change the channel for that particular day!

    As a blogger too, I share your conclusion that although we have the right, religion and politics in blogs should probably be indulged in rarely by any blogger (unless that’s the nature of that blog) — and always with the understanding that since not everyone who reads our blog is of like mind, it may offend some of our readership.

    1. Dear Ellen – thank you for your comments and clarification. We learned together on this one and shall remain blogging friends. I, too, have enjoyed the years we’ve shared here in the blogosphere. I agree with your assessment of sacredness of a blog – it’s not the same as SM. And there are always other blogs to read if we don’t care for the post of the day.
      Thanks again, I appreciate you and your thoughts.

  4. I made the choice long ago to keep politics and controversy off my blog (although, these days, just about anything said can become controversial, right?). It is my happy place where I get to “play” with my friends. Although I agree with the My Blog, My Rules edict, I’d just as soon avoid conflict. I doubt if anyone’s mind has been changed because of a blog post and currently we seem to be well-entrenched in our corners. I try to choose grace, mutual respect, and happiness as much as possible.

    1. I made that same choice long ago too, then crossed my own line. I enjoy the play factor as well and it is better without conflict like you said.
      And yes, grace, respect, and happiness keep us all safely in our own corners yet still in the same sandbox, aka, the blogosphere.
      Thank you for sharing and for coming back to read the re-write of this post. I so enjoy hearing from you!

  5. There is a reason our parents told us to avoid discussions of religion and politics in company, I guess. But you do have the right to say whatever you’d like on your blog. That said, politics is a third rail now and I think a political post is probably just going to give you a headache rather than changing anyone’s mind. 🤷‍♀️

    FWIW, we had a gathering of our new neighbors at our common fireplace/picnic area this weekend. One was complaining that the condo association wouldn’t allow political signage on the lawns, and I can’t tell you how relieved I was to hear that. I don’t want to know how these people vote TBH. I prefer to take them at face value and not get into the heated discussions that are so common now. Am I a chicken? Nope…just old enough to know it won’t change anyone’s mind and only cause rancor. My two cents….

    1. I remember learning to avoid religion and politics in discussions by my parent’s actions. They never discussed either and neither did their friends. I don’t know how they made it through so many card clubs avoiding it, but there were always fishing or big buck tales to tell. I need to stick to that too! You’re right, politics is third rail now and works best to discuss thoughts about that on a walk with the Mr. – it’s easy to get the rant out and the calories burned there.
      I’d be right there with you, thankful for no signage in the yards. We never put a sign in our yard either. It’s not being a chicken to avoid those heated discussions. I do the same. Thanks for sharing your two cents, your thoughts are always welcome here. I appreciate hearing from you!

  6. Dear Shelley, I wrote you a comment while I was accompanying a fam member at a dentist appointment earlier today, and I deleted my comment by accident 🤦🏽‍♀️. Here’s my 2nd try lol. I related so much to your message of censoring our writing, thinking about whether or not to publish a post because the post is too stormy. It reminded me of a draft I wrote recently about feeling blue and at what point does feeling too much sadness turn into depression. I’m still deciding on whether or not I’ll publish it in the future. To me publishing it acknowledges that I have low days, that I cry, something we all do. Yet at the same time I wonder why bring more pain and sadness into the world, when I can share hope or joy?

    I agree with Dan. It’s freeing to post into the world the messages you wish to share without feeling restricted by the possible responses of the audience. One line that comes to mind is “Thank you, reader. These poems are yours now.” from the Acknowledgments section of Eloisa Amezcua’s poetry book From the Inside Quietly. This line inspires me to see writing as an artwork. As writers I think we have a privilege, a gift to express and publish the writing that nonwriters never will, whether that be social commentary, a post about sadness, etc.

    The zinnias added brightness to my day today! They’re so beautiful. I wish you a great start to your week as well! 🌼🌼🌼

    1. Aw, thank you so much for making two attempts to comment, your devotion to sharing your thoughts is commendable. And appreciated!
      For the most part, I try to share my feelings whether happy or sad, and try to always add some hope in one form or another. Some days I hit the target and other days I don’t. I think bloggers should always be true to their own voice – some days I hit that target and other days I don’t.
      I love your thoughts and the Eloisa line, very freeing. You have a writer’s gift, I hope you keep on writing too!
      Thank you – zinnias and daisies just make me smile, they’re happiness dancing in the wind. I’m glad the photos brightened your day!
      I hope your week is going well – I look forward to hearing from you again!🌻🌼💕

      1. My pleasure & thank you! I didn’t think of that, how hope can also be intertwined with posts in which one shares sadness. 100% agree with you. It’s so important to be true to one’s own voice. 🌻🌼💕

  7. What a terrific blog site our Ms Shelley has created, fostering such decent responses! I hope she will take credit. One ranting episode does not a blog make.

    1. Aw, thank you for the encouragement and support, Ellen! I’m thankful for you and all readers who stop by to visit my little spot in the blogosphere. xoxo

  8. I’m sorry I missed you sharing your true feelings. I don’t know if we agree or disagree on whatever the subject was, but I still like your blog no matter what your thoughts and opinions might be. Hugs! By the way, even though I do write about controversial topics, I have moved a couple of posts to draft because I felt they were so personal that some evil person could use them against me in this ‘cancel culture’ world. 🙁 Too bad, but true.

    1. It’s okay to imagine that we’d agree on what was shared. There may have been parts you would’ve resonated with or nodded with. It didn’t feel right to keep the post alive, though. It has joined 3 other drafts in the bin that I should just delete. We’ll see. I appreciate your support and encouragement. It’s a balancing act in order to not to be canceled, even in a personal blog. And here I thought going gray was tough! LOL – that was a breeze and now the pandemic forced many to join along. Many of those were people who were disgusted at the idea of me doing it when I did it. Sad but true. I’m happy for them to embrace their true colors – gray, silver, white, mixed – natural hair is fascinating to me! Just like Zinnias. 🙂 Thanks for the comments and the hugs, much appreciated!

      1. You do you! I have a few natural hair friends. I’m not there yet, but I admire you for following your own way. <3

  9. Hi Shelley!! It’s been a while. I hope you are well and you know how much you inspired and encouraged in my early blogging days. I still feel like I haven’t fully found my blogging voice and am trying to find more direction and focus on my blog. I wanted to write about Bible study reflections for the longest time but felt like an imposter in that area.
    I wanted to but couldn’t bring myself to it. Finally I just took the plunge: I haven’t written many posts about it but I think it was the process of jumping into a new discussion intimidated me.
    You are not the only one with those fears! Stay well and happy summer. 🙂

    1. Hi Esther!!! It has been a while, I’m so tickled to hear from you. I remember our early days blogging and how we supported each other. It’s been hard for me to keep up with the comments on my own blog, let alone read and comment on others. I don’t know if that adds to or subtracts to our ability to find our own blogging voice? I’m glad you’re finding your groove, I think that takes time too. You’re right, it feels intimidating when we try to jump into something we’re interested in, but not an expert at. That does make for a blogging twist, though. I hope you continue on with your efforts. I don’t know how you find time with two youngins though?! I hope you and your family are well. I love seeing their smiling faces on IG!
      Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and encouragement. Stay well and enjoy the summer too!

  10. Hi Shelley – I was in awe of you writing every day before you took a pause … I didn’t know how you did it. I bend the rules just a bit like doing three this week, but those instances will be few and far between until retired. I don’t know if this will go through because in reader, I clicked and it said nothing was there … I’m going to send you what I saw … hopefully transient.

    1. LOL – I’m in awe of myself back in those daily writing days. I don’t think I could do it now, even if I tried.
      That’s so weird about reader? The comment went through…

      1. Well, I wondered how you did it Shelley. I know I used to do three, sometimes four posts per week and did them the day I took the walk. There were less paragraphs and photos then though.

        1. I think we all experiment and eventually find a groove for a period of time and then switch it up again. It’s a hobby that morphs with us perhaps?

          1. In January this year, I went to Monday long post and Wednesday Wordless Wednesday. Earlier in the week is better now but here it is Thursday and I’m still catching up on three of my own posts (that extra post from Saturday with the ducklings) and am three days behind in Reader. But it is a better fit for me than three a week.

  12. I went back to get a screen shot and it is okay now. Now that is weird because I clicked to read the rest of the story and there was nothing there. (Twilight Zone stuff)

    1. Wow – Twighlight Zone stuff for sure. I’m glad the comment did go through! Thank you for your perseverance.

        1. I saw in my emails that WP was running an update, maybe you had just commented at a time when that was happening?

          1. Now there’s a possibility. I took a screenshot to send you by e-mail, then when it was back I didn’t send it. But I still have the screenshot which said:
            “Oops that page can’t be found. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search?” Then there was a search box below.

          2. That sounds like the WP update running at the same time you were commenting. It’s working now, I’m grateful for your perseverance.

  13. I look at my personal blog this way: it’s a slice of who I am. I limit what I’ll write about and how I’ll state my truth. I bend my own rules on occasions, but overall I refuse to leave a legacy of whining and gibberish for the future historians who find my blog! I figure they’re the one who’ll be the most interested in me.

    1. I love the ‘slice and dice’ idea, Ally, thank you for sharing. I do agree with you, that is a reality for all of us bloggers. I remember you sharing a post before about search engine results. My little slice of search engine click results, to this day and daily, is people searching for dew drop quotes. I’m sprinkled there at least and it’s a good place to land. Thank you for the inspiration to pay attention to what interests our readers. I know I’m glad I met you here, thank you for sharing your thoughts and witty words of wisdom!

  14. Well now we know a bit more. I have been watching and growing with each change and the seasons of life with you Shelley. Not once disheartened or disinterested. Photos are my expression, not many words.

    1. Brian, I’ve been incredibly thankful for your visits here – and, of course, your sharing of Australia bush country. I doubt I’ll ever be there in person, so I treasure all the photos you share! I’m glad to read you haven been disheartened or disinterested.
      Your photos do express, and so do the songs you choose to share.
      Thanks for being such a great blogging buddy!

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