I seem to spend more time reading and commenting on other people’s blogs than I do writing my own. However, I have found some wonderful blogs and delightful people behind them. I so appreciate them and the 41 Followers I have now. WOW! To me that is so cool and amazing. When I comment on other blogs, I learn about other people and check them out. I have also had people Like my posts and that is how I find them. What a fascinating place the world of blogs has been.
When I first started, I wondered if anyone would be interested in reading about RA. There were people who also were interested in my Mom’s dementia, plus my every day subjects as well as metaphysical ones. I am so pleased to have 41 Followers, I so appreciate each and every one of them, as well as all the ones who have liked by blog posts. Some are in very interesting places and I have learned a lot about things and places I didn’t know anything about. When there are pictures posted, it really brings it home to me. Thank You all, it means the world to me.
It has also helped me cope with things, and when I write about dementia, I receive comments that help, support and uplift me. As all the people who dealt with know, it is not easy and having people who have been through it say they understand, I know they do. That helps so much as well. There are so many lovely people out there.
I am following blogs as well, some subjects I have no knowledge or experience with it. But although the situation is different, I have come to think over the years that there are some basic things we all share in living with and through a difficult situation. There is something therapeutic about writing down what is happening as well as thoughts and feelings. I find it helps clear it out for a while and I can see more objectively. A good cry also helps as well as throwing a tantrum. It is hard for me to throw a tantrum, I don’t have any experience because my parents were not willing to allow tantrums. Even a good cry is harder than it used to be – for some reason I know feel there is someone standing next to me watching their watch. It is as if there is a time limit and if I don’t get on the ball and start crying, time will be up for me. Where this came from I have no idea, but it does put a damper on things.
Even better, publishing a post that is real, in many ways helps other people. I’ve learned since my speaker days at the Connecticut Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation that I didn’t often know when I gave the basic facts (along with my own stories) who was being helped. Sometimes I would have someone come up and tell me and that was always gratifying. I often thought, it isn’t necessary to always know when I helped, otherwise I might get a swelled head ( childhood program) and my attitude would change and be all about me. Then whatever it was that was working, wouldn’t any more. I liked getting the feedback, I knew the more I just put it in the hands of the Universe and I just showed up and got out of the way, the message would go to who needed it. I do my best to go on about my business and trust I am helping others.
There are days when I want to write a post and can’t think of anything. Other days I have several ideas and don’t have time to write any of them down. Or if I written them down, when I go back to it, I can’t remember why I wrote it in the first place. Usually I can’t find the list because I have “put it away safely so I wouldn’t lose it”. There is a lot of that going around. I remember one day I was somewhere and I thought of questions to ask myself – I was smart enough to put it in the back of my pocket calendar. I have looked at it several times and wondered if anyone would really care. So I have it and and I’m still undecided.
I still find myself comparing my blog to others and feel it is lacking (more childhood programs), the other blogs are better. I am now better at catching myself when that happens, though some still slip by me. It seems it has taken a long time for me to be aware – living in this time period there are so many more people, classes, etc. to help with all of it. So much to learn, so much to explore.
So I want to be sure those of you who read, like and follow my blog know how much I appreciate all of you and thank you for a lovely and delightful compliment.
Tags: Arthritis Foundation, Blog, Connecticut Chapter, dementia, Writing
Gift of RA 
May 2, 2013 at 1:30 am |
I like to read about RA and I like you 🙂
We have the same problem with the writing. There are so much blogs to read and they’re all very special, that we don’t want to miss out one blog, but then we forget to blog for ourselves. Now we found a way to blog for ourselves and to read, but we have to skipp too. No hard feelings.
Lee, don’t compare your blog with others, your writing is special, it’s your outlet and -hopefully- you like it and that’s all that matters. Enjoy 🙂
May 2, 2013 at 9:25 am |
What a lovely and delightful compliment! Thank You so much. It seems only in the last 2 or 3 years since my Mom’s dementia really has intensified that I finally see a lot of those childhood programs. Thank goodness, now I can change them to more positive.
I realize that everyone’s blogs are their own voice and we are not competing with each other. I am focusing on the blog and what comes up for me to write about and send it out into the world.
May 2, 2013 at 2:20 pm |
What a lovely blog to write and I am really pleased for you to have built up your followers. I read lots of blogs too and some of them are brilliant and it’s very easy to compare yours to theirs. The thing I keep trying to drill into myself is ‘be myself’ and ‘write what I want to read’ and if you do that, then you’ve achieved your objective. At least that’s what I hope! My blog is very small and growing slowly but in some ways I like that – it means that I can individually nurture each and every link and that to me, is very important. Keep up the good work Lee. 🙂
May 2, 2013 at 2:44 pm |
Thank you so much! That means so much to me and I truly appreciate your lovely thoughts. I was brought up to be polite, say please and thank you – it continues to this day. I have realized how important it is to me to tell people thank you for what they have done, seems they don’t hear it very often. I was constantly thanking the caregivers when I was in rehab with my broken ip, letting them know how much I appreciated what they were doing for me. I always say Thank You to a police officer telling them I appreciate what they do. So it is important to let those who have read, liked, follow and comment on my blog to know it is special to me. I go to their blogs and see what they have to say and comment.
May 2, 2013 at 8:56 pm
People don’t say thank you often enough and nowadays they certainly don’t think about others very much. It is so refreshing to find someone as thoughtful as you. 🙂
May 3, 2013 at 8:46 am
Thank you so much!