Business blogging and writing aside, I'm noticing I'm blogging and writing more; but not for the world, not for strangers. I'm writing for my friends. As much fun as I've had social posting for the world as a creative outlet, it's really not for any purpose, other than sharing with my friends.
Solution: create a private blog for my friends and I to dump. This is not FB, this is very targeted to special groups of intimate friends that will only see it and it won't be in their news feed. I'm finding more freedom and receiving more joy from the private comments and "conversation." It feels more like a visit.
My favorite is with a group of women from my school circle. They see me weekly and check up on me, know my family and understand my humor. This is fun. They also pick me up on the days of sad or muddled posts. I also enjoy visiting with the chapter leaders in my non-profit, Binky Patrol. These women have great hearts and a wry sense of humor that not everyone would get outside our organization. We have our place to laugh, vent and support.
In the past, I've splatter blogged to express myself. It helped, but there is nothing to replace real relationships with real, live friends you can decide to meet with, give a hug, and share out loud laughter rather than emoticons, LOL's and the like.
Try it - get back to real people relationships. Put down the texting unless you're scheduling a brief visit, or pick up the phone once in a while. Don't lose the ability to communicate in person. It's becoming a dying art. When was the last time you blogged for your live friends? Try it, it feels good.
Try it:
Free sites on Shutterfly. I find the share sites are PERFECT for this application. Quick journal entries, regular emailed recaps for the posts and photos. It's a great way to share photos in a community for printing, photo books, etc. We have one for our brownie troop, one for my daughters class, one for "the moms" and others. They are all private - members only can view and share the photos.
