Familiar Names and Faces
The extent of my doing something “scary or stressful” nowadays pretty much extends to public speaking, and it is pretty obvious that being surrounded by friends is a definite plus in this situation. To have an audience devoid of friends probably indicates that one’s friends are not too interested in hearing what one says, and I’m afraid this wouldn’t be too encouraging, would it? It would be like writing a blog and not recognizing one familiar name on one’s “Like” list or comments. Only the uninitiated dare stray there.
When I return to a blog I’ve written, it is reassuring not only that there are “Likes” and comments, but that in addition to a few new readers that the old familiars are listed there. Some of you have been reading my blog since I first started writing it, and I hope you realize how welcome your regular appearance is. As blogging takes over my life, you give reassurance that this is not an activity practiced in vain. Someone really is out there listening–their invisibility shattered by simply hitting the “Like” button or penning a comment.
Perhaps it is vanity that causes us to return here again and again to spill our thoughts across the screen, but I don’t think it is only that. I see us all as members of a vast worldwide audience who are simply taking our turn to try to bring what we can to this great internet stew. Like the old “Stone Soup” story, each of us brings what we can to add to the brew and in doing so we create an incredible and rich dish to share with all!
Thanks for being my familiars. I have been enriched by being yours as well.
The Prompt: Witness Protection–When you do something scary or stressful — bungee jumping, public speaking, etc. — do you prefer to be surrounded by friends or by strangers? Why?
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
I don’t think it’s vanity unless all art is vain. Art — all art — needs an audience. Paintings need to be seen. Books and blogs need to be read. Music needs to be heard. I don’t think it’s vain to want an audience. But then again, I’m prejudiced 🙂
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I agree wot Marilyn: Vanity would never enter my mind especially on your blog. From what I’ve read and as I get “to know” you vanity had nothing to do with starting your blog. You blog was a life boat and you sail the sea or the Internet stew better than most. I for one am enamored with you dedication to your blog, the number of post, the beauty in pictures and words. One problem I have is I prefer reading and commenting on your post as to making my own post but as a newbie that’s probably a good thing. One has to crawl before they walk an walk before they run.
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Ha..Perhaps you could just consider it as “motivation.” I often start to comment on someone else’s blog and find so much to say that I use it as a post of my own. This dialogue back and forth is what makes blogging so satisfying. So just enjoy and please don’t stop commenting! That’s the first thing I look at when I turn on my computer or come back to it after a run at actually having a life in addition to the blog! I love seeing what others have written in response to what I’ve written!
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Your on! I will write responses to what you have written! Try and say that ten times real fast!
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I wrote it ten times real fast. Does that count?
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Show off 😊
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Trying to do the Caribbean Green Bean Thing. Better watch out
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Judy, that’s what I do, too; because I always have so much to say. And I too love the little red dot on the bell icon. Whoopee! a comment!
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