After 8 years of my consistent blogging, Godaddy sent me a message that they were closing down their blog provider service. They would refund my three years of prepaid fee, but I had to move my blog within a few weeks or lose the avalanche of words forevermore. As a woman whom everyone knows is ‘techno-challenged’ this was an ordeal. I have enough trouble maneuvering the basic functions of the program, much less figuring out how to save, move, install, and reposition a blog. I thought of just starting over from scratch since life has gone a new direction for me anyway, but I’m the girl who teaches the importance of looking back at our writing to see connections, patterns, and insight from the endless stream of experiences that define who we are. I just wasn’t ready to give up the treasure trove of personal insight and intimate history that comes with a commitment to self discovery through blogging that sustained itself for almost a decade.
David, who deeply respects and understands my urge to write, came to the rescue, and protected my 1250 entries, setting them aside in a file for a day when we had time to find them a new home. Today we reloaded my old, slightly obsolete blog to establish new roots in a different blogsite. Sadly, the 8 years of pictures didn’t seem to transpose and are lost – well, I have them somewhere, but not as supporting evidence to my old posts. I suppose it would be rare that anyone will go backwards here, unless it’s me, in which case I don’t need pictures to remember stages of my life or those I love. Nevertheless, from this point on, my blog can take any form I wish. I can’t wait to see what blooms here.
I teach writing courses at Heartwood now and I always emphasize the importance of trusting and honoring your individual writing process. I encourage everyone to write authentically, which means coming to the page without censorship or concern about what others think. Friends or family members who react as if the blog is an ego trip, invasive of their privacy, or who say or do things to curb your desire to come to the page do not recognize the power of writing for personal balance, nor do they have your best interests at heart. Writing is the first step towards deeply connecting with life and the lessons offered us.
Blogging is my process, and I deeply appreciate that the people I share my life with now appreciate and enjoy the chance to see the world through my eyes. I look forward to letting my fingers fly again.
Ah…..the freedom to express oneself is a glorious gift.
Heart of Ginny 