Saturday, September 27, 2008

My life turned a corner

This weeks prompt on Matinee Muse is Turning the Corner. When I started blogging my life turned a corner. Let me explain


My friend LUCY tagged me yesterday. She challenged me to write an account of five ways that blogging has altered my life, both positive and negative.

Quite why I started my blog two years ago I really can’t remember. What I do remember however was walking into my local supermarket to be faced with a mountain of desk top computers reduced to half price. I had recently found myself living alone, and I realised that sitting impassively in front of the television night after night was slowly turning me into a vegetable. I bought myself the computer thinking I’d do no more than surf the net and perhaps email my family. I also thought that maybe I would write a bit, particularly tales of my travels.

I don’t even remember where I heard about blogging. No one I knew partook at that time, so there was nobody to steer me in Bloggers direction. It just happened I suppose.

Back to the tag!

1. Until I started blogging I had no idea that I had a bit of a flair for writing. I had written a couple of accounts of my holidays which went down well with my family, but then you are bound to get praise from them aren’t you! It was when I posted one as my initial post on my blog that I found that complete strangers liked it. Suddenly I had turned a corner. From that moment on my life was to change. I was a writer!

2. I’ve always been fortunate to have friends. But friends are not always there when you want them. They have their own lives to lead. But my new friends, my blogging friends are always a click or two away. People on the outside often tell me that bloggers can be nothing more than virtual friends. I tell them that they simply have no idea what it feels like to have this diverse network of buddies around me – different cultures and multiple faiths but with one thing in common, our blogs. Think about it. As kids your friends were your fellow schoolmates. When you married your friends were other couples who had babies around the same time. Other friends will be members of your church or club. What I am trying to say is that ‘normal’ friends are chosen on the basis of similar interests. Okay, so we all blog. But all our blogs are different. All bloggers are different. That is what makes our friendships special.

3. Let’s look for a negative. I sometimes wonder if I’m becoming a bore! I often imagine people in the pub saying to each other ‘Look out, here comes Keith. He’s going to go on about his blogs for the next few hours’ Blogging is after all the biggest thing in most of our lives, apart from family and things of course. It is too easy to make a reference during every conversation to something you wrote or read online about the topic under discussion. Perhaps I’m being oversensitive. I hope so.

4. Another minus point. I have I think, a beautiful apartment. I went to great trouble and expense to make it special. But since I became a blogaholic, I’ve not taken full advantage of my little palace! I get up in the morning and sit in front of my computer. As soon as I get home from work I sit in front of my computer. Then I go to bed, sleep for a few hours, get up again and sit myself in front of my computer!

5. Now I have to be positive again. After all, I do need the pro-blogs to outnumber the anti-blogs. So I won’t mention that it has caused me to put on weight through lack of exercise, and I drink a little more red wine than I should because it helps the creative juices to flow. I’ll keep to myself that I don’t do as much housework as I should, nor that my pile of ironing now touches the ceiling! No, I’ll finish with the biggie! Well I would if could conjure it up!

All I’ll say is that blogging is the best thing that’s happened in my life for many years. It’s provided me with entertainment, education and edification. And that’s not to be sneezed at!

So there you have it. I should now tag some other unsuspecting scribes, but I’m not going to. I’ll just ask for volunteers and see what happens!

12 comments:

  1. Thanks Keith! YOu've answered the tag So beautifully! I agree with you on many points. especially about going on and on about the blog! haha I often STOP myself,
    when I sense someone thinks I am obsessing over it! I also get some looks letting me know they think I am crazy to be making blog friends. I don't care what some people think, I am happy you are my friend.

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  2. I feel the same as you in many ways Keith! I think blogging must be especially rewarding for men. It's a very intimate venue to express your authentic self. Not all men are comfortable with intimate conversation unless it's with a partner. This is a nice outlet for singles, and those who need a deeper connection! Like minded people really connect and it's all by choice! So glad you are here in the blogging world!! Love the new changes the big K and the photo shopped picture of you!! Excellent!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. I come here often to read (though I don't always leave a comment) because your writing is so honest and refreshing. As a writing teacher, it always surprises me when people say, "Oh, I can't write!" And yet it's such a satisfactory thing to do, to find words that express exactly what you mean so that you can share what you're thinking.

    As for blogging - it's a way of connecting. What's wrong with that? I'm amused by the comments that suggest we aren't "real" - real people or real friends. I've known people personally that aren't either and they don't get the same bad rap. How are they more "real" just because I've met them?

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  4. Ah i feel the exact way.. umm am taking it up :)

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  5. I really enjoyed reading your responses. And like you, I think folks who say online friends aren't really friends would think differently if they made the kind of connections possible even with folks you never physically meet. My online friends are as real and matter as much to me as others. Why? Because I value relationships I've emotionally invested in.

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  6. If I had to chose between watching TV and blogging, I'd chose blogging every time. There is nothing worht watching on TV, but there is always something worth reading or experiencing on a blog. Kudos to you and this blog. My blog added an element to my life that was missing, I didn't even realize it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

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  7. I too am very gratified by all the wonderful bloggers I count as friends.
    And you could not be boring if you tried.
    I heard an NPR story yesterday about the gradual demise of the traditional English pub. THat's very sad. I hope some are left for whenever I manage to get to England. And I hope the one you work in stays safe and sound!

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  8. You spoke out of my heart ! I exactly feel the same. My life has changed completely. I didn't even know what a blog was I just dropped in this by surfing the net one day 2 years ago. I was looking for documentation on Egyptian cats !
    Almost nobody knows what a blog is around me and it is very hard to explain, lol !
    When I retired I was soooo bored, now my life is full again, the virtual and the real one !

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  9. Hey! Volunteers, huh! I remember starting to blog. A certain someone and someone else on helium convinced me to put more then "test" as a blog post, which had been up than for 3 or 4 months. Actually, I started the Magdalen Islands blog first for you, Keith, you and Jadey!

    Now Sweetie, I'm going to tag you!! It is a 6 level tag that is a lot easier then the blogging tag you just did.

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  10. I can certainly relate to No 4. A friend was staying with me the other day and asked what I had been doing on the computer for an hour. I told him I had been catching up with my blog friends. He informed me blogging was for people without a life. Hmmm, this from a man who had spent the last three hours watching telly. I am so happy you decided to buy a computer. I love you sweetie x

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  11. I like what you had to say. And I agree. My blog is different. I communicate through satire and poems and run about 10 pages out here. Out of 50 people I have only met one unreasonble one I don't bother (them :)) ...and (they) don't bother me. SC is right my tv is never on. You all are alot more interesting than tv. I lack many verbal skills to maintain a friendship on a regular scale. This communication is on a clear moment. And comes and goes.Thanks

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