". . . little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver . . ."

(William Shakespeare's Othello, I.iii.88-90)

Monday, May 21, 2007

Taking the Plunge

As I write my inaugural post, I find myself wondering: why? Why another blog? I frankly don't have time to write one, and I doubt you have time to read it. I know I already have a hard time keeping up with the short list of blogs I like to visit. So why clutter things up with yet another?

Of course I would like to think that maybe somewhere along the way I will write something that will be a help or encouragement to someone I care about. And indeed that would be a salutary thing. But over the past few days of creating this blog I have come to realize that my primary motivation is a selfish one. The truth is that I am doing this for me.

I am a 42-year-old wife and mom who is completely content with my vocation. I know that what I do every day matters to the people I care most about, and I have no desire to complicate my life with a "career." At the same time, in the last few years I have started to feel like I am losing myself in the blur of life. There was a time when my accomplishments consisted of things like the book I had just read, or the paper I had just written, or the piano sonata I had just learned. There was a tangibleness to those things that was very satisfying. But these days my most important achievements are largely invisible. I cook a meal; it gets eaten. I finally reach the bottom of the laundry basket; within a day it's filled again. I know that what I do in these areas is valuable, but it's frustrating that they are so ephemeral. By far the most worthwhile expenditure of my time-- listening to and encouraging my husband and children--is even more abstract.

So how can a blog--a virtual location in cyberspace--possibly offer the concreteness that I seem to be longing for? Ironically, in just the few days I have been constructing this one, I have rediscovered something of myself. In putting together my "profile," I have remembered some of the books that made an impression on me, the music I used to listen to, and the movies I particularly enjoyed. I have asked myself, "What am I really interested in?" and "What do I care about?" It has been fun to pull it all together. And I have also gleaned a lot of pleasure from the sheer orderliness of it all. Everyday life may be a chaotic mess, but a peek at my nice, neat blog gives me hope that I might be able to handle it after all!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your very first blog! I hope it always looks so neat as it does right now! :D And that you find lots of stuff to put on it!

Elizabeth said...

Yea! I get to be the first to tag you! I am SO cool. :)

http://muddyboots.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/tagged-again/

Everything looks great - you did a nice job. Only... was I supposed to THINK about my profile? Yikes. Better go check that out...

Kristi said...

Nice Looking blog! I look forward to reading it. Let me know if it is okay to put a link to it on my blog: chocolot.blogspot.com

Wolf Pack said...

YEAH! More stuff to do online and ignore the dishes! ;) :) Thanks! ;) :)
Same question as Kristi! :)

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/gonorthyoungpack/

Blessings in Christ
Jenn

Presbytera said...

Welcome to the blogging world! I'll look forward to visiting with you here.

Glenda said...

My Greetings and Welcomes added to the others! I look forward to reading your posts!

Anonymous said...

Dear Cheryl,

I have always loved to read your writings, they are so eloquent! I shall enjoy coming to visit!

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Cheryl, congratulations on your blog! I just started one the other day, too. Funny your first post describe exactly how I felt yesterday, and most days. Look forward to reading more from a fellow Looper.

~Kathy~ said...

I love your blog and look forward to stopping by as often as I can.

Kathy in TX

Anonymous said...

*WELCOME!* to the world of blogging! (((((HUGS))))) sandi

Susan said...

>>So how can a blog--a virtual location in cyberspace--possibly offer the concreteness that I seem to be longing for?<<

I dunno HOW, but it sure seems to work! And I completely understand your second post, with the "Wow, it's still there, all nice and neat!"

Melynda said...

Yes! Another lutheran homeschoolers blog! :)

Elephantschild said...

Welcome to the world of "I really shouldn't be up this late, but I can't turn off my brain...." (otherwise know as blogging.)

Anonymous said...

Cheryl:

What a pleasant surprise to see you to in the blogosphere.

I will look forward to reading your posts.

I hope to see you this weekend in Oakbrook as well --- more chess of course!

all the best,

Brad

Orycteropus Afer said...

And now ye olde Aardvark hath tracked thee down. Art thy loins girded and art thou othrewyse prepared to be enrolled in ye Bigge Blogrolle O' Varke?