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I don't know Jan, I'm lost... I've lost track of where I am, where I've been and where I'm going to.
You're right. As you can see, I've been invisible lately... and yet I'm not productive at all.
Writer's block? Nah! You know I can deal with that. "Episodes" are what I call these types of 'situations' although this time it's taking quite longer.
To be honest, I've been here 4 or 5 times already, yet it's only now that I'm commenting. Not because I don't like the post (you know it's a great post Jan), but because I don't like to comment, not only in your blog Jan, but elsewhere too... in the same way that I am not making any sensible posts in my blogs lately.
Oh yeah, I remember an important insight gained... it's a cliche, but it always rings a bell...
"A blogger is only as good as his last blog post"
Oh, I expect that Jan. "This comment is quite long from someone who doesn't want to comment."
You know me Jan, I say things straight, short, brief and direct.
When I write long, it only means two things - either I really have too much to say, or I really don't have anything to say. (So I go in circles)
Most of the time it's the second one.
P.S. I like the first point, by the way. I really don't like consulting the dictionary most of the time. It halts my reading momentum ;)
Perhaps writing a poem will help give clarity to what you're going through? You can write me when you feel like doing it, Roy.
How about that! That's me in real life - I don't talk when I don't feel like talking. I don't even laugh even when I'm supposed to laugh - no matter how hard my friends try to cheer me up.
It's tough trying to pull you back in without sounding presumptuous, Roy. I might be doing more harm than good. Just want to let you know I'm here if you need help with something. Anything.
Anyway, I was touched by Roy's concern (Thanks, Roy) when we were flooded last week. This is one significant lesson I learned from my months of blogging; that even friends online are genuine friends - ready to help without expecting anything in return, that there are real persons behind blogs- who could be happy or hurt with the things I may have inadvertently done, that being right is not as important as being a friend who empathizes.
These are all lessons in life I would treasure forever. The most important however, are the memories I had with you - my blogging family.
But you managed to make quick peeks from the door so I thought every thing was still all right. Yay - are you okay now?
Well, you're all too real for me. Not a day passes without me thinking about you... Hey, is this a virus? Roy, you to some extent, even Rey our genial bro is not feeling great as well.
I think we all get to learn something along the way. Darren may guide us since started, but I think he knows well we will figure out other things eventually. For example, family is our priority, so are the importance of health, ethics, networking, bloggers collaborations.. and more. I learn that everything comes with a price; also, the need to be grateful for whatever milestones we hit, and numbers is not always 'everything'.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
These are all valuable lessons. One thing I've found after blogging for over two and a half years is I never stop learning, nor do I want to.
Your final lesson is the most important. There is life away from the blog. Our friends and family will be very grateful when we remember that. (even though they may not "get" why we blog).
Well done, fellow PBer !
Rob
The biggest lesson I've learned is not to be afraid to be me. This is sort of a tricky area, and I'd modify the advice for somebody doing corporate blogging, but the times I've hit it out of the park are when I've let loose and been 100% me.
When you say you're not tactful, it could be a cultural difference. People in NYC are famous for their rudeness. But when we're this crowded together it can be important to sum up a situation without flattery or layers of sweetness.
If a cable is crashing from above, it's best to yell, "Get Out of the Way!"
Of course sometimes people are nasty because they're unhappy or bitter. But in a crunch most NYers are really very tolerant. We're packed nose to armpit in a subway car that stops in a black tunnel with no idea of when or if it's going to get going again. Then people trade jokes. That's when they'll soothe someone who's distressed.
Sometimes what some people call tact and depend upon for civil discourse, other people would see as time wasting ambivalence. Get Out of the Way and Cut to the Chase may not be polite but they are effective communication.
So by my lights, you're just tactful enough.
To be a better blogger, following Jan, means: Being a considerate person; being truthful but tactful; generous and energetic; and sharing what you know, what interests you, what matters to you, and why.
Imagine if everyone lived like that--or merely attempted as much.
Thanks for the great summation of qualities I aspire for on a daily basis. Well, what can I say, you've the unfair advantage of knowing me from way back. What a great compliment, Kathleen. ",)
I agree, the blogger is important than the blog. Before, I am really into SEO, Page Rank, and the like, but now, I am more enjoying the friendship I build in blogging. So I guess, I give more importance to the blogger than the blog too ;)
I love your last lesson. That's the reason why I find it so easy taking a blog leave. :D
Well, well, take it from me. That bit of wisdom is brought to you by a blogger with no family of his own. LOL
Great lessons though.. I think I need to back off on the "you suck" too... Nah
know. LOL. Thanks, Blake!
It was the headline that got my attention. If you would have used a regular headline like "10 important blog lessons" I would probably not have read your post. Now, I've found your blog and will continue to read it.
There are two lessons that I've learned, that you also write about and that's the importance of unplugging from the internet to buckle down to write, and that the blogger is more important than the blog.
- jens -
I overplayed it. What saved me was I couldn't come up with another hook.
",)
The blogger is more important than the blog. It nearly cost me a friend
because of my overzealousness. You know - not leaving a buddy well enough
alone. Another buddy, however, pointed that out to me. That line was his.
My only contribution was to adopt it as my own.
readers who don't blog like you do. Yay.
Beautiful. Such great blogging wisdom here. Wisdom that kind of rolls over into life as well, methinks. These kinds of posts are what bring me back time after time.
Cheers
George
I did? ugh... don't worry as long as I know that I suck then I should accept it with open heart surgery. This means self-evaluation - a room for improvement. Why not.
That reminds me of the comment you left in the exodians blog,
which made me evaluate/think my writing intention on why i have to press the publish button with my eyes closed.
Here is I should end.
Guess what.... sa totoo lang many non-bloggers sa totoong buhay (99.9 percent na kasamahan sa trabaho dito) naniniwalang ang pag blah blog is insanity. Ung aming counselor ang tawag niya sa mga gumagamit ng social networking sites are anti-social daw. hahaha!
keep my mouth shut na lang.
Most of my real life friends are not into blogging.
But it's a way of making sense of this world, right? By committing our experiences on paper, which includes our observations of events and people and ideas, we learn to understand them. Oh, that counselor has a very limited view of things. It's he/she who needs counseling. LOL
You haven't noticed? The keypads are dysfunctional again, here let me set this right. That should read :
"...I haven't RECEIVED that email or text about Roy...oops are we allowed to divulge these things here?"
He he he, you didn't notice that? Pati yata ikaw wala sa mood. Masakit ang ulo ko right now, but I wanted to blog hop sa blogs ninyo. I miss the EBs.
Perhaps it's a virus. It's spreading fast. We should all watch Nick Vujicic's video.
By the way, you can edit your own comment in Disqus. It must be in the More tab. Click it and look for the edit comment. ",)
Yeah, that video is very inspiring indeed.
With horror, baka mawalan sya ng trabaho. Lalo na nung na mention ko about therapeutic ung pagba-blog. hahahah!
It is a pity that I, for obvious reasons, am unable to join your blog meetups (I think they are great), otherwise, I would have been there:) Talking about forging a blogging alliance, hehe.
Well, if Darren sees this, I'm sure he will think a thing or two about blogging. After all I think that he has gotten to a level that even replying to comments made on his blog will cost you, lol.
Ah well, we're in constant contact most nights anyway. Meeting you in person will be just a technicality. I feel like I've known you - and I guess most of our common friends feel the same - all my blogging life. ",)
I've haunted his blog for so long I'm sure Darren won't mind this name-dropping thing.
I love the first four you listed bro...ehehhe! I can really relate on those stuffs. Are these things listed coming from the cavernous parts of the heart? Are these what you call the politics of the heart that also emanates on our blogging?
What I have learned from blogging? Keep you sanity! Blogging can kill you and ruin your family and relationships if you are not at all too careful.
It has some bad dark side too eh.
I wrote you an email about domain reg. You haven't read it yet?
Yeah, some of them are like bullets ricocheting off the cavernous walls of my mind. Writing them down stops the awful noise. LOL.
Interesting lessons Jan, permit me to say this, but we have similar lessons learned. I hope to revise my blog soon, err, not revise, but improve. Still working on it. he he he.
Z
So you see you'd make a poor splogger, Darbs. You've to be more unfeeling and inconsiderate of the rights of your fellow bloggers if you want to excel in that shady business. Just kidding , of course.
Permit you to say? LOL. Well, as my new friend Dave would say, "Publish now, polish later."
Yeah, I noticed that. Actually, I didn't ask permission first, just clicked the "post" button then waited for your reply. he he he.
So, this is Disqus. he he he. Why didn't we use this before JS-kit? LOL
Z
Yeah, we should have. But we stumbled into JS-Kit first, courtesy of Holly the Great. ",)
You manage to box everything up. This is really a must read to all bloggers. I wish I could also be there for you whenever you feel down - not only in your blog, but in your life as well.
Stay happy Lolo Jan! I'll submit this post to Twittley and StumbleUpon. :D Gotta spread the good news. ;P
Well, I hope everything is going well LJ. Don't forget to pray and as for His guidance.
God Bless!
Something new to investigate today, this Twittley thing. Ahehehe.
Thank you for the link in your Recommended Reading list!
The continuing education to keep up with blogging is its own reward. Strange, I thought I was done with schooling. And here I am learning new things and actually enjoying it. Well, people like you who have acute sense of your readers' concerns make learning enjoyable. You have a nice way of breaking down strange concepts. And that helps a lot. Thanks, Dave.
touch with your blog buddies and arrange a meet up. One tip if you use this
occasion is to meet several hours before the event so you can have bonding
time with the guys. It's hard to do that in the program venue. And not
many might agree to meet later after the event.
"stop using fancy words! it bores the hell out of me. i already know you're smart. stop rubbing it in by constantly making me pic up adictionary to find the meaning of words!" lol that's what i call sisterly love.
love,
nobe
www.deariago.com
www.iamnobe.wordpress.com
Yes, it is important to use simple words and once in a while I fall into the trap of using a big word that leaves my reader feeling alienated. And of course, family should come first. i love it that I work from home so I can take care of my 8 month old.
See ya at pb.com and great list again.
blog is something you can set aside. After all, you can get back to it
eventually. Family needs to come first.
your friend? Awww! LOL
great looking blog yourself. ",)
turns out thought that enjoying life gives me more reason to blog.
go figure!
spills over into other areas of life, doesn't it. And when that happens -
all on account of a genial outlook - life is enriched, and zest for blogging
becomes an endless loop. Well, almost. ",)
I must remember not to use the term 'you suck' in my posts/comments ;)
"Mention the name of a Popular (almost celebrity) blogger in your post title if you want to tickle the curiosity button of your first time reader". [It sure did in my case ;)]
I want to say that learning is a never ending process & that can be done in ways that are never limited.
Thanks for sharing these tips here.
and having fun. There's always this strange compulsion to learn.
Otherwise, you'd be left out. New technologies, new trends keep coming up
in the horizon. No rest at all for the wicked as they say... Thanks for
leaving a comment. Much appreciated. :)
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