My old, Pair-a-Dimes for Your Thoughts, blog has some amazing comments on it. There were posts that would get 15-25 comments that would continue the conversation. There were bloggers who would blog response posts to yet further the conversation. Now my blog is just one of several places people see my posts.
I usually share the whole post (unless I hit the size limit) on LinkedIn, and I share excerpts on Facebook, as well as links on other socials, and these open the links in their apps, to keep you on the app. And so the majority of comments now are scattered across the internet rather than sitting under my blog.
What I miss about the ‘old times’ is that these comments and conversations added a lot of value to what was said. They still do, but they aren’t archived together and so they tend to be one-offs rather than full conversations. Still, I enjoy getting them, and love it when someone contributes something that really adds to what I say… contributes something of value, that enriches (or challenges) my thinking.
Manual Are posted a gem of a response to my post yesterday. I wrote a very short post, a rant really, about doors being locked when a store is open. Then on LinkedIn, Manuel responded with a beautiful poem that first of all probably took him a lot longer to write than I spent on my post. And secondly, captured my message better than I was able to express it. So here it is… (with permission and thanks to Manuel):
The Locked Door
I reached the store with eager stride,
A gentle pull, but locked inside.
The sign said “open,” yet it stayed,
This door that blocked the path I made.I tried again, a second time,
But still the latch refused to climb.
A simple thing, an easy task—
To open wide is all I ask.Doesn’t it speak to what’s in store,
This stubborn, unwelcoming door?
The message sent, though small it seems,
Can shatter trust and spoil dreams.For what’s a shop that keeps me out?
It stirs up doubt, it breeds some doubt.
If I am here, then let me through,
And show me care in what you do.Unlock the door, let me inside,
A gesture small, but full of pride.
For in that act, you say to me:
You’re welcome here, come in and see.The smallest thing can set the tone—
To feel at ease, to feel at home.
So if you open, heed this plea,
Unlock the door, and welcome me.”~Manuel Are
