Yesterday I wrote about this quote, “Mindfulness is a pause – The space between stimulus and response: That’s where choice lies.” ~ Tara Brach
And Shiela Stewart shared a post she wrote with a similar quote, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~ Viktor E. Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning
Sheila wrote this in July of 2014, over 7 years ago. Although I wasn’t blogging every day back then I had already been blogging for 8 years. In those early blogging years I was an avid reader of other blogs, including Sheila’s, and a whole host of other educators. We were all writing, and reflecting, and learning from each other. We were in a community that understood the power of sharing our thoughts out in the open.
But there were other people who didn’t understand why we would do this. There were those that questioned how we had the time. Those that thought we were self-indulgent and thought we were only writing for self promotion rather than self reflection and learning. That’s still around today but not as much.
The reality is that I enjoy writing. I’ve enjoyed it since high school. And I feel like a writer when I share my work publicly… when I share my work in a community of other writers. When I add to the blogosphere.
And I absolutely love when another blogger shares their work with me. I totally see why Sheila connected the two quotes above. I understand her ‘blogger’s mind’ that thinks, ‘Dave will appreciate me making this connection’. I love that the connection was to a 7-year-old post, and the Sheila was able to put the connection together so many years later. Bloggers can do that. They can pull an idea up from a decade ago and see how it relates all these years later. And they aren’t afraid to share those thoughts.
This is driven by an understanding that when we learn in the open we are exposed to more connections and ideas than when we keep our learning to ourselves. The idea of being an open and connected learner is one that I think can still be misunderstood, but it isn’t misunderstood by those who are doing it, only by those on the outside that don’t get it. This isn’t ‘insider information’, it’s not a secret. We happily share it out in the open, here in the blogosphere.
Thank you for connecting further, David! It’s great that we can still “collide” on ideas and questions (and quotes!) shared on our blogs. I have somewhat abandoned my blog since the pandemic started, but I still hope to return to it ahead. Like you, I enjoy writing and connecting with others on the thoughts we throw out there. At times I miss those blogging years of the past. I would never expect you or anyone to blog just for my benefit, but know that I do appreciate reading the on-going blogs posts from you and others from that blogging “era”. It is reassuring in many ways! I think there are many great conversations archived now and there will be many people who I will never forget — even though only “meeting” them through blogging and connecting on Twitter. Good points on the positive aspects of blogging!
Stay well and thanks again!
I love the idea of a blogging “era”… it was indeed a special time and one that I don’t think can be replicated. Now most comments are shared in the platforms they are read in: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. And the idea that full-on conversations would happen in the comments is highly unlikely to be like in the era gone by. I’m amazed that I know so much about these people I have only met through words on pages, and through photos on social media, or profile pictures. It was a special era of community, sharing, and learning, and it was an honour to share that era with you Sheila!
Special indeed! Thanks, and back at you too!
Indeed. Well put, David.
Kevin