Rethinking this platform big time. Bear with me while I re-jigger it enough to keep my own interest (and hopefully not lose yours). Otherwise, I need to just walk away.
First up, name change. This blog is now called: Pattern and Outrage. It more accurately reflects content and I have always hated the primacy and repetition of my name. If you list me, please revise when convenient (the url will not change).
I’m remembering Austin Kleon who said, ‘you don’t blog because you have something to say. You blog to find out what it is you need to say’. Bingo. I’m thinking of Jude, too, who over the years has consistently modeled blogging as a way to track her creative process. What I track may or may not inspire or even interest others, but I don’t have much to lose (as long as I keep my 35 readers, that is).
Here are a few things begging for regular mention: what I’m reading; what is inspiring; political resistance resources; the scary antics of the new administration (something along the lines of: ‘favorite lie of the week’); digital photo collage; and maybe, if I am courageous enough, deeper level thoughts about race — what I’m learning, where I’m stuck, etc. (that’s a mighty ‘etc.’)
Also considering an occasional semi-private post — not sure how to do this (with a password?). It’s a strain to censor myself, but it strains me in a different way to air private matters. A recent revealing post brought this into sharp relief (now it’s tagged ‘private’). Unlike in the past when I have overshared and taken the post down immediately, this time there was an interval. In that space, many of you made generous and caring comments, both here and on the phone. It felt like part of the point. (NB: can my ADD-addled frontal lobe organize this?).
This is all very fluid. Input is welcome. Are there any improving tweaks obvious to you? What would make you more inclined to come here and/or comment more often? Would you prefer a different platform, like typepad? What form of social media draws you in the most right now and where do you read it?
So today for humor, I am going low. I find this absolutely hilarious.
And for courage, I go to the word itself and the inspirational Brene Brown:
“Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary courage.”
― Brené Brown, I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame
I’ve updated your blog name on my list of Kindred Spirits and will continue to follow you wherever you may go. It is a privilege to read your thoughts on cloth and country and I hope this will be a safe place for you to do both.
My own blogging has skirted politics more often than not, but increasingly I feel that remaining silent is tantamount to agreeing with the trolls. So I am reading my representatives official newsletters, calling them to state my own views (when their inboxes aren’t full), sending emails and postcards, signing petitions, and summoning the chutzpah to make a sign and start showing up at demonstrations again. If not now, then when?
Thank you Liz both for the immediate response and the words of encouragement. I don’t mean to suggest that everyone needs to use their creative outlets on line for purposes of expressing outrage — only that by constraining myself I risk completely losing interest in the endeavor. And if I’m not interested; what’s the point? And just to be clear: by making calls to elected officials, staying informed, signing petitions — you are most decidedly NOT being silent. One of the risks of expressing political stuff on social media is how it might pass (to some easily-satisfied part of self) as useful protest. It is not. It’s the equivalent of lacing up one’s sneakers before going to the march. Or hunting down the stamps for a letter to Speaker Ryan.
In another note– I love your blog, especially the grand kids. And the quilts. And the mention of weather. And the quilts. And grandchildren.
I love your fierce brave writing Dee!
These books help a lot in these strange times-
“Hope in the Dark” & “A Field Guide to Getting Lost” by Rebecca Solnit
“Wild” by Jay Griffiths
and this article sends chills up my spine…
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/big-data-cambridge-analytica-brexit-trump
Big Brother on steroids
Thank you as always for being Mo Mo. and for your stockpile of cites and recommended books. Rebecca solnit: going to order right now!
actually just order FOUR copies of “Hope in the Dark” — me and three upcoming b-days.
I would follow you whatever your blog is called. Most of my politicalising is done on fb. And that book at the top, one of my favourites, still read this series though definitely not a young reader.
Hi Deb — thank you. Most of my political reading and ranting is on FB, too. Because of the campaign and its deeply disturbing outcome, I have not been able to read much for more than a season. It’s been kind of awful. For the last many years, I’ve read “The Dark is Rising” at the Solstice — for that is when, if you remember, the book opens. It is the night before Will’s 11th birthday (Dec. 21) and all hell is about to break lose. I only got a handful of chapters in this year before abandoning the effort. (It’s the only one of the series I go back to for some reason).
You’re new to me, but what you write and show us resonates with me. I’m staying!
Hi Maryanne and welcome. Where in SC are you from? I’m going to Charleston next week for my third visit. Very excited.
Dee, I’m fairly new here, too but I’m very encouraged by your honestty and what you share. Thank you!
Oh dear, I meant honesty. Recent events have certainly been traumatic, but I hope that I still know how to spell and even type.
typos are the bane of my existence, some days — esp on my phone where I am continually amazed that I am typing with my fat little thumbs! thanks for commenting.
I follow quite reguarly and even if sometimes my knowledge of the english language is a little at its limits I think I get the most of it. So it is always a pleasure and inspiring to follow your blog. For the privacy .. I´m very cautious on my blog but not about commenting on others. I feel it is the time to speak out on all this which happens now. And as you said it is not only a US thing it affects the world. So here in Germay the vast majority is stunned and feels threatend.
Hi Doris. This past year, I’ve lost touch with some people I used to follow more regularly — like you! Went to your blog yesterday and enjoyed seeing all the quilts you made last year. Thank you for commenting. Germany comes up a lot in our political conversations these days. An authoritarian government seems to be rolling out right before our eyes. (Sorry if I mis-remembered you as Dorothy!)
o excuse me . its Doris
weird how i hadn’t even noticed the name change….so much for noticing what’s in front of me! (yet another life lesson)
anyway, I love that you’re now officially outraged, albeit following a pattern, sorry if that’s a bad pun, but I just could not resist
love your rants, because I have them too although I cannot articulate my thoughts as you can, so I’m grateful for that at the very least;
plus, yours are full of humour and empathy, and therefore bearable!,
please continue!
Hi Saskia. I missed your two comments in the hustle to get out of town. We articulate in very different ways. I often wish I could inhabit a creature the way you do and say what it is they have to say! I don’t know anyone who does that better. But ranting? Well yeah. I have a little bit of a reputation in my writing class.