Blogging for me is just a particular form of having a conversation.
I end talking about people's personal blogs frequently enough, or about the blog they plan to start... or perhaps most often, the blog they have lying dormant. Many people sense it's worth blogging, but aren't clear about what what and why. But many people don't seem to know how to catalyse this sense into actual writing.
I don't write a good blog, but I do have one, and I do write for it - occasionally. And some of the posts are okay. Some people seem to read it. And I'm happy with how it's working facilitating my social connections online.
In the middle of last year I was writing some highly important, super intelligent, completely irrelevant and largely unread posts on the state of the world. It was a waste of time.
I started this blog just to record my experience trying to set out for myself and make things happen in the world (and make a life/profession out of it - hence, Professional Adventurer). A lot of what I'm doing and learning is worth sharing, because I know others out there want to be able to take this pathway. And I don't want it to be as hard for them as it is for me. And I just wanted to keep in contact with people that I probably wasn't going to be sitting down to drink beers with every other week.
My blog got shit when I started trying too hard.
So now, I don't. Now I just converse.
There's an organic vibrancy to conversation. In response to what's happening in conversation around you, things you want to say emerge within you. They bubble up inside you and exert pressure on your larynx. When a suitable opportunity arises you say it.
It doesn't really matter whether you're right or whether your 'thing' is going to save the world. It's a social activity mostly, so you go with it. Our brains are pretty good at creating things organically (and collectively) out of conversations that are worth saying, so we let it go and have faith. Most of the time we just listen.
So most of the time blogging for me is like this. Nothing more and little less.
Normally I'm having a conversation in my head. It seems like a valid thing to share, and I have an opportunity to sit at my laptop and type it up. So I do. And then I hit the publish button. If I'm feeling adventurous I'll share it too.
It's easy and it just happens.
So if you're stuck maybe give it a shot. Don't let trying too hard get in the way of having a conversation.
www.jsbaxter.com.au
@JohnSBaxter
Buried in this post is a key sentence: "and I don't want it to be as hard for them as it is for me".
ReplyDeleteWhat & why is it so hard? In comparison to what?
It seems to me there's a lot of pushing and animation from you to keep things going/ happening...is this so? Is this what's hard? I fear you've become primarily an events manager/ administrator. Waste of your talent and intellect? For those of us considering a like pathway could you advise further. Thanks.
Not sure if you're trolling - I get a bit of that - but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...
DeleteYes I am spending way too much of my time managing events. I'm interested in the people, the communities, the relationships, the projects, the collaborations and structures behind the events - which is why I do them - but I find myself getting so caught up in the practicalities of the events.
I don't feel these efforts are a waste of my 'talent and intellect' though, that would be underselling the challenge and value of this work - it's just not what I like to do. But I don't pretend that I can only ever do things that I like, so I'm not sure I have much right to lament.
What's hard is finding a pathway through the options that is meaningful / makes a difference, and is self-sustaining. For onesself, and for the impact or initiative.
The real challenge arises if your sense of 'meaningful / makes a difference' means that you can't just do a job or fill someone else's shoes. This means that your options and pathways won't be clear.
My challenge doesn't seem to be much different to anyone else trying to do a business or project that is relatively innovative, though I guess it is easier for those that at least have a proportion of their life well ordered (e.g. their day job). Which really isn't such a bad idea.
Is running events really the best way to build communities? Seems counter intuitive in some ways, in that it potentially sets up expectations, becomes a template for how com functions etc. Doesn't lead to responsibility and leadership being shared etc. Seems ephemeral and a little overdone in Adelaide anyway (festival state). I'm interested in how you see this contributing to making better futures versus just doing a job that has great social value. Also does what you're doing sustain you financially. I haven't been able to give up my day job - yet but would like to. My vision is to offer a live in community experience. Thanks for replying - not trolling but keen to draw from those who are in parameters and get as full a sense of highs and lows as possible. Q
ReplyDeleteShort answer to your first question.... yes. Community is a sense of belonging among connected people. Events connect people. The right events foster a sense of belonging.
DeleteWhether or not it is overdone depends on what sort of events people are attending... or particularly, what they are experiencing there, and how they are connected with other people. As long as there are people out there watching television there is room for more events.
The thing with jobs that have great social value is that if you don't do them, someone else will.
But they do pay the bills! (Even if you do a bad job! What luxury!) No, my present efforts aren't financially rewarding, though I'm not being too far fetched to believe they will.
Live in community experiences would be great. Many people need this because they don't really know what it is like.
Creating a model to be able to provide this to others (as many as possible) while sustaining yourself will probably be a challenge. Find others who are doing things whose models you can learn from. Where do people create this already? How? What can you learn from them?
Regards the first point though, don't take my word for it... events are the heart and soul of almost all community development practices.
DeleteWould be interested in your thoughts on Barry Wellmen's work (sociologist) his "networked individualism" in particular.
ReplyDeleteAs for TV, that's just part of screen culture for me, that includes films, internet.... and as a footy and cricket fan I'm glad for it. Discernment and moderation important for most things in life, including events.
Interesting quote to come across re TV, might be of interest:
Delete"Our research shows that the primary difference between volunteers and non-volunteers, when measuring what they do with their time, is the amount of television they watch."
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_new_volunteer_workforce