Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Does Anyone Blog Anymore?

Back in 2006 I started my first blog- a knitting based blog that chronicled my adventures in knitting.  However, it was poorly timed as I also simultaneously started midwifery school at the same time so it quickly went on the back burner.  The Bourgeois Mom is my fourth blog, and one that I have found the least amount of time for.  It certainly isn't for the lack interest in writing- because I seriously still have dreams of being a featured writer someday.  Ok, maybe not really because I have come to realize that at this point there just isn't enough time in the day to accomplish that.

I have written a few short pieces of varying topics.  I shared my postpartum experience on Postpartum Confessions, for better or worse.  I felt very brave writing that piece, but some days I wonder why I felt the need to (over)share.

The other piece was business related.  It was for the Craft Industry Alliance, and I hope to find another interesting topic to write about in the future.

To keep other creative avenues open, I have become a performer for the Boston Mortified stage show.  It is exhilaratingly fun to get up in front of a live audience, with a light shining on you, reading things you wrote when you were a teenager.  In just a few short months I turn forty, and there is something cathartic in being able to read this stuff out loud with people listening.  I have many emotions about the whole process and experience- as at this point in my life I have come to believe that I am having a mid-life crisis of sorts.  Nothing bad, but more of an "Oh, shit!" I am more than likely done with half of my life and I have so many more things I want to do!  There are so many options that I am not even fully aware of all the things I want to experience and do and accomplish.

On stage at the Oberon in Cambridge, MA, February 2016


There is regret, too.  I regret that I took my body and my health for granted.  If I could go back and shake my skinny self hard into the realization that my pompous attitude that I got "lucky" being thin and beautiful would never go away was complete fallacy, I would.  Because now I am a middle aged fat lady who has health issues (some related to the weight, some not but aggravated by such) with a five year old little spit fire who is active and wants me to keep up with her but I barely can because of that former attitude. I didn't take care of myself. I took it all for granted.  I thought what I felt at 17, 20, or even 25 was going to last.  I am mad at myself for that.

Junior year, 1992-1993


Ironically, I like myself way more now, though, as the woman I have become.  I am proud of my accomplishments.  I am so happy to be able to have the luxury to pursue my crafty business.  My day to day life is good, and while I would love to fix a few things the direction is good.

Believe it or not, this is a better pic of me than most these days.
Yet the day to day is so time consuming- which gets me back to my original point- are blogs even a thing anymore?  It seems micro-blogging has replaced the daily blog read for most.  Instagram and Tumblr are the platforms that are visual and brief.  A long drawn out blog just seems past it's prime.  I keep this one because on occasions like tonight I get a random few minutes I can bang out a few thoughts and nobody really reads it.

Currier Museum, Manchester, NH, February 2016