All the fishy business

Wednesday~July 29, 2009

I felt like a fish out of water at first. A guppy on the shore flopping around in the sand watching the sharks and dolphins rub fins, sometimes spraying water at each other over something called swag.

I have fins too, they just suddenly seemed very small. Itty bitty writing fins. I had been taken from a tiny little lake and thrown into the ocean. I was hearing all of this about selling out...What is this all about? To what end? What are we trying to do here? Where is the writing?

BlogHer's ocean.

Yes, that's how I felt at first. And then I listened to the community keynotes, and I was sitting and crying as fellow bloggers read their absolutely brilliant posts, standing up there in front of all the fish. I realized something that night. Those writers submitted what they had to say and wanted to be heard because we all have a voice worth hearing. We all have something to say. They stood there because they care about writing and know how to share from their hearts.

So whether we hold hands with corporate giants or have 80 gazillion readers isn't even really an issue. We can make it one, if we should choose to focus on that, but we really only need to look at our own fishy selves. Are we blogging to share our stories? Do we love to write? Would we continue on if only our dearest of friends were listening?

I know the answer for myself, and need to choose to turn away from those who don't. If my blog is part business, it's a total aside for me. I would be here, pounding fingertips to keyboard either way. I love this.

Yesterday, a real life friend said, "I'm so proud of what your blog has become. It's so professional, it's like you've got your own small business." And then there was a knot in my stomach. It was a kind thing to say, but I hope with all of me that there's more to be seen here than some ads on the side and an occasional review or give-away. I love to write. I love the connections here. I hope that's clear.

I want to share my stories because I hope they will rub shoulders with yours. I too want to be heard, and it means so much when someone takes the time to say that I validated or inspired them in some small way.

I love meeting this way and shouting, "KINDRED SPIRIT!" I've experienced that in this space a number of times. People come here and they get me, and I them. That's what it's about for me.

It's so good to be gotten.

There is no other place where I could share my heart in a way that spreads. There is no other place where I can be known even before I'm known. No other place where I could get off a plane, see someone for the first time, and feel as if there's never been a time that I didn't know them. All that other business that people seem to be all upset about? It's just business.

Aside from that, what I've found here, is the very best kind of deal...

Laura, Lisa, April, Christy, Kim and Libby, Deb and Lee

(And my dear friends from the internet who weren't at BlogHer?
I sure wish you were. Just sayin')