Tonight I'm thinking about transparency. Being real.
Most of us are pretty good at painting the lovely picture that we want the world to see, yet hiding the flaws and imperfections that we're not so proud of. That's part of human nature- wanting to remain inconspicuous, well-hidden, uniform, and wrinkle-free. But it's not real-- and we know that.
I've at times struggled with the idea of "putting it all out there", such as on a blog, on display for the entire world to read about, muse about, and mull over. But despite the not-so-comfortable position we bloggers place ourselves in, we have to admit that there is a raw and authentic beauty in being so passionately transparent. You can't really, truly connect - human to human- without a sense of "real-ness". It turns people off when you preach at or preach down to, but never stop to show the applicability of what you're saying.
All that said...I have come a long with in my blogging journey, with the notion of transparency. I've not always been willing to share my deeper thoughts- in fear somehow that they would reveal more of me than what I'm ready for, I suppose. I'm much more comfortable staying on the lighter side of things- as we all are. I can also whip out an info-article as quickly as I toast a slice of bread. It's become habitual- those articles. But what I've learned is that I would never have been so inspired and enlightened, or felt so connected to the bloggers I regularly read if they had not taken the time to start with first things first- transparency. It's what, in my book, makes a blog delicious as opposed to stale. You just have to keep coming back for more. You end up all wound up in the lives of people you've never met in person, but totally adore online and you just can't wait for them to post again so you can keep up with their lives. Many times you get to meet those people in person- even cooler.
That said, I have to leave a shout-out to my online buddy, Erin, from the Well Trained Homeschool for inviting us readers into her home and homeschool. I have been following her blog for years and she'll possibly never know the extent to how she has inspired our family. I love her YouTube videos and everything she does in her home to make it healthy for her kids and family. Awesome woman!
And although I only just found her blog a few weeks ago, I love that Margaret of Green Beans and Little Things is so openly honest about her struggles and delights of life. I relate to her in being a stay at home mom with a passion for artistic endeavor and business- a true conflict of interest at times. I also relate to her because she too has recently moved and is settling into her new town and having to start her life all over again. And there are so many more bloggers I want to mention but I'd have to write all night, and I'm going to bed in 5 minutes flat.
The point is, if it weren't for the openness and honesty of others, I wouldn't feel inspired or as connected...
So I am going to make an honest effort to continue along that path of honesty and transparency in my blog posts from here on out. Whether it's my faith, home education, natural health...what have you.
Five minutes are up. Going to bed.
Oh Wow! I am in tears right now.(Pregnant Hormones, lol!)You never know if what you are putting out there is actually touching anyone. I feel so blessed by your post. Thanks for making this Mama's day. You ever have a day or two when you are not sure if what you do even matters to anyone and then some does something suprising like what you did. That is our wonderful right on time God. He know when to pour on the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI really understand what you mean about being transparent in the blogging world. I have at times worried rather or not I should have posted certain things. Like a few months ago when I fessed up that I was having challenges teaching Math to my daughter. Or sometimes I wonder when I tell of my childrens achievements am I coming off like I am bragging. Its best to just to let go of all the doubt and be yourself. Its a lot less stressful that way. As moms we worry so much about what everyone is think. The husband, children, parents, inlaws, friends, church family, etc... We need to have a space to release from that unecessary pressure we put on ourselves somewhere. Might as well be the blogosphere.
Yes, Erin, we really do need that space to relieve the pressures built up- and that's what makes blogging so attractive to bloggers like us! We just have to keep sharing. Sometimes it's just plain ol' therapeutic, you know?
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad that you share the good and the bad, the challenges and the highlights. I love it all! I certainly don't think it's bragging when you list your daughter's achievements. You have a right to be a proud mama! One day our kids will be all grown up...we only have one chance to be a proud mama of little ones. And when you admit that you're having struggles in a subject area in homeschool it totally encourages the rest of us (who are also having issues!) to keep on truckin'. I am SOOO glad you are transparent!