“If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.”
Mark Twain
If I had a time machine, I would go back in time to the exact moment Mark Twain came up with that quote. Then to the situation in which the idea occurred to him. I mean, doesn’t that just paint a picture? Whatever happened, I’m pretty sure he had what I call an insighting – seeing or experiencing something that makes your brain go *ding!*.
Ever since I was twelve I wanted to be a teacher. Of what, I had no idea, but the idea of being a teacher appealed to me. Fast forward thirteen years (although at the time it really seemed like sloo-oo-oow forwards), and I’m studying to be an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and drama teacher. In other words, learning how to help students learn communication in its different forms.
In some way this whole blogging thing stems from the same source as my desire to be a teacher.
I’m fascinated by how things connect and interact, and I love it when someone goes, “Whoah! I never thought of it that way!” I’m hoping to make sense of my insightings so that You, Dear Reader, might have one of those *Whoah!* moments as well.
Some of my insightings are teeny tiny *dings*, like the one about applying a pragmatic theory to writing blog posts. Others are huge *gongs*, like things about coping with mistakes (e.g. crashing Dad’s car) or losing a loved one – the kind of stuff that I’ll still be learning about when I’m ninety.
Today’s insighting has to do with responsibility and setting the standard.
I’m so thankful for every single person who visits and comments, and even before today – the first actual posting day – I’ve had some people over, telling me they are looking forward to hear what I’ve got to say.
As I read my very first comments, two things happened. First, I became superexcited that someone found me and took the time to see what I had to say! Yay!
Then, I suddenly felt serious and responsible. I’m promising to give my reader(s) something, and now I really have to commit to bringing her/him/them something valuable. I know I can do it, it’s not that.
It’s the fact that this is the first time I’m writing from my heart and there is someone out there receiving it. Not a diary entry for my eyes only, not some multidimensional mind map only I can decipher, or an academic essay. Real stuff.
My brain suddenly feels like a mother with children to feed after surviving on a diet of pop corn, beef jerky and peanut butter for the past fifteen years. A whole new layer of responsibility right there.
*Whoah.*
Feel free to comment, give feedback, pose questions or requests in the comments, and keep your eyes peeled for your very own insightings!
Love,
Sari
I think the more you can write just for you, the more we’ll get out of it…. (It’s kind of voyeuristic, I suppose, but I like peeking inside people heads.) : )