“If only a man knew how to choose among what he calls his experiences, that which is really his experience, and how to record truth truly.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Last week, was very tumultuous for me. It seemed like my brain would implode with all the things that were racing through it. Undoubtedly, leading to dire circumstances. Fingers itching, I wrote a post called Pressure. When I read the post to my fiance, he said, “Are you sure you want to post that? It’s great but it’s kind of dark, honey. Do you think that your readers would like it? Maybe, you should wait until you have a positive outcome to the situation…”
Not one to live entirely inside my own head, I paused. In spite of my headstrong, feminista ways, I do listen to him lol. It made me think about what I am trying to do here. In the beginning, I just wanted to start. Of course, I want people to read my blog. If I didn’t, it would be a journal that I kept on my computer or hid under my mattress. But as much as I dig my audience, ultimately my blog is for and about me. It is the digital expression of my interior self.
There are millions of blogs out there, dealing with a variety of subjects but if you look at my Blogroll you will see that most of the ones I favor are those in which the author reveals an aspect of themselves. What I find so captivating about the Blogosphere is the ability, at any time of day or night, to find someone elses head to fall into, to find another perspective to ponder or a shared, well written view of the human condition. It may be comedic, in poetic form, prose form, or written as a rant but it is readily accessible and in reading them I am either uplifted, intrigued, overcome with hilarity, fascinated, better informed or empathetic. I dig that. I like it when they make me laugh but it’s fantastic when they move me. Laughter, anger, sorrow, passion are all part of our emotional spectrum. Ultimately, I want a Blog to give me something to think or feel about. Blogs about business, photography, cooking etc. are cool but they are simply an expression of some expert or wanna be expert on a particular subject. I am not saying that makes them any less worthwhile but I can and do get that in books or magazines.
It is my contention that the best of blogs are not a reflection of edited reality. We get edited reality everywhere, on TV, in movies etc. The Blogosphere is a microcosm and what makes it riveting is the distillation of the human condition. It is that which ensures my continual return. Perhaps, I am merely a mental voyeur :). Seriously though, real life is a blending of experiences, neither all dark or light. Right?! I can get the shallow depths of entertainment anywhere, the mass media has made sure of that.
Succinctly stated, I am in pursuit of truth, just as I hope to express my truth in a manner which is relatable and meaningful to someone. If I were to write only what I think people wish to see, my flow would be edited and that is not worthwhile to me. Not in this arena. There will be plenty of time for that in my publishing endeavors. It is the eternal battle of the true artist. In fact, it is a battle that many of us fight on a daily basis, in defense of our beliefs, our sexuality, our lifestyle and the list goes on. My advice?
“To thine own self, be true.” William Shakespeare.
Streams Of Consciousness - Coco Rivers 
I blog because it gives me an opportunity to voice my opinions and feel as if I am part of the larger dialogue about important issues. Sometimes, I need to vent about missing my children or I have a cool experience on the farm that I’d like to share.
There is an element of being a mental exhibitionist that drives me, as well.
On a different note, are you still doing the Phoenix Mosaic project?
I relate so well to this entry coco. For years I wrote to what inside I named a “dark place”.. after that I blogged in a public place, open to comments and interpretations and everything that goes with public thought sharing. tiring of that I went back to writing in a smaller selective realm, one where I wrote thoughts straight from head to page regardless of trying to attract an audience. The flaw was that I only invited friends to view.. and selected which friends, so essentially it wasn’t real at all.
My blog here I do not advertise or share with friends at all.. i write honestly and openly about whatever I may feel on the day and anyone that crosses my path (such as your beautiful self) is an act of fate..
I have decided this is who and where I wish to be
Writing must be for ourselves, and if we manage by the act of fate to move another then that is a gift but we must not write to please.. for the only one left out of that joy is ourselves. Stay true to you xx
Beautifully said and so very true. Thanks so much for the reply and compliment. I love the things that come out of your head :), your poetry is beautiful. Write on!!