The need to share and the fact that I like you.
Today my mom gave me some sass about the fact that I haven’t written on here in almost a month. First of all, I didn’t even realize she read this thing unless I sent her the links. High five to that.
A couple of weeks ago, Terrell (@texast) tweeted this:
I almost tweeted something that falls in the TMI category. Decided not to, but will blog about it later! I must share. what’s wrong w/me?
I feel the same way: I can’t shake the pull to document and share. This week’s break from Twitter helped ease that knee-jerk desire to post a thing when it happens. It makes it easier to be present and enjoy that thing in the moment without worrying about how to communicate it as a digestible snack.
This bit of text from the header of Ze Frank’s blog says it well:
This is my blog. Sometimes I don’t write for a while, that usually means I’m doing something else. I didn’t forget about you though. I like you.
I do like you. When I take breaks from sharing, I start to feel like a hyperactive little kid - wiggling in my seat, ansty to ask you things and tell you what I learned today. I miss the conversation. We’ll talk soon.
Is your immediate reaction to interesting haps in your life to document and share them? If so: is that a new thing, or has it always been the case?
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
Lisa Hochgraf
My reaction has always been to document the interesting haps. From summer vacation “newspapers” to personal journals to becoming a reporter for real. Writing about things always has helped me process them. But the sharing of the past was no way near so public nor succint as Twitter/blogs would hvae it be.
Jul 27th, 2009
Cheryl
I’ve definitely always been the antsy kid just itching to tell my story. I get really excited when I have something I deem interesting to share and it kills me when there is no one around to share it with. Twitter has definitely filled that void..which is dangerous
Jul 27th, 2009
terrell
My mom is constantly bugging me to post more. She sends me emails from her 60-something-year-old girlfriends asking me to post more too! When did I become so popular with the retired person demographic? I don’t know, but it makes me not want to share my TMI moments.
I generally don’t like to share w/ strangers unless I think it will make someone laugh, smile or feel sorry for me and maybe send me money.
Jul 27th, 2009
Jan
Something tells me that your mom didn’t sass you. Your mom missed reading your blogs. She loves reading those 2-3 minute bits from your life that keep her going until she is able to talk with you again on the phone or in person. That’s a good thing, because that means you write really great things that she and others like reading. That means she can’t “shake the pull to document and share” either. Your mom is drawn to the computer for many reasons, one of the most important of which is to stay in touch with friends and family. Whether its finding a long lost high school friend online, reading what her niece did last night, or keeping up with her sons, she is drawn there and disappointed when there is nothing to read. I’ll bet your mom checks your blog more than you realize, as I’ll bet your many friends do too. High 5 back at ya!!!
Aug 1st, 2009
Brent Dixon
Lisa - And you do a great job of it too.
Cheryl - Haha I agree. It’s a juggling act of expression vs learning to shoosh and enjoy.
Terrell - “…unless I think it will make someone laugh, smile or feel sorry for me and maybe send me money.”
Those are fantastic filters.
Mom - Well now that I know you check more often, I’ll have to be more diligent!
Aug 5th, 2009
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