A real and serious blogger
by tamarjacobson
Quote of the day:
How can we make sense of anything that is happening in the world if not through the lens of our own experience? Danny Miller
From time to time I question my blogging purpose. Sometimes I question whether I should continue blogging at all. Lately I have been wondering if I am a real and serious blogger. After all, I do not attend any blogging conferences. And I have noticed that some bloggers receive over 50 comments on their posts regularly. They must have hundreds, probably thousands, possibly tens of thousands of hits a day.
I seem to piddle along telling tales of cats with broken legs and proddings into my own psyche – how boring or meaningless is that? Surely a real blogger writes about important issues, socio-cultural news, or opines politically about the wrongs and rights of everything. Most likely I take the "lens of [my] own experience" a bit too far. After all, who am I to be telling the world (even as teeny as my world of readers is) about my stupid little life?
Would a real and serious blogger write about bringing home Molly‘s ashes today? Lighting a memorial candle next to the tidy little wooden box that contains her remains … reflecting on how small the box is when Molly seemed so large and full of life when she was alive. Wondering where or whether to bury her ashes in the near future … missing my old, furry friend each morning when I rise, each evening when I retire …
tamarjacobson 
These are the concerns of a real life. Your blog is what you choose to make it. We readers are here because we choose to be… I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Hello The Lady! Really good to hear from you again.
I work for a major news organization. I need some silly in my life.
All those serious conference-attending real bloggers can bite me.
Oh dear – my bad case of “out of confidence” and other sadnesses and worries was heard out in cyberspace.
Your comments have given me more food for thought. Self-judgment, important for developing my conscience, is sometimes like an illness that needs people like you to weed out and expose to me.
Thank you, all, for being there.
I *really* and *seriously* mean that.
Oh I know that feeling, Tamar – my blog is so family-personal-specific that it doesn’t get a lot of hits. But you know, I have a core of readers and they really are special to me. Sure, having 50 comments would be fun, but then the pressure would go up and well, I’m not into pressure! I love your blog, just the way it is. I consider you to be a serious blogger, not a commercial one.
Molly’s death is about as real and serious as it gets. There are no rules for blogging.
I guess it’s all in what you consider “real and serious” Tamar. When you open yourself up emotionally and enter into discussion with people who want to share along with you…I think that’s as real and serious as it gets. If talking about Molly’s death is part of the vulnerability in your life that you need to share…then so be it…we’ll listen, just as you listen to us sweet lady. -Joy
Who’s that quack you’re quoting from at the top of the post?
It’s always fascinating to be able to share in your process and you know we come from such similar places in terms of our “out of confidence” moments. Here, though, it’s nice to see you add a wink and a nod to your self-judgment. It’s certainly clear to me that you are one of the most “real” and “serious” bloggers out there!
“… Would a real and serious blogger write about bringing home Molly’s ashes today? …”
I don’t know the answer to that question. But I do know that a real and serious PERSON would. And that you are. In fact, I feel confident in saying that your person IS your blogger. No facades. Nothing fake. No airs. What we see is what we get. So in that light, and when asked about you, Tamar, I would say the answer to your question is YES.
You know that I have empathy on this point. And I speak as one who regularly beats herself up in this way!
I think that there is a real value in learning about other people’s individual lives, through blogs or any other medium. You are sharing your humanity with us through your blog, Tamar, and that is no small thing. In fact it is a great gift.
And you have helped me in this post by raising the point. As you know I am on a blog sabbatical at the moment and “what is the point of my blog?” has been a question on my mind this past week. So thank you.
And hugs for your grieving for your lovely Molly.
Tamar – you really seem to be struggling with some serious stuff, and I do believe that your blog helps you sort through it a bit. I know spewing my stuff out to the universe (even my silly stuff) helps me get a new perspective on it. Nope – I don’t do blog conferences and I don’t get many comments and I don’t get many hits. Big deal. It’s fun and gratifying to have a space to flush my head. I love that you really put yourself out there. Who knows what important ideas and rules for coping with life someone (unbeknownst to you) is taking away? I, for one, would be sad if you gave up blogging.
I know you’re still mourning Miss Molly. It’s amazing the love we get from non-human animals – and yes, a real blogger would write about bringing home Molly’s ashes.
For what it’s worth . . .