This was the status on someone’s Facebook that I saw last night. Now I don’t know what the context of said status was, whether it meant those who can’t write blog or those who can’t do anything blog, but it brought me to that point we’re probably all familiar with somewhat; that point where you want to post a passive aggressive Facebook status to counteract the other person.
But instead, I decided to counteract it by doing the very thing the status so condescendingly referred to (and hopefully not passive aggressively so 🙂 ) I don’t blog because I’m not living my life and would rather sit behind a computer and write about it. I am certainly not America’s next great novelist either but I also know I’m a decent writer. Blogging isn’t any less of an art form than writing a memoir, or a poem, or any other kind of writing is. It’s just a different forum.
I blog because I have a story to tell. I think we all do. I think we all can learn from each other and if my story can help even one person in the entire time I’m alive, then I feel like I’ve done something right. I’ve said this many times before, but growing up, we didn’t have blogs, we didn’t have social media. We had AOL Instant Messenger (ahh memories) and that was about it. I didn’t know there were other people out there feeling the same way I did, living with a disability…struggling the same way I was. I wrote a special blog for MDA and I had people tell me how moved they were by my story and how much it helped them to hear that someone else out there felt exactly the same way and was going through the same struggles. I can’t even put into words what kind of impact that has on me.
This was a great moment for me to test that whole not caring what other people think mentality. At first, I got really angry and even a little hurt. How dare someone I don’t even know judge those of us who blog? I even thought for a second, “Is what he’s saying true, even just a little bit?” Then I realized what I was doing…letting a complete stranger make me question something that I love doing. Something I know is helping me and helping others.
There’s always going to be people out there who have something to say. Sometimes it will be positive, sometimes it will be negative. The key is to keep that noise out. We’re all allowed to have an opinion and I think it’s great that we can and that we’re free to express it accordingly. But just because you have that opinion doesn’t mean what I’m doing is stupid or wrong. It doesn’t make me any less of a person than you are. I couldn’t be happier with what I’m doing and with what blogging has done for me so Mr. Facebook Status, I’m sorry you feel that way, but I blog…and I can.
Disability & Determination 
Not only do I blog because I have something to say, but because I want people to get to know me, the real me, unadulterated, because I express myself best through writing. I’m also trying to build an audience for my first book, but I’ve found it therapeutic to be able to talk about everything that goes through my mind. Even my own dad believes it’s good for me, and he has pretty strong opinions about a lot of things.
I think that’s such a great point! I’ve always been much more able to express myself effectively through writing and blogging has actually brought me closer to other people in my life because they’re getting to see the real me, just like you said. I find it extremely helpful to talk about what’s going through my mind too. Thanks so much for the comment and best of luck with the book!
Proud of you Jackie. FYI: There’s a conference on ALS this Sat. at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach from 9-1. Augie Nieto will be there along with Moziffar and other doctors doing presentations if interested. Many other patients and their families 2. There is no cost and the hotel serves a great lunch. Hope you can make it:-)
Hi Ross! Thank you for the comment as always. I will actually be up in LA with my friend Jen (who has come with me to some of our MDA group events) all day so I won’t be able to make it but thanks for letting me know!
You go, girl!
Wow – what a miserable statement that person said. Writing can be a thankless job – we put our hearts and souls, not to mention budget a certain amount of our income towards the coffee needed to get it all done, haha. Me and you have different blog topics – but I think we have a calling inside of us to look for and share the stories we see happening around us. And it’s not like we just sit around and have nothing else to do. Sometimes I’m up til 3AM trying to get a post done. It almost feels like a responsibility, to ourselves and the modest audience we’ve been able to grow. So, happy blogging – like you said, even if we reach a small audience, it’s an honor to have that opportunity. I wouldn’t have it any other way! 🙂
Couldn’t have put it better myself Liana, my fellow blogger 🙂
Hi, I have been reading your blogs for a while now and your thoughts around the progression and management of your condition and day to day experiences, adjusting to it, do give inspiration to others. Keep up the good work. Ian
Here, here! I blog not only for myself (I can see a collection of my work and my improvements) but also for my business. As a photographer, my clients sincerely do get excited when they see their images “published”. There are so many reasons to blog and for me one of them is to increase SEO rankings organically, which is probably not something this person even considered. I dunno, I got a little mad too, but I loved your take on it all! Thanks for sharing, Jac! 🙂