I Don't Live Under A Rock

Yesterday, the hashtag #RIPBlog was trending and the conversation was about how the blog format is dying. Today, I started a new one. A little counter-intuitive don't you think?

I don't care. I have a voice and things to say.

I've been noticing that social media has been especially dark and judgmental lately. I've been given the gift of words. If my words, can somehow shine a light through some of that darkness and provide a little bit of hope where there is fear, I've got to use that light.

*Sigh* But I'm just too organized. All of my other blogs are so topic specific, there was no appropriate place to post general thoughts and random observations. So here you go. New blog. Yay! (She said, with sarcasm dripping from her voice and a roll of her eyeballs.) Because I don't already have enough to do...

And I swear, I'm not doing this because I'm trying to procrastinate. Sure, I might only be 200 pages into a 600 page manuscript review for a client. Yes, I said 600 pages. *cough/choke* Seriously, writers, word count recommendations for various genres exist for a reason. Check them BEFORE you write 600 pages. But I digress and that's a topic for a different blog.

Back to the reason I'm not procrastinating. The other day, I was accused -- by someone whom I've never met -- of living under a rock. I will spare you the details, but it was in a comment on a Facebook post, and it was with respect to the whole Target-Restroom-Transgender-Controversy. I dared to share a personal experience from Belgium (I used to live there) that happened to illustrate disagreement with another comment, and bam. I was told I lived under a rock. I should note here that I'm not offended in any way by this, now.

If there is one thing I've grown over the past several years, it's a thick skin. There were a whole bunch of years when I was trying to find an agent where I collected more rejection letters than my brothers had baseball cards in their combined set. But also, when you are flying your freak flag as high as I'm flying mine, you just have to stop worrying about what anyone else thinks.

But I admit, at first the judgmental comment caught me off guard. There was that whole, "someone doesn't like me moment" of insecurity, but now I'm laughing about it. Seriously. Anyone who knows me even a little bit, knows that I hardly live under a rock. Some days, you can find me in a dark creepy basement...or a haunted attic, but never, ever under a rock. I HATE bugs.

But it got me thinking. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Our country was founded on different opinions. Facebook is an amazing tool for expressing such opinions, as long as we do so respectfully. And then I got thinking about how I've seen a lot of darkness, judgment and disrespect lately. And "Voila!" Here you go, new blog with the sole purpose of counteracting that darkness and fear.

I have A LOT going on in my head at any given moment. I'm finishing edits on a book that NEEDS to get written (I've been working on it for awhile.) I'm developing concepts for two others, and I've already got other blogs, not to mention my freelance clients. (Oh boy...just got overwhelmed for a second...hang on while I take a deep breath...Ok, we're good.) Don't expect blog posts every day, or even every week, but here's a glimpse at some potential topics that are already swirling around in my crazy head: Why I'm Not Afraid of Unisex Bathrooms; Why Snopes.com is the Best Website Ever; and Why I'm Not Afraid of Ghosts (although, that one might need to go on the other blog)....

But this is important. I want to turn on a light that, hopefully, offers a little hope and faith. This world isn't terrible, it's amazing...and every day it gets better. I promise to use my voice to promote the good. At any point, please feel free to disagree...as long as you do so respectfully.