Adventures at Midlife

To celebrate my 100th post on Ye Olde Blogge Syte — thank you, thank you, I couldn’t have done it without you — may I offer a few observations about life online?

1. SEX SELLS. Paris Hilton. Victoria and David Beckham. Madonna. Sex and the City. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Tyra Banks. Gossip Girl. There. Just by mentioning those names, I have guaranteed that this will be a record-setting post for me. My popular culture posts have been among the most viewed, and I, for a brief, giddy moment, considered changing the whole outlook of my site. But reason prevailed. I’m not fascinated by celebrity, and blogging continually about it just for readership would certainly turn me into some sort of Blog Whore. Celebrity blogs are fine, but not for me.

2. BLOGS EVOLVE. I came to blogging by a curious route. The first blog site that I read regularly was Terry Teachout’s About Last Night, which includes his Wall Street Journal theatre reviews and interesting comments on theatre and the arts. I then linked into some of his favorite art- and book-related sites, and decided to put up my own book blog, metaFootnotes. Only it quickly took on a life of its own. I found I was interested in and challenged by a lot more than books. The midlife part of it came after I posted a plea on Blogher looking for other midlife bloggers, a happy experience that helped engender ByJane’s new MidlifeBloggers. And it continues to change. I’m even considering a second blog.

I also think blogging itself is evolving. While I’m still stuck in the freshman essay rut, blogging as a literary form is becoming more of a free-form shorthand, with its own language and lots of embedded links and photos. I need to study this (said the English major).

3. BLOGGING IS ADDICTIVE. I have awakened the last two mornings composing a blog in my head. I have to make myself stop checking the stats and tweaking the posts that are already up, which is probably a form of cheating, eh? I fiddle with the design all the time. I look hungrily at other blogs, wondering how to cannibalize incorporate their attractive points into mine. This is actually a good thing, since I started blogging in part to get my mind off some once-important aspects of my life that had dried up. I can now pour a certain amount of energy into my posts and into my comments to and support of other blogs and bloggers.

4. BLOGGING IS THERAPEUTIC. I already covered this topic in a recent post, but it’s so true. Just as in the days when I journaled, I find insights and answers flowing through my fingers and onto the page, er, screen. It’s a great anxiety buster, too.

5. BLOGGERS ARE PEOPLE. An odd point, yes, but then I’m a little odd. I have found the Blogosphere to be a friendly, welcoming space. I was concerned that I was jumping in too late, but there seems to be room for everyone. Sure, there are trolls and demons out there, and plenty of cranky, mean-spirited blogs. But I have been charmed by the grace of so many people who have welcomed, listened to and supported me in my meager efforts.

Thanks!