THIS IS MY LETTER TO THE WORLD
~Emily Dickinson
This is my letter to the world
That never wrote to me
The simple news that Nature told
With tender majesty
Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see
For love of her,
Sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me
Have you ever had a message you wanted to share with the entire world? Something that if you could, you would climb to the top of a mountain, or sail down a river or take out an ad or scream at the top of your lungs into the wind?
Or hire a Carrier Pigeon.
Or write a book.
Or start a blog.
When I started Life’s Little Inspirations back at our old house, our first little community center before Harry came along and built us this beautiful lighthouse, I didn’t really have a great inspired plan. I just wanted to write. I had been reading some interesting blogs, and came across free wordpress, touched a button and oops-I had a blog. So I wrote a post. There was the amazing Brett who responded only a few moments later and a blogger was born. And we… myself and an amazing number of friends and readers have created this inspiring community of Life’s Little Inspirations that has become something more then I ever would have fathomed could be possible.
This community has changed my life. It has fanned the flames of a dream and a heart’s desire that has re-awaked after thirty one years (and still happily counting) of being both a full-time career woman and mother. Yes- that dream is to be a writer, with all my heart I want that. Yet that alone is not enough.
Coming here to the lighthouse has made me understand why. It’s all very clear at the map. When Harry designed our new place, he installed google analytics, something I had never heard of, didn’t understood and won’t even pretend that I do at this point. But it has this intriguing map that I can’t tear myself away from that tells you where all of your visitors are coming from.
SO…right here and now…to all of you bigger and greater bloggers to which, what I am about to say is a drop in the bucket, and to everyone else…I wouldn’t know if these numbers are good, bad, or ugly…I can only tell you that I…am…overwhelmed. That map has opened my eyes to an amazing reality about the vastness of blogging and the smallness of our world. It has made me think that there are a few things I want to say…
My Letter to the World
Dear World,
WE-our community- has been here for less than a month. In that time, people from fifty-five different countries have been coming here to read and visit the pages of Life’s Little Inspirations.
I had no idea. Were you always there? At the old place too? Did I not fully understand the impact of one little blog, one little voice that- I thought- didn’t have very much to say? Last night, I want you to know that I sat there, at that map, for a very long, long time and I ran my cursor-shaped like an outreached hand-carefully over each and ever country-large and small- and watched as it lit up under the hand. I thought about you. I wondered what your day was like, what your thoughts were, what inspired you, what you wanted most in the world. What is our common ground? What makes you happy? What makes you sad?
I wondered which ones of you comment and those of you who don’t, why are you silent? How much more we could be, and how much more we could do if every voice from every 55 places spoke up, made their opinions count, made their situations more real to us, helped us to understand each other more clearly, bridge the gaps with respect, dignity and honest conversation?
My eyes welled up with tears and your countries became watery and I saw you through a blurry film. I realized that is how we all see each other. Through our own clouded vision. Is there a way to help each other see more clearly? Can we talk? Can we share? You are reading…I really want to know you. I know others here want to know you as well. I am reaching out to you. Will you reach out to me? Tell me about yourself. Tell me what your world is like, what your day is like, what is important to you.
I want to know. Talk to me. Talk to us.
I floated the cursor back onto my own country of America. Even here, the places that readers come from are as diverse and as far reaching in such a large stretch of land that we might as well be divided. How can we become closer? How can we bridge the gaps that divide us? Can we talk?
I thought of the post I had written on the power of words. I believe in it with all my heart. Is it the answer? Can sharing our words in a respectful manner help us to get down to the common core of values from which all love, hope and true change springs forth? Can real change and real peace happen?
I think it can.
I sat there last night staring at the map and thought about the power of bloggers to change the world one reader at a time. To make a difference. To find the common ground. To change hearts through wide open listening and bridging the gaps. The problem isn’t cultural, the problem is not caring enough to put aside our differences and reaching out to find our common ground.
When representatives from 55 countries can meet at a little blog in less than a month of starting up, that tells me that on the big ones there are huge numbers of people meeting from all over the world. I am one little voice. How many blogs are out there talking to how many people all over? What could we do if we tried?
One little thing I am committed to doing is to participate in Blog Action Day 08. I hope you will join me and make a difference in the war on poverty on October 15th. There is still plenty of time to sign up. But it is just a start. It is just one day. Let’s keep talking all 365 days a year too.
Hello world. I want you to know how much I want to hear from you. I want you to know how much I care. Please don’t leave without saying hello! Please share your world with us and tell us about yourself!
Will you please be a part of helping Life’s Little Inspirations Grow? If you enjoy reading these posts, please leave a comment and subscribe, and Digg, Stumble or spread the word any way you can. Thank you very much!
