Getting Started

As you can see, this is my first dive into the blogesphere. I began thinking about it some time ago when a friend of mine started a blog and began discussing her blog with me. My initial comments where not that positive about the whole business of blogging. You see, I have always been in awe of good writing, and I believed that any attempt to turn writing into little vinyettes of language was just plain wrong. My old fashioned reverence for language simply would not permit me to accept anything less than real drawn out elegance in the use of the written word.

Now I am coming to accept that communication in this medium is quite simply the way it will all be done. So I'm adapting. This is not the easiest thing for me as those who know me would attest. I waited the longest time before using the cell phone as an everyday convenience. Now it's the only tool I have. Texting came hard for me too, but I'm good with it now. I found out I have to be good with it or I would not be in the loop with family and friends. I'm still a bit of joke to my family about the switch to digital photography. You guessed it- I clung to film till it was nearly impossible to buy anymore. But, as it is with most things, I'm ultimately glad to pick up the new things the world has to offer and embrace the usefulness of innovation. Still I love language and though I might not be the best practitioner of it, I continue to try my best.

I have also decided to start this venture because, as I get older, I find I am less sure about many things than I ever was as a young man with all the answers, and impeccable logic to back it up! The world is a complicated place. I think to better understand it you have share thoughts and ideas with others. This is the essential human experience; and this seems to be how it's done. If I combine that with my outright facination with the issues that shape our society, then the question is: why not blog? In answering that question for myself I did have to face the other big question: who cares what you think or write? After some nervous time and self doubt I decided the answer to the second question was that it ultimately didn't matter. I love the idea of our culture and how we care for ourselves and others who share it. This brings in a wide range of topics to see and react to as we navigate these interesting, and I dare say, dangerous, exciting times. Politics, religion, money, ideas and a wide range of belief systems all collide to form our culture. It's quite a show and we can get a front row seat if we take notice of the things happening all around us.

So now I'm a blogger- that thing I said I would never be. I have some goals for this activity. I hope to share thoughts that provoke both you and me to think more. These are times that require good thinking skills. I will never assume that my thoughts are more important than those of others. Therfore the reader will sometimes disagree. I expect that, and welcome the reader's reaction. I hope I can find and share humor from time to time. I will always endeavor to be respectful in a world that seems to value that less and less. These are my goals and these will be my thoughts- Different Thoughts. Thanks taking the time to look.