Posted: 8/23/2007 at 09:20 AM
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So you’re new here; maybe you’ve looked around a bit, read a few blogs, checked out the health section and even asked a question or two on the discussion boards, but you’re undecided—you’re not sure if you want to stick around, and the effort required to participate in the community seems a bit much to you. Well, this post is for you.
The thing about any community is that it’s tough; it requires effort, time and some degree of vulnerability—and those things are all intimidating. What if I get hurt? What if people make fun of me or don’t understand my situation? What if they think I’m weird or selfish or egotistical? What if no one wants to talk to me? All valid questions—and honestly, I don’t think the answer is a sure thing. Taking part in community, taking part in life is ALWAYS a risk.
But the thing about risk is that there is always potential for reward. Really, the best things are always the hardest things, the most dangerous things and the most worth doing. Community can validate you and encourage you and support you in remarkable ways that you may have never experienced. The synergies of shared experience, of compassion and understanding are worth every bit of the risk and the bigger investment you make in time here, in talking about yourself and your unique story, and in responding to other’s unique stories, the more substantial rewards you may begin to reap.
That’s why I encourage you to start a blog—your story is important, it has significance and it may help others who are dealing with the same struggles—or have dreamed about experiencing the same victories. I encourage you to read other’s blogs—the stories and ideas may encourage you, it may awaken compassion in your heart or inspire you towards new and bigger goals.
Even if you’ve never blogged before I think you probably already know the fundamentals. In some ways it’s just like rehab actually. You have a goal that you work towards slowly, one finger after the other slowly pounding out letters, words, sentences until an idea or story finds its way to the surface. As you begin to articulate your experience you’ll experience the exhilaration of community and self-discovery.
It’s hard, but it’s worth doing.
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Community is a very tricky concept. It's great to have a sense of belonging in a particular community, but it's also extremely easy sometimes to feel alone and adapt a "Nobody cares about my opinions" attitude. It can be hard to get the courage to speak up and voice opinions, when the reaction to these opinions is unknown.
For example, I myself am fairly new to the Denver area, and am currently trying to find my place in this new city. It was a big choice for me to move out here, since I did not really know anyone and was leaving a tight-knit community behind. The thing about moving to a new place is that it is all about putting yourself out there, whether it's at work, introducing yourself to your neighbors, speaking up during class to voice your opinions and engage your teacher and fellow students, etc. Yes, it can be scary, especially when your attempts at friendship might not always be met favorably, or someone disagrees with your opinion. Everyone's opinions and what they have to offer are important, though. If you are willing to take some chances, not be discouraged by obstacles, and just be yourself, community is a beautiful thing.
Additionally, I believe that the Disaboom community has a lot of potential. There are so many discussion forums, blogs, reviews, etc., on a variety of different topics. It is great that users are starting to voice their opinions and put their ideas out there, and I hope many more in the future will post their own blogs, comment on others, and become part of this community.
"As you begin to articulate your experience you’ll experience the exhilaration of community and self-discovery."
If only I knew how to articulate myself... But seriously, i agree about how important community is.
Thank you both for the comments.
E - I know how hard it is to move to a new place, I think joining an online community has a lot of same challenges. Thanks for your insight.
MJ - keep writing, man--I've got a feeling you're better at articulating yourself than you let on.
I agree that learning how to articulate your thoughts can sometimes be a major problem. There are many times that I feel ready and willing to contribute to a conversation, to a community, but I can't quite figure out what to say. You feel like you have all these thoughts in your head but can't quite figure out how to express them coherently!
Tim,
Great post about the joys and pains of blogging; sounds like we're talking about giving birth, and we are. I have created a blog on Disaboom, my first blog anywhere and empathize with the questions "...What if I get hurt? What if people make fun of me or don’t understand my situation? What if they think I’m weird or selfish or egotistical? What if no one wants to talk to me?"
I experience all the emotions, both fantastic and fearful. I'va always been a thinker but rarely a writer. As Orangemango said, "You feel like you have all these thoughts in your head but can't quite figure out how to express them coherently!" As Michaeljohn reiterated from your post, "As you begin to articulate your experience you’ll experience the exhilaration of community and self-discovery." That is how it's been.
It has been a therapeutic exploration of community and self view. Quoting lisamrutledge in her Disaboom blog on blogging,"...Both a panorama and a tightly-cropped close-up...", I like that. How often do we get to be the protagonist in an autobiographical manuscript?
Give it a try guys, I'll be lookin for ya.
Bruce
Wow, you all are amazing! I am honored to be a part of this community! I likewise an new to this whole blogging thing and have gone through the same questions and the same revelations. Its fun, challenging, scary and rewarding all together.
I am so excited to see so many great people sharing, evolving, empowering each other. That is one of the main reasons I was so excited to be a part of Disaboom. I have been a member of this "amazing" community for the past 18+ years and know how valuable all the other community members I have met and shared with have been in my life. While I have had wonderful Dr's, therapists, nurses who have helped me through some tough times, its been the others "like me" who are living daily with similar challenges, obstacles, stigma, who have helped me grow and move forward the most.
With the power of the internet and the ability to touch so many people, I knew Disaboom was a much needed and incredibly powerful idea. And here we are! Keep rolling, (ha, ha!) and let's make this community all it can be!
Thanks to you all for being such dedicated community members and spread the word!
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