Hard times, come again no more
Those faithful blog readers among you (and there are many, bless your hearts!) may have noticed that my posts have been somewhat few and far between lately. There is a reason for this, although it is complicated and involves others who have as much right to their privacy as anyone else.
Trying to write a good blog is hard, I’ve found, for that very reason. How much do you reveal about your personal life? And, because all of us have lives that intersect with others’ lives in a myriad of ways, how much can you, in good faith, reveal about the lives of those close to you?
Do you stick slavishly to the topic at all times? Most of you know by now that Ellen and I don’t really do that. It would be easier, in some ways, but I think the blog would be the poorer for it. After all, why do we read blogs? For the topic, yes, but also for the glimpse into another person’s life. And yet, if those of us who write blogs reveal too much about our lives, we risk violating the privacy of those people dearest to us, at worst, or simply becoming banal and tedious, at best. (I firmly believe that no one really wants to read about how much cereal I ate for breakfast.)
But, and this is a big but, how in the world am I to write cheerfully about knitting or anything else when the top tier of my mind is constantly taken up with a large and distressing problem? But, you see, I can’t write about that problem openly on the blog because it would mean violating the privacy of another, someone whom I love dearly and believe has the right not to have his troubles written up on the internet for all the world to see.
All of this is a long, roundabout way of telling you all that my presence on the blog will be decreased for a while. My goal is to write a post once a week; that’s about what I’ve been managing for the last several weeks. More than that, I’m finding, I just cannot accomplish right now.
My thanks and love go out to my dear sister, Ellen, who has not pressured or chided me in any way during this time, and who has graciously offered to take over the bulk of the blogging for now. And my gratitude and appreciation go out to all of you as well, our long-standing as well as our new readers.
I ask for your prayers.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Warm thoughts being sent your way.
I’m sorry to hear you’re going through a rough time. I understand exactly what you mean about that balance between sharing and privacy. I too am coping with some very difficult stuff, that I can’t blog about because it would violate another person’s privacy, and like you, it’s weighing heavy on my heart.
Because of that, I didn’t blog a lot this summer. Lately though, I’m finding that knitting, and blogging about knitting, are helping me cope. Whatever pace works for you is exactly how often you should be blogging!
And I was wondering, how much cereal did you have for breakfast? 🙂
September 4th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Leanne, that is the sweetest comment.
I can’t do better.
But thank you, Sarah, for saying such nice things about me in this post. I would only want to make things easier for you, not harder. I’m not always sure how to do that, but that is always my aim.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:59 am
It’s a difficult area. I’ve started a knitting blog recently which I haven’t even told anyone about because I’m so uncomfortable with the idea of ‘exposing’ myself.
I really admire people like Annie Modesitt, who takes a deep breath and continues to discuss everything, and Cheesehead http://cheeseheadwithsticks.blogspot.com/ who sometimes writes about personal matters, and so well too, but I understand entirely and can relate to anyone who wants to drop out of sight – or feels that they have to, even if they don’t want to. It’s sometimes difficult too, to know how to respond to the blogs of people who are having a difficult time and whether comments are too public for ‘return sharing’.
But we’ll be very happy to see you when you want to drop in and let us see a bit of your knitting. I hope things get better before too long.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I am a lurker here. I relate entirely. For the past year and more, I have also had a situation that could not be shared online. It took me out of blogging for many, many months as I just tried to cope with life. When I did start blogging agian, I started over with a new blog and it has been the therapy I needed because I’ve been able to track my healing and people don’t know what’s behind the things I do share…but I can go back and see where I’ve come from. I first started to try to keep it all to knitting but how exciting is it to see another inch of my shawl? When I started bringing my own life into it, I started making friends in the blog world and it’s been a great journey.
I do pray life’s problems resolve and you are better for it in the end. I’m beginning to see some of that now in my life although my situation continues. There is eventually light at the end of the tunnel!
September 4th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
My thoughts are with you through this trying time. I am struggling to know how much of my personal life to put in the blog. Bad enough having major health stuff but now with Mr Mogs cancer as well, do you share or do you stick to the knitting? After all the outside knitting stuff is part of who we are and for me the knitting helps keep me sane through it all
Hugs from a fan in england
amber
September 4th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Hang in there, my friend! It’s always a hard call – how much to say, not much not. But you’ve done beautifully up to now, and I expect that you will continue to do so.
I hope your new house is a comfort to you!
September 4th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I know exactly what you are going through. I’ve struggled with this since starting my blog in February. How much do I say about my boss, my job, why we’re closing the office, and how very hard all of it was. In the end, I talked about events in general terms, never mentioning names or specific details. People knew I was having a hard time and couldn’t spill all the guts I really wanted to. But they did graciously stick with me until I eventually worked through it.
We’ll wait. And you’ll get through it. Just check in once in a while so we know you’re still there, ok?
September 4th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Just from the little I’ve come to know you through your writings, Sarah, I’d be willing to bet you’ll make the right decision! Remember that there are two good things about awful situations: 1. we usually learn something from them. 2. they’re always temporary.
All my best.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Praying with you and for you, Sarah dear. You are a wonderful lady who is such a model of grace. Share what you want when you want, and we’ll be delighted.
September 5th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Sarah, please don’t feel encumbered by the blog or the need to post when things are distressing you. Things come up on my life obviously, that while I’m able to discuss bits and bobs of my life, I try to not go into too much detail b/c it usually does involve other people. I don’t want family members or friends that know about the blog to become upset if I mention them, even thinly veiled, for them to figure out something. That’s why I go to my support systme and not to the blog. I believe some things need to remain private from all of Internet life. Take care of yourself and blog when you’re able. Take care.
September 5th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Hi Sarah,
I’m sorry to hear your are going through yet another set of difficulties. I hope it gets better for you.
Jennifer from Seattle
September 12th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I will pray for you and your son. Ellen, you have many strengths and a resiliant spirit. From your knitting, I know that you will tackle anything and will see the most complicated and tedious things through to the finish. Wonderful qualities! They will serve you and Harvey well. God bless you and may His angels surround you and encourage you and let you sleep at night in peace.