Writing, as a form of therapy, is as old as ink itself. Universally understood
as a transformative process, the simple act of putting pen to page can effectively
jump start personal growth and healing.
Over the years I’ve had more
than a handful of sessions on a therapist’s couch sorting through the
baggage I’ve built, bought, borrowed and inherited in my 48 years. Without
exception, each qualified practitioner proposed the following recommendation:
start and keep a daily journal.
Seems much angst and worry can be worked through
with pen and paper. Yet for reasons that can only be explained as part of ‘my
personal charm,’ my journal keeping would start and lapse in record time.
Nevertheless, I knew the writing process to be powerful despite my inability
to be consistent. Once, after managing to hold my journaling nose to the grindstone
for 13 weeks, I leapt tall buildings made of artist block and landed on the
other side, with renewed energy and fabulous paid work.
And yet, despite my
success, I quickly discontinued putting my thoughts on paper.
Miraculously,
last spring, my lifelong writing inertia evaporated with the click of a computer
button. As easy as one, two, three, I started my own on-line journal, more
commonly known as a blog.
A blog is a web log comprised of a series of posts,
about the author’s choice of subject, from professional to personal.
Every entry is date and time stamped as they are published, giving the material
the feel of a traditional diary.
Blog procedure is exceedingly simple and free
for anyone with access to a computer. I type my thoughts, press the publish
toggle and instantly my rants and raves go live on the World Wide Web. There
is no middle person, web mistress, publisher or editor to be found. Blog control
post, pace and frequency is in the blogger’s hands.
However, there is
one distinct motivating difference between your traditional hard copy diary
hidden away, under the bed, and your blog. Blogging offers a possible audience.
My first thought was to use a blog to share the unusual adventure of my Calendar
Girl life and draw attention to the Breast
of Canada project. It took no time
to realize that a following of fans was a big buzz, injecting tremendous energy
into the somewhat relentless process of making, marketing and moving 3000 calendars
every year.
My second blog took on a digest format offering alternative breast
related news that was a simple by-product of my role of publisher.
Blog number
three was born thanks to a peri-menopausal fit of memory and hair loss. Fondly
called ‘My Menopause Blog, How to Punctuate Life Without a Period,’ this
effort truly fits the therapeutic writing model and contributes enormously
to my state of mind.
Writing publicly about my petulant period, in real time,
is like inviting a bunch of menopausal women over for tea and a heart-to-heart.
Not surprising, scaling the dome of silence surrounding menopause, and talking
above a whisper about ‘The Pause’ resonates deeply with women readers.
Shooting from the hip and funny bone, I share my findings of remedies, attitude
shifts and my belief that menopause is not a disease. Thinking broadens with
each entry; confidence grows as does understanding and a liberated sense of
ageing. My Menopause Blog is like a cyber red tent for anyone interested in
musing on maturity.
Eventually, curiosity lead to an on-line exploration of
blog networks, blog rolls and search engines to see if other women were writing
about their lives, health and well being.
Turns out, they are. Thousands of
blogs are written by new moms, freshly divorced, empty nesters, the menopausal,
survivors of cancer, stay at home parents, the clinically depressed and the
chronically curious. Photos are up-loaded. Advice is sought. Human contact
is collected by way of comments that readers leave like cyber hugs. There’s
a whole lot of contact being made between people separated by geography, but
connected by circumstance.
Pseudo names are common with blog owners. ‘LaCrone’ recently
pondered the question, after the late arrival of her period, if she was there
yet, not exactly sure where there was. ‘Rock
Bitch’ negotiates
ovarian cancer, sudden menopause, divorce and single motherhood with hilarious,
yet raw courage. ‘I'm Out of Estrogen and It's Not Pretty’ provides
a window into Victoria’s menopausal life. A group blog that I randomly
came across claimed, “running this blog is about 50,000 times cheaper
than a good therapist.”
This new cyber kid on the block follows a blogger
code of conduct that creates a safe, encouraging and friendly zone where you
can let yourself hang out, be human and be heard. Not everyone writes like
a professional, although there are excellent pro bloggers leading many a parade
of readers. Countless circles of similarly focused, differently skilled people
gather in and share the Blogosphere.
My greatest blogging benefit comes from
my daily commitment to write just like the psychologists suggested. I clear
my head, sort out my hormone-scattered feelings, get cheered on and remind
myself that life is dynamic. Indeed, the cyber trail documentation of my menopausal
mood swings is time stamped proof.
How to Start Your Own Blog:
First. Cruise around cyberspace and check out
some blogs. You can start by following the links in this story, check blog
lists posted on other blogger sites, or Google the word Blogs. Once you catch
the drift of a range of blogging personalities, go to: Blogger. Follow the
three easy steps to begin your own blog.
Favourite Women’s Health Blogs:
Written by: Sue Richards
Posted: February 21, 2006
