A Final Reflection: July 23, 2011

For me, creating a blog in the first place was a brand new experience, one of many I have had this semester. It seemed a bit strange to me to create an online journal that other students, as well as Ms. A, were going to read. I worried about what to write about, how it would sound, and if anyone else would even read it or like it. I found that I was able to use this experience to look deeper into myself and to reflect upon some of what life has brought to me through the years. At times it was hard to think of something to write about, so I appreciated having a writing prompts resource to use. I wrote down quite a number of them early on, then found that I only needed to use it a few times. Those times I did use a prompt, I found that I was able to write something relevant and intelligent. It was interesting to read and comment on what some of the other students wrote as well, though I found it frustrating to click on a blog site only to discover that the writer had not posted anything new in days. I chose not to share a lot of personal information on my site, like pictures and location and such because I just wasn't that comfortable sharing with people that I didn't really know all that well. I think the blogging exercise has been good for me as a writer, because it forced me to write something everyday, even if I didn't really want to or feel like it that day. I found that this alone could be something to write about. I might not have written a novel yet or run the whole marathon, but I have made progress in a forward direction. I think I have written at least a chapter's worth and run a few miles.  I can use this experience as a reference for future projects, to just get started and put something down and eventually what I am looking for will come out. I can use this blog to work out rough draft ideas, and use the freewriting to gain insight. Doing it on computer also means that I will be able to read what I wrote when I look at it later. My handwriting isn't terrible, but it does get messy when I get in a hurry.  I might even try using this blog site when I find myself with something to say and no one around to listen, like when I have a bad day at work or when one of my favorite patients dies and I need to express my grief. My family isn't always the best choice for this as they don't always "get it". It doesn't even matter if someone replies, it is merely a form of expression that may be very therapeutic. I kept a diary for a time as a teenager, and this is kind of like that only better. This blogging project turned out to be something that I really enjoyed in this class, even though I was a bit leery at first. My younger son will be taking this class in about another year, and I hope he also enjoys the experience.