Dreaming Aloud feels like it is in transition. I am not quite sure the shape it is taking.
It started out as a blog on living philosophy, attached to my Juno column of the same name. When I started it I didn't really 'get' blogging. I thought it was an online diary, which I didn't really feel inspired to try. So instead I decided to use it as a place to park everything that I was writing, rather than on my hard disk.
I was a stay at home mama to three, writing the occasional feature and editing Juno. I felt trapped. I could only glimpse what I wanted.
Through the life time of this blog many things have changed. I now have a book, have started painting and am more drawn to the visual and women's mysteries. I spend less time mothering, thank goodness, I am not a natural mother, and am not trapped. I feel like I have built up a following of people who like and expect my blogging emotive posts on mothering, but I have moved on. To that end I am also going to give up one of my long time writing jobs which no longer resonates with where I am at.
I rarely sit and pour my heart out in writing now like a dam about to burst. Painting is my outlet and writing my work. My writing commitments to so many other projects mean that this blog is often on my to-do list. I feel there are expectations, from me and you.
In its time I have done series on books, on money, I have reviewed restaurants, shared art and poetry, shared our life as a family, written about birth and community...
I aim to inspire, to share, to add beauty and to keep it real...
What is the uniting factor? What IS Dreaming Aloud?
Dear reader, why do you come back to Dreaming Aloud? What do you get from it? Who is reading and why?
because I think we would get on well if you lived next door!
ReplyDeletebecause I enjoy seeing your creative life unfold and it reminds me to keep going when mine is not so straight forward
because I ought to be doing housework and this makes good work avoidance!
Ah thanks Joanna - touched. Would love to live next door to so many lovely women who I've met in blog land - imagine what a funky, fun, creative, loving (and occasionally Crazy assed) bunch of women we'd be. I am honoured to be your housework avoidance!!
ReplyDeletehonestly? because motherhood is a journey, and we're all in different places along the way
ReplyDeleteBecause its inspiring to read what one creative, determined, inspired woman can do as well as being a mum.
ReplyDeleteAnd four kids down the line I feel like I'm just starting the next part of the journey...my journey...
Hi Lucy, I am afraid I don't comment often but I do read your blog. I am friends with Paula (Cleary) so discovered your blog that way though I am a long time reader of your work in Juno.
ReplyDeleteI am in the period of intense mothering, attachment parenting and home educating two highly sensitive little souls - with a third due in October. As such I don't get very much time to myself for my own creative pursuits. I read your blog because I recognise you as a kindred spirit and because I love to see what direction your creative life is taking. It allows me to dream of my own future when I am more able to indulge my own passions. I also find it interesting seeing how your work unfolds from your pinterest pins! ;)
I would be sad if you stopped blogging altogether but I don't think you should feel tied to it either. I would say write about what you feel called to and where your heart is and the people who are drawn to you will find you. My blog is really just snapshots of my children and daily life and I started it mainly for family and friends but I am still amazed that I sometimes get comments from entirely new people, mamas who have somehow found me and felt called to connect. I really enjoy your writing and your paintings. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your creative life with us!
Laura
Hi Lucy, a lot of what Laura wrote above is why I come back. You're on my blog roll and I find here tales from a woman who's consiously living and sharing some of her life's experiences. There's a fluency to your work that I hope to grow into for myself, so its inspirational that way too. Totally just go where you gotta go, take the blog with you if it feels right or ditch it to start afresh if you need that too. :) Ali
ReplyDeleteits like having a postcard from a friend. The creative side is like an invitation to craft, spurring me on to create and so keep Crazy Woman satisfied. the philosopy has me nodding in agreement and sometimes in tears, and so do the stories of your life and what you do.
ReplyDeleteif you only posted once a month, or just every now and again as spirit moves you, it would be a welcome read.
Thank you all - thank you - honest words - and thanks to those who have emailed and commented on FB - you have all helped me to see what I offer to you, what you get from me, and it feels really good - because it is not what I tell myself in my head - so it feels like I have space to be as I am. Thank you wise readers all xx
ReplyDeleteI hear you. Having the same conundrum in some ways. As my husband Pete said last night, sometimes our lives become a maypole with so many ribbons threading and weaving and some getting tangled, sometimes you just gotta drop them all to the ground, let go, and just let it be. Slowly you will pick up those ones you wnt to keep threading and dancing with.... let it flow organically my lovely, thats whats best about you, you go with the flow and arent afraid, your fearlesssness gives the rest of us courage and when you need it, we give it back xxx
ReplyDelete