Personal Therapy: A Little Bit Of Nothing

Discussion in 'Tall Tales & Fabrications' started by Bill Boggs, Jan 9, 2018.

  1. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    Shortly after I retired I started writing a blog. I was inspired in my endeavor by an online blog I stumbled onto while researching my own disease on a medical website. The lady that wrote this blog had the same disease I had. I thought she was a pretty good writer, much better than I and her blog enlightened on several aspects of COPD. I followed her for two years before she died. Then I started my own blog. I didn't have a goal with this blog and I wasn't out to make any money and being something of a dumb bunny or rank novice, I started writing about current events.


    I was helped along with my writing by three books I found and read, namely E. B. White's, "Essays of E. B. White;" Joan Didion's, "Slouching Toward Bethlehem;" and, "On Writing Well;" by William Zinsser. All wrote other works but to me these three were the cream of the crop for each author. I wish I'd kept Joan's book and E.B. White's because in my opinion they both are jewels in the rough so far as essays are concerned. Reading them helped smooth my own writing at a time when I really needed something to do, it was good therapy.


    After writing the blog for three months and having no idea any one any where read my blog, I had a comment from a blogger in Cincinnati, Ohio. He commented favorably on what I had written and told me he had been reading my blog for a month. He said he had emailed a friend in Florida, telling him he had discovered another blogger with a similar point of view and he should check me out. On the next blog they both commented on my blog and said they had a small group of seven bloggers with similar interests and invited me to check them out. Then there were eight of us, blogging about what interested each of us, talking about our travels, our jobs, retirement and current events. Two gals were in Washington state, a third gal in California, one guy in Cincinnati, another in Chicago, one in Florida, another gal in Arizona who shortly moved with her husband to Wyoming and me in Texas. It was fun for several years, I wrote hundreds of blogs, then I dropped out and quit blogging. At that point I had thirty-two followers. I deleted everything. One by one four of the others dropped out due to health or marriage. Three are still going strong.


    I've said all this to make the point, reading in association with writing can be good therapy if therapy is needed, a good hobby for some to keep our mind working and perhaps a little bit sharper than otherwise. Reading alone is good. Writing is a good endeavor if you enjoy it. Good readers make better writers. At our age you know all this. This is only a reminder in case you had forgotten.
     
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  2. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    The above is an example of a ho-hum-so what article having no purpose and no organization. Paragraphs are poorly constructed. It reminds one of an old singer, long past his prime, who doesn't know when to quit. The writer doesn't make a point, he is wondering aimlessly, not knowing where to go or how to get there. Would be best if this attempt went in the wastebasket and he started over when he had something to say and how to say it. I'm sure his reader, if there are any, will agree.
     
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    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
  3. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    I don't agree with you at all @Bill Boggs and I hope you are not going to delete your posts. I really enjoy the way you write and what you write and since I am so far from using perfect grammer, etc. in my posts I'm sure not going to look for this in anyone's else's posts either. Keep writing, you have plenty of interesting things to say that many of us love to read. :)
     
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  4. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    I agree that both reading and writing are great therapies. I can always find a book to help me gain perspective on things I may be going through in my life and books also take me away from it all when I feel overwhelmed with things in my life.

    Writing is also a wonderful form of therapy...keeping a journal gives me perspective and allows me to see how my life has flowed, etc. as well as letting me know what prayers have been answered and which are still waiting on answers.

    I also love following along with interesting blogs and often wish I had the gift to blog too.

    Reading what others write whether to gain wisdom, pleasure, or anything in between is something I do not want to live without. :)
     
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    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
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