A Mission of Rendition

I avoid my blog. 

Yes, avoid.  It's odd, I know, but when comes right down to it my blog has become an area of contention with my brain.  "You should post something," my brain hums.  "I can do that," I reply.  "How about this?" "No.  Write something better."  "This?" "No." "This?" "Er - you do know what 'better' means, don't you?"  Insert my head hitting a desk.  Repeat said image until you think you're the Queen of Sheba.

However, as the year draws to an end, I'm tired of writing and not posting.  So tired, in fact, that I'm about to embark on a mission: A Mission of Rendition.

Sounds snazzy, eh?

The concept:  I need to blog more.  I also need to study for the GRE.   Ergo, in the New Year, I will study while I blog by starting each entry with a word - say, enigma - and using that word as a prompt.  By the end of the year, I'll have 365-or so words under my belt, as well as a blogging regimen.

Lofty, yes.  Doable, yes.  Possibly fun, yes.

Time to get that word list going!

Who needs Horror - I have the Internet!

There are certain unfinished blog entries that I stare at for days. Truth be told, I'm sure I have more entries in the cue than I've submitted. There's an apprehension around posting them - a sense of unease around the content or merely the (un)polished nature of the piece. And so, entries sit in the cue as a draft, oozing with potential but lacking follow-through.

But why?

You see, the Internet is scary. We hear this from the lips of many, mostly aimed toward children and the college-aged crowd (which, admittedly, can often be one in the same): "Don't tell anyone where you live, Marvin - it's not safe." "You don't know who's looking at your pictures, Jethro - be careful." "Don't write about your wild party, Gertie - you never know if it'll get around."

[And before you ask: Yes, Marvin, Jethro, and Gertie could very well be children's names - no judging.]

The Internet is all potential - potential for good, bad, and in-between. It's a giant web of points of connectivity and, as such, it allows for infinite interaction: education, laughter, release, pain, distraction, conversation, agony, joy. In one word: sharing.

Ah, sharing. Now we're getting to the scary part, folks.

What to share? Share a new job? Share a new recipe? Share your divorce? What about your traffic accident? Or that mysterious lump under your left arm? One way or another, it's all up for debate because what you share on the Internet defines you in a single click. There are no take-backs - this one's for life, kiddo.

I've been told this over and over again, as I'm sure most of us have. I know the power of Google to ruin...well, everything. Or rather to direct others to one's ruin. Either way, ruin lays ahead if you post the wrong thing.

Yes, the "wrong thing." In that mindset, is it foolish to ask, "What's the right thing?"

So, back to my cued entries. Some are rotting; some hidden gems. Some personal; some occupational. Some one sentence; some a manifesto. And yet, all wait for my courage, my willingness to say, "Forget what others think - full steam ahead!"

But for now, I remember that the Internet is a scary place and retreat back to the comfort of my unplugged life. A place where a mob of dismissed blog copy can't find me.

At least, for now.

Go West, my friend!

China is only 2 days away. Two days. I can't wrap my mind around it and yet, I've managed to get my packing done. Of course, I had to go out and buy a new bag and the entire thing may weigh that of a small child, but who really cares about that?

...other than my parents, that is.

As I'll be in China very soon, I'm sending anyone who reads along with me to our group's official China Mojo blog:

http://chinamojovt.wordpress.com/

You'll get to follow our entire journey through our writings, photos, and videos. I know it'll a pretty fabulous/overwhelming/exciting experience, so come along with us...at least, through our blog!