I’m not a blogger that is known for being prolific or consistent in posting. For the most part, that’s just a matter of time. My wife and I have very demanding jobs that have been even more demanding in recent months, leaving us both scrambling to keep the household running.  Writing is just one of several non-essential activities that get pushed down the to-do list when there are more pressing matters at hand.

For the past two weeks, however, it’s been something different keeping the posts at bay. I have several drafts started, but I can’t develop them. The words will not come, and if they do come they are disjointed; there is no flow or cohesion in them.  Those words seem to stand on the page and stare back at me in indignation for my inability to work them into order. I think I know why this is.

There is a story I need to tell. My mind will not let go of it. When I think about writing anything, it is that story that keeps rising to the surface, regardless of where I attempt to put my focus. It’s a story I don’t want to tell.

I don’t want to tell this story, because in doing so I have to revisit one of the most uncomfortable circumstances in my recent history. I would rather bury it and let it die, but I’m finding it is impossible to do so, as it is the largest contributing factor to my current condition. Who am today does not exist without it, and I am still walking through the aftermath of everything that transpired. Delving into this would be some of the most personal and revealing writing I’ve ever done, and even the thought of that is terrifying.

So, I’m writing that story. Not only because it is an impediment to my writing process, but I think it is a necessary catharsis. I hope (perhaps selfishly) that someone somewhere may be able to identify with my story; maybe someone else might understand.  I hope that there’s a chance that someone else might find the heart to tell their story as well.

So, stay tuned to the next few posts, where I will begin to unravel the tangled thread of this story, and perhaps regain a bit of my sanity.

That was some blogging vacation (although some might say I haven’t been here that much anyway).  At least my absence only affected tens of people.

Over the break, I’ve really been thinking about the focus of my blogging and trying to target one major subject that would define my writing here.  Being a highly un-focused person (slightly attention-deficit disorder here, ooh shiny….), it’s hard to nail it down to just one.  In that, I’m breaking one of the cardinal rules of blogging, if you listen to the blogging “experts”. But since I read this post, I feel like one of my favorite bloggers, Anne Jackson, has given me permission to go against the grain a little.

Without further adieu, here is my blogging vision for the year ahead:

In general, I think about becoming a better person all the time.  Since I spend a lot of time in thought on that, that is probably what I will write about the most. Not that I will be telling anyone how to do that.  Most of my writing is extremely introspective, and out of that I tend to formulate ideas that could potentially apply to someone else.  What I would like most is to develop those thoughts into a conversation on my blog, so that everyone can benefit from the discussion.  Sure, this idea is not that original, but I think it most reflects who I am.

I have plans this year to get back to making music again, so as I go through that process, I have a feeling I will write about that.

I will continue to periodically write book reviews.

Since I have a lot of fun with technology and gadgets, I will occasionally write about that subject.

Here’s hoping that the blogging journey this year won’t be a lonely one.

With all of the activity surrounding the holidays, and my family’s traditional holiday vacation trip coming up, there has been no time for crafting my usually deep and thoughtful blog posts.

Tonight (Christmas Eve) my family has our holiday gathering with my wife’s side of the family.  Tomorrow morning we see what Santa brought us. Tomorrow night, yet another holiday gathering with all four of my brothers’ families.

We head out for Disney World on New Year’s Eve for a four night stay.

The Alabama Crimson Tide play for the BCS National Title shortly after we return.

It’s going to be a busy next two weeks or so.  In the interim, I’ll be working on my goals for the blog for next year, possibly writing a few posts to be published later, and hopefully upgrading to Wordpress 2.9.

But, before all of this I wanted to sincerely wish one and all a very Merry Christmas, and blessings for the coming new year. I also want to express my gratitude for the new friends that I have found in the process of blogging and twittering. I look forward to getting to know all of you better this next year, and hopefully reaching one of my 2010 goals: meeting my twitter friends in person (well, at least some of them, anyway).

See You Next Year!

If you blog, post comments on blogs, Twitter, or post on Facebook, inevitably you will face criticism for something you post online.

The easiest route is just to ignore all criticism, but in doing so, you will give the impression that you are above reproach, which is a fast way to lose respect. Besides, by listening to your critics, you could actually learn something.

I don’t think you should listen to all criticism, especially in these cases:

• The criticism consists mainly of attacks against your intelligence and/or character. That’s not really criticism, that’s an insult. Determine if they are criticizing the information, or the person posting the information. Attacks leveled at the person should always be ignored.
• The critic makes no effort to explain their position. A good critic should use established facts and/or relevant experience to validate their claims. If they can’t do that, it’s not worth it to listen.
• The criticism is an obvious emotional reaction, obviously because these rarely contain any intellectual value.

How should you respond to valid criticism?

• Read carefully. Be sure that you have not misread or inferred meaning where there was none.
• Resist the urge to react emotionally. Strong emotional reactions to criticism will impair your ability to analyze it. Never respond to the critic with an emotional backlash. You will regret it later.
• Determine if the criticism is constructive. Is there something that you can take away from it that you can improve upon?
• Try to see the other person’s perspective. It may not change your mind, but it will allow you to think outside of your normal viewpoints, which will improve your ability to empathize with others.
• Disagree? That’s okay too. Criticism will not always bring you to change your mind, and people rarely agree on everything. We should be able to respect another person’s viewpoint, without agreeing with them.
• Always respond positively. Thank the critic for their input. Even if you still disagree, do it respectfully, without insult, and based in facts and/or relevant experiences; not on emotion alone.
• Never take it personally. Don’t invest too much of your self-worth into how well you are received online.

Most importantly, don’t feed the trolls. Some people are just trying to get attention by posting critical and usually insulting responses on blogs, message boards, and the like. Ignore them.

How do you deal with criticism? Do you have any advice to share?

Once again, I am participating in a blog-a-thon of sorts over at ElizabethEsther.com, where all her blog readers share one of their favorite posts from the past month.

You can chime in to over at her blog.

Even if you don’t share a link, I’m sure you will find plenty of fine reading in the links.

Some more of my favorite links tweeted by my twitter pals:

Why is Michael Moore So Angry

God of this City?

Religious Life Won’t Be the Same After the Downturn

Flooding in the Southeast – A Photo Essay

Taking Our Gift

I just downloaded the wordpress app from the iPhone app store. So now I can blog straight from my phone, anywhere.

Not that I have ever done a whole lot of blogging anyway, but at least the app will serve as a reminder to try to channel my thoughts into an intelligible blog entry.

Now I am twittering, checking my email and Myspace, and managing my calender and to-do list all from my phone. I still wonder what I am missing out on though.

What will be the next life-altering application I will install on my iPhone?