Create Something That Creates You Back: A Mission Statement for This Blog
Hook—
How is a blog born? Is it born like a star, from a nebulous human being, eager to create a shining sphere? Is it hatched like a sea turtle, miles away from its mother, with an in-born instinct for how to find her? Is it bourn like a child? (I hope a child is better cared for, in most cases.)
Eh hem…
Back to Earth.
build (part 1): Intro to Idea—
If you create something personal to impart unto the world, then the thought that goes into it is a potent reflection of who you are and what you care about – just listen to any artist interviewed on NPR. This is especially true when planning an open-ended project, because it is not a singular whim; it must sustain any whim that comes along.
The decision of how to frame that work contains a certain balance between your heart, your soul, and your mind. It likely won’t be 100% all-encompassing of your worldview; it’s natural to pick a focus.
With my blog, I’m choosing to leave the possibilities open. That is part of the impression I wish to make here. There’s going to be a freedom in my approach.
Build (part 2): Grounding/Context for this Idea—
Blogs live on a spectrum from personal to professional. Most have elements of both. The intention of this one is primarily personal, with possible professional implications as an alternative sample of my writing style.
I considered tailoring my blog to appear more “professional”, but I just couldn’t fall comfortably into that notion. I thought, maybe I should focus on current events, music, family life, or something else. For a minute, I toyed with the slogan “Give a $#!+” to declare the topic of Caring, about the world, about what you do, etc. I still like that idea, but this outlet needs to stay creative for me, needs to be somewhere I can exercise my writing with pure freedom.
I often feel the professional world is starved for authenticity. To make something branded or “professional” is almost inherently to de-humanize it. Even if the effort is specifically to humanize a brand, there’s still that whiff of… bullshit. Inauthenticity. Pardon my saying so. Like that woman’s or man’s voice on the Nature Valley commercial sounds too flawlessly cheery or gravelly. The same goes for social media. Everybody curates a veneer over their LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram profiles. Most blogs, professional and personal alike, have a manufactured hue over them. I don’t mean to knock these media – I know they serve purposes, and tailoring should be expected. It’s just hard to find people being themselves. I’m probably guilty of manufacturing as I write this post, even if I try not to be.
build (Part 3): to the Climax—
I want to write what I feel. If I’m not invested in it, this blog might fizzle out and become one of those where, in 2023, you see a bunch of posts marked 2019, maybe 4 or 5 marked 2020, one marked 2021, and then radio silence. I want this to be a place where I can always exercise my inspiration, free of any pressure. So here’s my. . .
Mission Statement — Honold-blog is to be authentic, to provide an outlet where I can freely practice self-expression, in any writing style, without constraints. Its vision is a readership who values substantive content as well as a creative voice not found on most blogs. The mission is to be unique by being true.
Payoff:
Voice — The thread that ties the blog together. It is a device by which I can move seamlessly between prose, commentary and observation, and memoir/personal writing. The other fluid element is story telling.
You may notice that I already have a tab marked “Prose”. (By the way, on my blog I will use the British rules for punctuation inside quotes, because they make more “sense”.) A piece under “Prose” will be more polished. The blog is more freewheelin’.
Poetry, prose, commentary (e.g. journalism), and memoir, are all flip sides of the same four-sided coin on any given topic. I could choose the topic of butterflies, for example, then decide any mix of those styles as a prism for expressing my thoughts.
Despite the number of “I’s” in this post, it’s not all about me.
Denouement: back to you—
What are you doing to self-actualize to be your true and unabashed self, in the face of the world around you? What are your constraints? Which of those constraints are breakable and which are not? Where can you eliminate time wasting and find more time for being your true self?
Take small steps. Maybe it’s something as simple as intentionally taking a 5-minute walk outside every day, to clear your mind and get you closer to your self. Maybe it’s speaking up for yourself once per day. Once you start, you may find this self-actualizing becomes a healthy addiction, and has a positive snowball effect.
Back to outer space.
The world is often called an oyster. Is it yours? Where’s the pearl?