**I'm 1 follower away from 400? How did this happen?**
My blog when I started it, my foot propped up, unable to walk following my Achilles reattachment surgery, was a sad little thing. My son helped me to lay out a foundation for it, but it was very crude, very basic, not much zip or excitement.
Like most endeavors, over time I got a feeling for what it was. I started out with some simple posts, afraid to take a stand, inject my sense of humor (because it was not appreciated by a humorless husband) and afraid to try anything new as a way to present information because I thought no one would get my sense of humor or my restless ability to question everything.
The concept of "Ghost Hunting Theories" was to talk to other like-minded folks who were into the paranormal about theories and how to test them and make a little think tank of (if I was lucky) a couple people. My own town didn't have a lot of open-minded folks (remember, this is the place with laws being passed for important things like being able to take a gun into a bar).
Some things I always knew about myself: I am comfortable with my sexuality and with being sassy, was a tomboy and athlete as a kid so I tend to compete with boys and take up their dares; my mind is quick and a bad thing to leave idling or I get into mischief; I question authority and anyone who claims they are an authority and I have a big heart and love to give people tools to succeed and be motivated. With all those qualities in mind, my blog serves as a place to fulfill all my true potential. I didn't know that at first. I was scared to share all of me with anyone, afraid to be rejected.
Without even realizing it, the blog saved my life; it made me okay with who I am and okay to show it. People didn't mind my sense of humor or me always questioning things or the way I treated everyone like an adopted mommy. Having the blog world to expose my real self, I questioned the situation in my life that kept me hiding the real me and, even worse, being ashamed of her.
Blogging isn't just about sharing with others, it's also about sharing with yourself.
If I hadn't blogged, I would still be miserably married to a man who made me feel as if everything precious I just listed above was a character flaw instead of an asset and who had me wondering at some points why I even existed if I was such a loathsome creature that constantly needed "fixing" and was unworthy of loving attention so simple as a kiss or a compliment or even an interest in what the hell I did with my day.
Have you seen the real me on the blog? Hell yeah! Here's some examples:
Performing surgery on Dale the Doll while drinking a beer
Belly dancing scarf wiggle
Wearing tank tops that say "Fact or Faked" for my weekly reviews of the show
The "Ghost Adventures" drinking game
Mass psychic experiments
Exploring all paranormal subjects with interest and honest curiosity and asking everyone to join in an ongoing conversation about it
Lonely on a Friday Night--I shouldn't be the only one sitting at home alone wondering if I'm the last person on earth (hey, don't forget we're doing it again tonight!)
My LAUGH series poking loving fun at the paranormal shows (bottom right)
My Childhood Haunts and Alone series (bottom right) where I shared my own encounters with the scary and unexplained
Promoting blogs and writers I admire
Counseling folks on the side about all sorts of things, getting them motivated and excited about their lives and their projects
Making everyone a "buddy" a "sweetie" and a "dear."
I'm a real southern gal, and I enjoy being a hostess. I think every opinion is relevant and exciting because it means someone's mind is mulling over what I just presented. The idea of this whole blog is to make you think beyond what you've been told and make new conclusions, exciting finds, and don't take it so damn seriously. It's not rocket science, at least not yet.
This blog set out to be http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifabout finding the truth and ended up being about finding myself and my "tribe." I love y'all and by now y'all know it because another thing about me--I can't hide my feelings. I'm very demonstrative!
If you learn anything from my example, learn this; be yourself. Everyone can tell the genuine from the disconnected like dogs smell fear.
Please don't forget from 7 pm EST time and all evening, I'm on here for Lonely on a Friday night to chat and laugh. Come and go as you like, but join us if you can. I know most of you should be snowed in, so don't just sit there watching reruns of Ghost Adventures when you can be on here laughing at the episodes of Ghost Adventures with others.