Starting the Journey

My wife and daughter have been egging me on about writing blogs for a number of years now; with my stubbornness to move forward more out of hesitation than a general sense of not wanting to do it. After much pushing from the two of them, I found myself with some time at a recent work conference back in early August and put an idea down on paper for my first blog. I had kicked this thought around for some time and have no illusion that I was the only one thinking about it. I’m sure in my general readings and watching of news programs the germination of the idea took hold from something writ, but importantly I’ve come to believe to be quite true.

I was surprised at how effortlessly I was able to fill two pages of a legal pad with what I thought was a cogent argument, even attempting to ensure a broader audience with the choice of examples I used. I tried to explain it to my daughter, my chief critic from the younger generation. I, of the Baby Boomer group, although more toward the end, and she of the ……… actually, I’m not sure which generation she is supposedly a part of. I know it’s supposed to matter, but then again, she is my daughter, so I don’t view her through that lens. All I know is that I didn’t quite wow her, or at the very least she wasn’t entirely convinced of the point I was attempting to make. I still held true to my opinion but, as life tends to do, moved onto other things when I didn’t get the immediate gratification. I thought several times about going back and attempting to “clean up” the article to better clarify my message since I continued to feel very strongly about it.

4 months after putting pen to paper, I’m reading one of my favorite print publications (in fact it is the only one I read) and right there on their editorial page was “my” article. Not as long-winded as mine, as the editorial board seemed to get to the point more quickly than I did. But it was the same basic issue, and even the main example they used was one of the two examples I had written about. In all honesty our joint use of this individual is not a surprise given this person’s rather large impact on the world. My second example was meant to have greater resonance with a younger, more diverse generation (meaning my daughter’s or son’s) but still an attempt at validation, nonetheless. I quickly snapped a picture of the article and sent it along with a message to my daughter. Whether she understand the argument better or was simply excited to see her dad comment about needing to be more proactive in initiating a blog, she threw a “Like” back at me and said yes to me doing more writing.

So, I now find myself trying to determine the purpose of this particular blog. It’s not my first one. I finally broke through the ice and wrote a short piece based on a very old newspaper clipping I’d saved for probably 30+ years. So as for my 2nd one, is it to support what this nationally recognized publication has said, mindful of the political undertow that ran through the editorial? Given the size of the publication they really don’t need my help in reaching a larger audience, nor I would assume they are looking for my approval. No, this blog has turned into something that is more directed to the individual rather than the original idea that sparked all this.

I debated such headlines as “strength of conviction,” or about “starting of a journey.” After all this was my original attempt at starting my blog and I allowed someone, yes someone I care deeply about, but still someone to dissuade me from moving forward, despite how strongly I felt about the point being made. I was mindful of the political undertow of the article and while I felt (and still feel) that the issue raised is mild compared to others, I was not really looking to walk through the mine field that is today’s political atmosphere with this first post. All the energy and excitement of writing those two pages was placed to the proverbial back burner.

At the time, I felt my first blog had to be the home run and I didn’t want any ambiguity as to what I was saying. And if my daughter could follow the logic (this has been a topic of conversation with my wife before so I felt she was already in my corner), or at least was willing to give me the benefit of the doubt, even if she might have disagreed philosophically, I would have moved forward. Instead I hesitated. So, when I finally got the courage to start this journey I went with a safer choice. Still topical based on articles from my favorite print publication but not quite the same. Who knows if it’s a single, let alone a home run? But it was still an at bat and it allowed me to be more comfortable moving forward with the next one (in other words, this one).

But I still wonder about this “first” blog. If I had posted what I originally wrote back in August, how would the satisfaction of seeing it validated in a national publication months later feel versus how I feel now? I know I wrote it; I still have the original two pages. It wasn’t some blinding revelation, but more a common-sense attitude to what is going on these days so not surprising others think likewise. Ultimately the blog is for me and my personal journey and not (necessarily) about fame and fortune. So, the lesson becomes one of both, strength of conviction and starting the journey. They aren’t mutually exclusive - if it’s truly a journey there will be plenty of times to state convictions. I just want to ensure I enjoy the journey along the way.