Monday, October 5, 2009

Monday Inspiration: Coffee With A Friend


When I was a little girl it was nothing unusual for someone to stop by for coffee at my Grandmother's or my Mother's house. Later when I was in college we always went out for coffee to chat and study. Even later still, my best friend and I would always stop for coffee after a night out of dancing. For years after we moved here I had another friend who I would meet for coffee at least once a week, and sometimes as many as four times a week. Sadly she was much older than I and she is gone now.

Every time I read Artful Blogging I am convinced that I am not doing it right. Maybe I should quit reading it. People tell stories of their blogs and how they strive to inspire people every single day, or how their blogs are personal journeys of a spiritual nature or self discovery. Some of them try to teach about their art and share their techniques. Other post amazing pictures they take and beautify the world at large. Whatever the story is behind each blog featured, it's always something huge and monumental...life changing even. It makes me feel bad, as if I am lacking by not doing that.

I would love to write something like that. But I can't, I don't know how. Maybe I don't view my blog in the right way, and that's why I can't. I am not sure.

When I sit down to make a post, I almost always have a cup of coffee...I figure it's the best time to post since I am taking a break and not focused on anything else. It's a little bit of time to relax. I approach it from the perspective of sitting down with a friend to have coffee. If I was having coffee with a friend, I would talk about what I did or needed to do that day, something that irked me or made me afraid, something that I thought was cute or funny, something that I got fascinated with, or simply show my friend my latest piece of work.

I am pretty sure I have never changed anyone's life over coffee in the past, and I probably won't ever do it through my blog. Sometimes I do make self discoveries through what I write, but I have never considered it a journey to be taken...more like a nice surprise I wasn't expecting.

I start off each week with Monday Love or Monday Inspiration, but those are more things that I love or inspire me than I expect them to inspire you. I just like to try to start the week off on a positive note.

Neighbors may not drop in to each others houses anymore for coffee like they used to, and I may not meet up with my friends in the real world much any more since they all live so far away, but I have made some lovely friends through blogging and I look forward to having coffee with them for a few minutes each day through this medium.

When I first started blogging, I wasn't sure I would keep doing it. I had tried keeping a regular journal in the past and always gave up after a few weeks. So when I came to blogging I didn't know what to expect of myself. I didn't know what to say, or if anyone would ever read it. But then again, when I had my first cup of coffee I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, or what to put in that either.

I may never type anything huge or monumental, and may not be following some mystical formula...but maybe I am doing ok anyway? I wouldn't trade those hours spent with many a friend over coffee, and I wouldn't trade my time blogging with you either.

5 comments:

teddy bears Marin to Venice said...

Exceptional and sweet this postcard!
what write is very beautiful as your bolg, great compliments for what write!
keep on doing it!

Heather said...

Maybe when it's your own blog, it's harder to see the inspiration you give to others.

Honestly, one of my favorite parts of every day is sitting down to see what you have written on your journal.

First, your work is just absolutely inspiring. From the design of your web pages to the design of your sewn creations... I am constantly driven to try harder in making my own creations... because someday I hope to be even a fraction as good as you are.

Second, your blog posts themselves are often inspirational in the sense that they explore things that most people simply overlook. Making someone stop and examine their world a little more closely is an amazing thing.

Don't ever think that you're not doing something right with your blog, just because you aren't doling out life advice or writing about some epic struggle for greatness. The simple, honest observations that you post here are, to me, infinitely more helpful than any soul-searching book has ever been.

I don't know... maybe this all just sounds dumb and you're sitting there wondering "Who the HECK is this person?!" ... which is understandable. You inspired me first as an artist, and then as I read your blog more and more, you began to inspire me with the way you look at the world.

I admire people who seem to be using their brains for something more than skull filler. :)

Your blog makes a difference to one person at least!

Amanda said...

I think you've summed it up very nicely, make mine a frothy coffee, maybe with a sprinkling of chocolate on top.

Darlene said...

Sometimes just being who we are is an inspiration because others see us differently than we see ourselves.
Make mine tea as I join this morning:) and don't plan on going anywhere, I'm just getting comfortable.

another artist that struggles with that same thought at times too

Kelly said...

Thank you all for your kind comments! Heather you know, you're right. It's very hard to step outside of yourself and see how others view you and what you do. Maybe the truth is, not everyone has to be life changing or advice giving. Maybe I will just leave that to the people featured in the magazin! =}

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