Yesterday I wrote a post titled "Do Not Fear". It was easy to write, the words just poured out of me and in fact I had to go back and edit out quite a bit, as there were details that weren't necessary to get my point across.
I wasn't sure about posting it because it was so personal. I believe in being exactly who you are though, and after reading Maureen's post that (to me) felt like it was trying to stifle female bloggers coupled with the Virginia Tech tragedy, it nearly wrote itself. Later I saw that the Codgers had a post in a very similar vein.
What made me decide to be OK with that level of transparency was the response I got in my comments. Other people shared similar experiences of times when they had felt a high level of fear, too. It helps to know you're not alone. What I learned in those comments was that people were willing to open up to me in equal measure. It did my heart good to read about your triumphs in overcoming difficulties.
Many of us who have faced a scary event relive that feeling a little when we see news like this week's mass shooting at Virginia Tech. We know that shell-shocked feeling.
I refuse to let anyone else set the tone of my life and I want to make sure that others know that you can get over bad things.
Writing so transparently kind of threw me off balance. I would speak to any of you individually about what I wrote, but to put it out there online for just "anyone"? TLW had a great post about transparency. We CAN say too much. It IS OK to refrain from exposing your experiences and feelings to the world at large. In this instance, I feel that the response I received made it worth it.
Thanks to all of you who shared your experiences and thoughts. It was a big help to me, too.
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This morning, my daughter "Tall One" reminded me to wear orange and maroon. We split the difference, she's in maroon and I'm in an orange shirt that my Mom gave to my husband before a UT basketball game. (Mom got her Doctorate from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Hi, Dr. Mom!)
After getting the kids to school, I went to our local Krogers for groceries. The flag was at half mast. I stood there in my (much too large) orange shirt and took a picture of that flag in a small town 300 miles from Virginia Tech. I hope that all of you across the country are seeing similar things. It's a small world after all, and I hope that the little things we do to stand together will help bring peace and comfort.
your writing—it moves us on so many levels. Your voice is strong, sincere and compelling.
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