Blog-curious
May 2, 2018
Greetings, fellow humans!
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My name is Casey, and I'm currently serving as a Youth Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps Thailand. I arrived in the "Land of Smiles" (as it is so aptly referred) on Sunday, January 7th, 2018, and was officially sworn in as a volunteer on Monday, March 19th. I've never written a blog before, but I've been blog-curious for quite some time now...
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You see, I've journaled since I was a kid and have always enjoyed the catharsis and insights that can come from reflecting and writing about my lived experiences. Additionally, as someone who's struggled with obsessive thinking, I sometimes find great relief in just writing down the thoughts that cross my mind, without judgment or censorship. And when I say "writing," I mean the paper-and-pen variety. There are several benefits that can come from writing by hand (it's worth a quick internet search). To this day, I carry around a paper planner and journal wherever I go.
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Then, there's the experience of reading my journal entries at a later date. This can elicit a variety of emotions, from titillation to mortification. My reaction to the writing often tells me more about myself than the actual writing (what can I say, I'm all about that metadata). Sometimes, I'll notice a little growth and development and give myself a slow, self-congratulatory nod. Other times, I'll find self-destructive patterns and quickly rationalize them away, so that I can repeat said patterns and write about them in perpetuity. What can I say, I'm a (piece of) work-in-progress.
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Regardless, I appreciate being able to look back on my journey and read about my life at particular moments in time. It's like a little time capsule, and because it's in tangible form, it will most likely become part of the archaeological record. Sometimes, I imagine people in the future digging up my old journals and reading through them. And because all digital data will probably be wiped and/or obsolete by that time, they will generalize from my writings that all people in this era were obsessive, fun-loving, self-sabotaging, hopeless romantics with refined senses of humor and impeccable penmanship. You're welcome.
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The main difference with a blog is that I won't have to imagine a future audience, because it will be accessible to the public with the tap of my touchpad. This, of course, poses a unique set of challenges and opportunities. When writing in a journal, I don't really think about someone I know actually reading it. I mean, they easily could, as I don't store them in a lockbox, but that's besides the point.  A blog is expressly written for other people to read. The content is curated and the message crafted (some more meticulously than others). And once it's published, there's no turning back.
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Releasing authorial control means that others will take your writings and make sense of them based on their own experiences. It's both terrifying and exhilarating. What if I trigger someone with my words? What if my words comfort someone in need? What if someone misconstrues my meaning or intention? What if I inspire someone to start the revolution? It's impossible to anticipate how others will experience my writing and what they will glean from it (if anything). All I can do is write from my own experience and hope that it resonates for others. I will try my best to avoid making generalizations and to choose my words carefully. Language matters, and if I make a mistake, please let me know, so I can rectify it.
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As far as the content goes, I'm going into this like I do most things in life--with no expectations. One day, I might want to write about social justice and systemic oppression. The next day, I might want to write about a cool ceremony I attended in my village. Another day, I might want to write about a childhood memory that I used to be embarrassed by, but now I think is pretty badass. You see, I have a wide variety of interests and have seen and done a lot in my 35 years of existence, so strap yourselves in (ooooh, another potential topic) and subscribe to my blog, because I have a lot to say, and you won't want to miss a single word of it!
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